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Soft, pink lips. There's nothing sexier. There's no need to empty your bank account to make your lips luscious. Skip needles and hefty price tags. Instead, get creative with petals and strawberries to stain your lips, lavender balm to soothe and cinnamon to plump them. The only trouble with such scrumptious solutions to a perfect pout is you'll want to lick them all off. Let yourself have a nibble of a little pineapple here and a chocolate drop there. Enjoy!
Exfoliate
Wet a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently rub it over your lips in a circular motion for several minutes. For a more vigorous exfoliation, mix 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and use your toothbrush to gently rub the mixture into your lips. To indulge a sweet tooth, use 1 tablespoon of almond oil and half a tablespoon of brown sugar instead.
Stain Your Lips
Spread a thin layer of beetroot juice onto your lips before bed or mix equal parts tomato paste and cream or rose petals and cream, depending on the tint you're looking for, and apply it to your lips. To lighten dark lips, apply lemon juice. For a more fruity taste, mash together fruits that match the color you're after (beets for red, blueberries for purple and strawberries for pink), then apply the juice to your lips with a cotton swab or your finger.
Make Your Own Lip Balm
Mix 1/2 teaspoon each of honey and petroleum jelly, then apply it to your lips to seal in moisture and give your lips a glossy glow. For a tropical twist, apply pineapple juice to your lips before smoothing on petroleum jelly. To soothe chapped lips, apply peanut butter or cocoa butter before going to bed. Put your inner domestic goddess to good use and make your own lavender, coconut or mint chocolate balm. Just try not to lick it off or eat half the ingredients!
Plump Up Your Pout
Lip plumpers work by causing a slight irritation that makes your lips tingle and increases the blood flow to them, giving you that sultry pout. To make your own, put 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and ground cinnamon powder into a clean container, stir it together with a toothpick, then smooth it onto your lips with your finger or lip brush. An alternative, less tasty method is to rub a drop of clove oil into your lips.
