Generality
The lip contour is targeted by cosmetic researchers with the aim of devising increasingly advanced creams and serums to improve their appearance and prevent the signs of premature skin aging.
As if this were not enough, the very thin layer of skin that surrounds the lips is extremely susceptible to atmospheric insults: wind, cold, temperature changes and UV or artificial UV rays continuously attack this area, making it gradually weaker.
For this reason, when it is not carefully "cuddled" with specific products with a nourishing, anti-aging and moisturizing action, the area around the lips weakens to the point of forming small imperfections on the skin that, over time, become real insults to beauty.
So let's see how we can take care of our lips.
Wrinkles and Dryness
The main enemies of a perfect and cured lip contour are the dryness and wrinkles that appear in this delicate area of the face.
Wrinkles are the visible signs of aging processes that naturally occur in the skin due to the inexorable advancing of age.
In particular, the lips and their contour are areas in which the skin is particularly thin and delicate, for this reason, they are among the first to show the dreaded signs of aging.
In detail, the lips tend to accommodate very small (but numerous) wrinkles that can run in all directions, until they reach the nose. As the age progresses, the harmony of the lip contour is undermined by deeper and deeper wrinkles, known with the bizarre nickname of "bar code" to underline the typical course assumed by the expression folds.
Beside the wrinkles, dehydration and dryness of the lips and their contour - which, often and willingly, also lead to the onset of cracks - are among the most common factors that can occur on this area of the face, significantly affecting the aesthetic appearance.
Leaving aside any pathological causes, the dryness of the lips can be caused by the action of atmospheric agents (sun, wind, cold, UV rays, etc.), by the use of excessively aggressive detergents or by excessive cleansing.
Unlike wrinkles, however, dehydration and dryness of the lips are phenomena that do not occur only with aging, but which can occur even at a young age. From this observation, the importance of contrasting and, above all, preventing these disorders through the use of specifically formulated products, appears clear.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that dehydration and dryness of the lips, if not properly treated, can accelerate the appearance of the same wrinkles.
Cosmetic Treatments
To prevent and combat (as far as possible) the appearance of dehydration, dryness and wrinkles of the lips and their contours, we can resort to the use of numerous types of cosmetics, specially formulated to take care of this delicate and precious area.
Anti-wrinkle cosmetics
Since wrinkles are considered the main enemy of the beauty of the lips (but also of the face in general), the most requested cosmetics to define the contour of the lips are precisely those based on anti-aging and anti-wrinkle ingredients. The market offers a great variety of useful products to counteract these imperfections of the time, among which the anti-wrinkle serums and creams certainly stand out, together with balms and lip stick formulated with antioxidant substances and anti-aging action.
Cosmetics against dry lips
As mentioned, the other disorder that offends the beauty of the lips is dehydration of the area, which results in the appearance of dryness, cracking and, possibly, the early onset of wrinkles.
To avoid this inconvenience - avoiding the consequences - the most suitable cosmetic products are definitely those formulated with moisturizing, nourishing, antioxidant and sun protective agents.
Make-up
Among the products for make-up intended for the lip contour, anti-age creams cannot be missing, aimed at both preventing and treating (micro) wrinkles. These products are generally formulated with hyaluronic acid, with deeply moisturizing and anti-wrinkle properties, nutrients (cocoa butter and shea butter) and other products capable of stimulating the action of fibroblasts (firming properties).
The presence of wrinkles along the perimeter of the lips makes it difficult to apply and fix the makeup. A common problem, very felt by women, is precisely the application of lipstick on a mouth that is not perfectly defined in its perimeter. The difficulty in distributing it is also made more evident by the dehydration of the skin in this area, which is always quite marked.
Cosmetic research has the ready solution: there are lip preparations containing special silicones that make the perimeter of the lips extremely smooth and smooth, such as to prevent the appearance of fine lines after applying a lipstick.
Fillers and Aesthetic Surgery
To combat wrinkles on the lip contour, giving tone to the flaccid and toneless skin, it is possible to resort to different types of aesthetic medicine treatments.
Among the most requested interventions in this area we find the administration of fillers and the use of real surgical interventions.
Fillers
An undoubtedly effective remedy (even if rather extreme) to improve the aesthetics of the lip contour (as well as the lips themselves) is constituted by the injections of fillers, among which the most known is without a doubt that based on hyaluronic acid.
Cosmetic surgery
The cosmetic surgery procedures used to improve the appearance of the lips and their contour can be multiple. In particular, among these we mention:
- Lipofilling . A particular type of aesthetic intervention used both to smooth out wrinkles (in this case, the lip contour), and to volumize and flesh out thin lips. This intervention consists in taking a well-defined quantity of adipose tissue from an area of the body of the same patient called a "donor area". Subsequently, the extracted fat is purified by centrifuge and - through the use of special needles - injected as if it were a filler in the areas to be treated. This technique has the great advantage of not causing allergic reactions, precisely because the injected "filler" is taken by the same patient.
- The facelift . A cosmetic surgery generally performed to eliminate the wrinkles between the nose and the lip contour, as well as nasolabial wrinkles.
Finally, although it is not a real surgical intervention, we should remember the botulinum injections, also used to smooth out the wrinkles that form at the level of the lip contour (perilabial wrinkles). However, not all doctors agree to use botulinum toxin in this delicate area.
Supplements
Complementary treatments
To prolong and enhance the anti-aging effect promoted by the filler or any surgical procedures, it is recommended to regularly apply specific anti-aging products for the lip contour. When necessary, it is also possible to take antioxidant supplements by mouth: vitamin C and E, echinacea, resveratrol, collagen, hyaluronic acid and lipoic acid are substances widely used to prepare this kind of supplements, in order to keep the skin elastic, compact and hydrated longer, effectively counteracting the signs left by aging (to learn more, see the article on anti-wrinkle supplements).
Exercises for Lips
To improve the appearance of the lips, defining at the same time the contours and to prevent the onset of wrinkles, it is possible to try out some specific exercises of facial gymnastics, or put into practice some massage techniques.
Facial gymnastics for lips
Facial gymnastics can be a potential ally in delaying the appearance of lip contour wrinkles as much as possible. For this purpose, there are several exercises that can be performed.
In this case, we propose a simple and quick one to perform:
- Push the lips forward as if you wanted to kiss someone, greatly accentuating the movement, so as to contract the muscles of the area.
- Hold for five seconds, then relax.
- After relaxing your lips, place your index finger on them by exerting some pressure while trying to smile. After that, relax.
- The complete exercise must be repeated at least ten times every day.
Lip massage
The lip massages can be useful to "firm up" the lips, while favoring a more defined perimeter. In addition, some massage techniques can also be useful for preventing the absorption of specific cosmetic products.
Below, two different types of lip massages are proposed:
- Place the fingertips of the index and middle finger on the sides of the lips; apply gentle pressure in this area, pushing the skin upwards. At this point, massage with circular movements, pushing all the way around the lip. Repeat the massage for a dozen times.
- Gently tap the lip contour with the fingertips, preferably after applying a specific moisturizing / nourishing cream for this area.
