Move over mistletoe, Cupid, the god of courtly and erotic love, is here to tell you about kissing. While a buss on the lips is always in season, we might just think about it a little more often around Valentine’s Day.

As writer Sheril Kirshenbaum explains in her book, The Science of Kissing, lips are packed with sensitive nerve endings. They’re basically one whopping, exposed erogenous zone. And sure, as per the American Journal of Medicine, we trade as many as 10 million to 1 billion (!) bacteria representing 278 different species during an active kiss. Good oral hygiene is key to getting people to kiss you in the first place. So keep brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly. Here are a few more tips from OrangeTwist’s own Heather Finks, NP-C:

Add a Lip Perk To Your Monthly HydraFacial 

HydraFacial’s patented and popular technology cleanses and hydrates skin for a gorgeous glow. It also works its magic on your lips. The HydraFacial add-on lip service, Perk, uses peppermint oil and peony extract to exfoliate, prime and plump lips for a perfect pout.

Try a Dermal Filler

Fillers add a bit of volume to lips, and they also soften the appearance of vertical lip lines. If your lips have thinned over time, this can add a more youthful appearance. Depending on what’s right for you, one of our experts will recommend a gel filler of modified hyaluronic acid from the Juvéderm family (this includes Volbella, Voluma and Vollure); Belotero; Radiesse; Restylane; or Sculptra, which helps trigger production of the body’s own collagen.

Avoid Biting and Licking Lips

Licking chapped lips will just make them worse! Saliva is drying. And dear goodness, stop biting and picking off your skin. Skin on your lips is super-delicate, and that can lead to irritation and bleeding. FYI, those cracks on the corner of your mouth may be Angular cheilitis, a condition that can be linked to a yeast infection. Get checked out by your MD.

Stay Hydrated

When it comes to the daily maintenance of soft lips, matte lipsticks can be drying. Keep nourishing lip balms in your rotation of lip products, as well as those with SPF to protect your lips from the dehydrating effects of the sun. It’s also an inside job: we lose water during daily and average activities, including breathing. Not drinking enough water exacerbates dry skin, so consider drinking additional fluids during winter.

Apply a Lip Mask Before Going to Bed

Sometimes your lips need extra love to reverse severe dryness and cracking. Lip masks to consider for restoring hydration and volume include:

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask; Burt’s Bees Conditioning Lip Scrub and Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment; KNC Beauty All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask; Kiehl’s Buttermask For Lips; 111Skin Meso Infusion Lip Mask & Plumping Duo and Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. The morning after your hydration spree, try plumping, tingly Rodial Dragon’s Blood Lip Mask.

Kiss your chapped lips goodbye, and have a happy Valentine’s Day!

Book your complimentary consultation to achieve the perfect pout and kissable lips.