Perfecting Lush Lips
"The Early Show" continued its "Search for the Perfect" series with a look at lips.
Dr. David Colbert, a dermatologist, shared the latest in lip enhancements.
But what are considered perfect lips?
"The good news is that every face has its own set of 'perfect lips' and because no two faces are exactly alike, what is perfect on one model or celebrity might look clown-like on someone else," Colbert said. "That might be why the search for the perfect lips in Hollywood has gone so terribly astray."
In terms of beauty, the perfect lips should be as full as possible without being too big, Colbert said.
He explained the face is divided into cosmetic units which include the mouth, the eyes, nose, forehead and cheeks.
"They must all be in harmony and balance," he said. "There is a certain 'aha' factor when it all comes together perfectly."
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In addition, the bottom lip should be larger than the top lip. The vermillion border - the line between the lip and the skin -- should also be slightly rolled. Likewise, if a face is in proportion, Colbert said, we are more likely to notice it and find it beautiful.
Do our lips really change from when we were first born?
As we age, Colbert said our face naturally deflates, and with that so do our lips. Lips, he said, tend to go downward, as well as lose their fullness.
"I tend to see people in their late 30s, late 40s and late 50s ... people who want to add some fullness back to their face and in effect look younger," he said. "But people need to remember there's only so much you can do -- you don't want to come in at 50 years old and say you want the lips you had when you were 30 -- it just won't work."
Colbert said he tends to give people their lips from 5 to 10 years prior to their current age, so the difference is minimal.
What does it mean to get your lips enhanced?
"Back in the old days," Colbert said, "silicone was used to inject lips which tended to give a drag queenish look to your lips. Today, I'm known for creating the 'Colbert Lips' which consist of an amalgam of my best tricks to maximize what each client has."
Colbert said he gently outlines the vermillion border with hyaluronic acid gel, such as Restylane or Juvaderm. He added there are several techniques to add to the volume of the lips, such as the pearl technique also known as the microdroplet and the thread technique.
"It doesn't matter what technique you use, the most important thing to remember is that in all techniques I believe you should never increase your lip size by more than five to seven percent," he said. "Otherwise, you are in Courtney Love territory. My philosophy is to always under-treat."
The cost of having your lips enhanced depends on how much filler is needed. Colbert said cost goes up as one ages, or if you were a smoker, for instance. The cost should definitely should be under $1,000, Colbert said. The procedure, he said, lasts at least six to nine months and sometimes even longer.
But how can you fake perfect lips?
Beauty expert Jenn Falik shared the steps below for having lush lips without an appointment.
Step 1-Treat your lips with care.
June Jacobs Lip Kit- $60 at JuneJacobs.com
Containing a scrub, masque and anti-aging treatment the June Jacobs Lip Kit treats your lips a mini facial. Paraben and preservative free, this unique anti-aging lip treatment helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves lip contour in a three step process (Lip Scrub, Lip Masque and Lip Renewal). Leaves lips instantly soft, smooth and protected.
(Or - take a cheap nubby washcloth, dab in hot water and scrub!)
Step 2-Line/Define
Lipstick Queen Invisible Liner- $18 at LipstickQueen.com
This fabulous wind up mechanical liner (no sharpener needed!) goes on invisibly to create a defined lip edge and perfect those little imperfections we all have.
Philosophy dark shadows illuminating eye & upper lip cream- $33 at Philosophy.com
Dab a little of this in the cupids bow area above the upper lip to create the illusion of a more full pout by the way the light plays off the skin and enhances the lip shape.
(Or, take white eyeliner and dab it in the cupid's bow and work out with your index finger)
Step 3-Prime
LipSyl Balm- $2.99 at Drugstore.com
LypSyl originated in Sweden over 100 years ago, and just recently arrived in the U.S. It is a cult favorite and Swedes literally won't leave the house on cold days without this product. But it also acts as a great primer, not only because it keeps lips healthy but also because it fills in ridges and gives lipstick something good and waxy to bind to.
Sensai Lip Base- $26 at Kanebo.com
An innovative skincare item that moisturizes lips while blurring the appearance of lip creases with an exclusive Defocus Powder. Protects against UV rays and preps the lips for a flawless lip make-up. SPF15. Fills in fine lines and keeps lipstick on. The Lip Base helps the color become more long-lasting and prevents color-bleeding. Kanebo's original Defocus Powder features flat granules that cause light to reflect in random directions, creating a diffusion effect that blurs the appearance of lip creases and surface imperfections. The lips appear smoother and more even as a result.
Step 4-Play Up
There are 2 ways to do this- with a plumping agent or a product with optics in it that creates illusion of fuller lips.
Duwop Twilight Venom - $16 at Nordstrom.com
This unique lip venom contains a dual-phased formula with a lip-plumping, oil-based conditioner on top and deep, red stain on the bottom. This unique configuration allows the products to be used separately or shaken to create a beautiful, long-lasting pigment. Infused with ingredients such as argan, avocado, olive oils and vitamin E, lips will immediately feel smoother and notably plumper.
NYX Super Volume Lip Plumper - $7 at NYX Cosmetics.com
This is a volumizing lip gloss with cooling mint as the primary plumping ingredient. Offers 40 percent more volume in lips. It also includes moisturizing jojoba oil and rosemary oils. Plumpers have evolved. It is not about using irritants any more, but rather gentle stimulants. And since you likely lick this stuff, it's not worth taking chances with scary chemical formulas. This is a makeup artist favorite.
CoverGirl Shine Blast Lip Gloss $7.49 at CoverGirl.com - (officially launches in January, but select shades are available on CoverGirl.com now)
The patented ShineSculpt applicator hugs the contours of lips and boasts a tapered tip for precise shaping and sculpting, while 16 shimmering shades deliver a brilliant, glossy finish. Embedded pools of shine add brilliant depth, and The patented ShineSculpt is a uniquely shaped applicator that delivers more shine in a single swipe than the leading glossFlexible scoop applicator with built in product wells designed to hug the contours of lips to help deliver a fuller, more sculpted look and 4 times more noticeable shine versus bare lips.
• June Jacobs Lip Kit - $60 at JuneJacobs.com
• Lipstick Queen Invisible Liner - $18 at LipstickQueen.com
• Philosophy dark shadows illuminating eye & upper lip cream - $33 at Philosophy.com
• Lipsyl Balm - $2.99 at Drugstore.com
• Sensai Lip Base - $26 at Kanebo.com
• NYX Super Volume Lip Plumper- $7 at NYX Cosmetics.com
• Twilight Venom - $16 at Nordstrom.com
• CoverGirl Shine Blast Lip Gloss $7.49 at CoverGirl.com