You too will sport a Chesire cat smirk when your lover gets a load of this ...
True story: An aesthetician had the gall to advise me to consider jacking up my “modest” mouth with a jolt of Restylane, to which the only response I could muster was a gaping goldfish gasp.
In hindsight, I should have told him to zip his lip, but said doctor’s statement obviously struck a nerve because I’ve been quietly side-eyeing the lip maximisers lining the beauty aisles – most of which, I’m afraid to say, do nothing for me.
But why? Now for a quick explanation on how lip plumpers work. I turned to Nicolas Ian Travis, founder of homegrown grooming label Allies of Skin, who informed me that most commercial concoctions cause a “vasodilatory” effect – the engorgement of blood vessels – so as to lend the illusion of larger lips: “The ingredients, such as menthol or even pepper, are mildly irritating and increase blood circulation; it’s the same reason your mouth tends to sting after slurping down a spicy curry.”
That’s all well and good, but what is one to do when off-the-counter stuff doesn’t cut it? When in doubt, ask Google. A week of serving as my own guinea pig later and I’m proud to announce that I have perfected my very own DIY recipe for lip-smacking success. Drumroll, please – the secret is cinnamon!
If you’re a pie person, you’re bound to have this baking staple stashed away somewhere in the pantry. Grab a pinch of cinnamon – which has vasodilatory properties– mix it into a small tub of petroleum jelly, then smooth a generous dollop onto clean, dry lips. Kick back your kitten heels, wait for five minutes, then wipe off the excess before swiping on your go-to lippie or lip gloss.
A crucial caveat: Always mix with Vaseline and never apply cinnamon powder “neat” onto your lips, as you may inhale the irritant – not good.
Oh, and while we’re lingering on our lips, cinnamon also makes for a fantastic breath freshener: I like stirring cinnamon powder into a glass of lukewarm water and using the mixture as a mouth gargle minutes before inviting a date over for dinner.
The icing on the cake? I’ve learnt from (very naughty) experience that the soft whisper of spice on your smackers will make you virtually irresistible to your partner – like making out with your very own dessert!
P.S. One fail-proof product I like to keep on standby when cinnamon isn’t available is Dior’s Dior Addict Lip Maximizer High Volume Lip Plumper, suffused with skin-loving marine collagen, hyaluronic acid and a deliciously voluptuous vanilla scent – see, we’re all about plumping up our puckers without widening our waists!
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer High Volume Lip Plumper, $45, is available at the Dior Backstage Studio at B2-44/46 ION Orchard and at all Dior counters. For more information, visit www.dior.com/beauty and follow the brand on Facebook.