We sat down with beauty expert and founder of 3 Graces Beauty - Colleen Kirk for her pro-tips to The Perfect Pout

Nothing feels more feminine than rocking a strong lip color. Whether you embrace a perfect natural lip look or go bold in red like a classic Hollywood starlet, drawing attention to lips like a siren song holds a certain feeling of power and beauty. But making your lips look flawless in color starts way before you grab your favorite shade. Lip care is vital no matter what color graces your lips this season. So, we’ve included not only a simple 3-step routine, but also key ingredients that will instantly transform your pout.

Step 1:  PRIME with an Exfoliating Scrub  

Exfoliate with a hydrating lip scrub

This often-overlooked step is perhaps the most important. Exfoliating chapped lips with a gentle lip scrub (like 3 Graces Radiant Lip Scrub) made from organic sugar sloughs off the dead skin, allowing hydration to reach beneath the surface of the lip. Organic cane sugar contains a natural glycolic acid that not only helps condition and moisturize skin but may also help protect it from environmental pollutants and toxins. This ingredient is also known to be easier on lips than salt scrubs and gently sweeps away dry, dead cells while increasing circulation. Apply a small amount to clean lips, massage gently and wipe away with a damp cloth. Try exfoliating 2-3 times a week for lips that will look plumped and smooth, laying the foundation for a flawless canvas. 

Step 2: PLUMP with a kiss of hydration 

Treat your lips with a kiss of hydration

The secret to plump, kissable lips is hydration. Even if you go color-free, lathering on a lip treatment (like 3 Graces Lip Savior) will feel like the ultimate rejuvenator. Hydrating with essential oils such as Moringa and Jojoba is important to replenish your lip barrier and lay the foundation for color. However, lips wrinkle and age, but an essential rare ingredient called Portulaca Pilosa is here to be our secret time machine. This plant comes from the Portulacaceous family, seen in the Americas, Brazil, southern Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world. More commonly known as “Kiss-me-quick”, this plant is packed with hyaluronic acid that gently plumps the lips without irritation. 

But its magical properties don’t stop there. It provides hydration and softness to the lips and is well known for its anti-aging and anti-sagging effects. Treating your lips to plump hydration can gradually lead to a reduction in wrinkles and an increase in the lips production of hyaluronic acid. Kissable lips take commitment but slathering on a hydrating lip treatment is the kind of forever we are happy to embrace.   

Step 3:  PERFECT with a rich, high shine lip gloss

Reds, pinks, nudes, and corals, whichever color you choose make sure it’s packed with hydrating and nourishing ingredients. A bold color is great, but the wrong formula can have our lips looking like they ate our lipstick; falling into the cracks and accentuating whatever fine lines and wrinkles we worked so hard to smooth. Even with our pout prep, picking a product rich in oils that are good for your lips (like 3 Graces Radiant Lip Gloss) is essential to maintaining that flawless finish. 

Moringa Oil is the most important ingredient we can add to our lip care. It’s filled with antioxidants and nutrients that help fight free radicals that can cause skin tissue damage and lead to the formation of wrinkles. Think of Moringa Oil as your anti-aging superhero, eliminating fine lines and wrinkles with every drop. Moringa Oil is also filled with Vitamin C that stabilizes collagen and repairs damaged skin cells. This powerhouse ingredient will keep your lips plump, hydrated, and colorful all day long. The Perfect Pout has never felt so powerful!