Redheads: 5 Ways to Make Lips Look Lush and Full

With age comes wisdom and beauty, and you might see more changes happening to your face and body too. One noticeable change is the appearance of your lips. Most redheads with fair skin have pale pink or rose-colored lips. For some redheads who have the freckle gene, they may even have freckles on their lips. So how does age affect our lips? Can we expect the color to fade or freckles to disappear? Maybe.

In our teens and twenties, our lips often appear full, soft, and pigmented. As we enter our 30s and 40s, we often see some loss of fullness along with fading of color. Into our 50s and 60s the color, shape, and fullness change dramatically. In the years beyond, our lips may look smaller and more pale in color. Lips may also look dryer or more cracked, and show signs of aging such as wrinkles.

While aging is a natural and beautiful process, sometimes you may want the appearance of more youthful lips. Of course, you can get filler or permanent lip tinting, but that’s not accessible, affordable, or even wanted by all redheads. Here’s how you can keep your lips looking their best as you age, and how to play up your lips at any stage:

1. Keep lips hydrated, exfoliated and healthy

Just like our faces, our lips need skincare too! Wearing Vaseline or a lip mask to bed is a great way to keep them nice and hydrated. Exfoliate your lips with a simple sugar scrub or exfoliating lip treatment. Make sure your lip balm has an SPF of at least 30, and apply regularly. Avoid picking at dry cracked lips and apply ointment to help them heal. Here is a great routine for healthy lips:

1. Application: Using your fingertip or a soft toothbrush, gently rub the mixture onto your lips in circular motions. Be delicate to avoid irritation.

2. Massage: Continue the circular motions for about one minute to let the sugar scrub away dead skin.

3. Rinse: Wash off the scrub with lukewarm water.

4. Moisturize: Apply a lip balm or natural oil, like coconut oil, to keep your lips hydrated.

5. Repeat: Use this lip scrub once or twice a week for smooth and soft lips.

2. Avoid premature aging habits

The last thing you want is to speed the aging process up unnecessarily. The best way to avoid premature signs of aging on the lips and around the mouth is to avoid habits like smoking, drinking from a straw, and picking at dry lips. It’s also crucial to adopt a holistic approach. Begin by applying sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to shield your lips from harmful UV rays. Keep your lips hydrated by using a moisturizing lip balm regularly, and refrain from licking your lips, as saliva can contribute to dryness. Maintain a balanced diet rich in antioxidants to support overall skin health, extending benefits to your lips. Additionally, quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and get sufficient sleep for overall well-being. When removing lip products, do so gently to avoid irritation. Lastly, incorporate lip exfoliation into your skincare routine to eliminate dead skin cells. By embracing these habits, you can promote smooth, plump, and youthful lips.

3. Use lip liner

As our lips lose volume and pigment, it can be hard to tell where the skin ends and the lip begins. This is especially true for redheads with fair skin. Enhance and define your lips with a nude or neutral lip liner. This can be worn with lipstick on its own when blended properly.

Finding the perfect lip liner involves considering factors like your natural lip color, the lipstick shades you use, and your desired lip look. Follow these steps:

1. Match with Lipstick: Choose a lip liner shade that closely matches your natural lip color or the lipstick shades you commonly wear.

2. Skin Undertone: Consider your skin undertone. For warm undertones, go for warm lip liner shades, and for cool undertones, opt for cool-toned liners.

3. Define or Blend: Decide if you want to define your lips or create a more blended, natural look. A slightly darker liner can define, while a matching shade offers a softer look.

4. Formulation: Pick a lip liner with a smooth and creamy texture for easy application. Ensure it’s long-wearing for a lasting effect.

5. Testing: Test the lip liner on the back of your hand or your wrist to see how it complements your skin tone and if it glides on smoothly.

6. Versatility: Choose a versatile lip liner that can work well with various lipstick shades in your collection.

4. Try a lip tint

Lip tints are an easy way to get an all-day color that won’t rub off or smudge. Lip tints, temporary lip tattoos, and lip stains are all good options! Find a color that’s just a shade or two darker than your bare lip color for a more natural look.

5. Wear redhead lipsticks

Finding the right lipstick is key to keeping your lips looking stunning. When you want to throw on some color, it’s got to be Finally Bold® — the lipstick for redheads! Choose from pink, nude, or red in a creamy finish you’ll love. The semi-matte, redhead-approved creamy formula glides on with a lightweight, non-sticky sheen; and the clean formula features shea butter to provide hydration while providing sheer-to-medium coverage. Choose your shade, rock it with your red hair and get ready to feel bold.

Take a deeper dive into the shades:

Won’t Wash You Out Perfectly Nude: Designed to be your everyday lip color while providing hydration and coverage. Option: Use as a base and top with Perfectly Pink or Perfectly Red.
Pinking of You Perfectly Pink: Designed to bring you from day to night. Soft enough to feel low maintenance, but pretty enough to feel glamorous.
RED-Y For This Perfectly Red: Designed to be your go-to red lip shade. The rich undertones are meant to complement all shades of red hair. This is your chance to prove that redheads can wear red.