In recent years, teeth have shifted from just being a dentist’s domain to your best beauty accessory. Buoyed by the pursuit of the Hollywood smile and the perfect Instagram post, brightening those gnashers at home is now virtually as easy as highlighting your face.
More than half of Brits (57%) say there’s more pressure than ever to have a good smile, according to a recent Philips survey.
Thankfully, an abundance of at-home products can produce convincing transformations with minimum commitment. Think subtle tweaks, rather than dayglo fakery.
From pearly whites to pout plumping, try this step-by-step guide to smile self-improvement…
TEETH BRIGHTENING
A bright, open smile is your secret weapon for a dazzling first impression (research shows you have just seven seconds – so make it count!).
“The mouth is the first focus when we meet people,” says Graham Barnby, dental care expert and Arm & Hammer ambassador. “Boost your smile confidence by removing stains and brightening teeth, using a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste. Used twice daily, you should begin to notice a difference in five days.”
Amp up the whiteness with a safe, DIY booster that won’t damage tooth enamel. There are countless techniques, from dissolvable strips to 100% natural charcoal polish.
Be mindful of what you eat and drink too, if you’re dedicated to upping the whiteness. Barnby lists coffee, tea, red wine, curry and fried foods as prime teeth stainers.
SMILE SHOPPING LIST: Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Whitening & Enamel Strengthening Baking Soda Toothpaste, £3.75 (Boots); Rapid White Express Max Effect 5-Minute Tooth Whitening Strips, £22.99 (Boots); Diamond Whites Black Edition Tooth Polish, £14.99 (diamondwhites.co.uk)
LIP PRIMING
Whether your teeth are the star attraction or not, hydrated, plump lips can dramatically improve a smile – and they require extra TLC over the winter months.
“Lips need to look smooth and moist for lip products to look their best,” says Rupert Kingston, creative director of Delilah cosmetics. He suggests exfoliating with a gentle sugar scrub and using a healing lip balm.
If fine lines are your bugbear, use a light eye and lip cream to tighten and plump the contours daily.
Before you reach for your lipstick bullet, prep around your mouth for a smooth finish. “Start by using a primer, concentrating on the nasolabial folds smile lines and any creases that run through the lip line,” Kingston suggests. “Then use a brightening cream concealer through the same areas, to lift out any shadows.”
SMILE SHOPPING LIST: Decleor Excellence De L’age Regenerating Eye and Lip Cream, £53.50 (www.decleor.co.uk); Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub, £14 (blissworld.co.uk); Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer, £14.50 (Debenhams)
SMILE ENHANCING
The type of lip product you use can be a cheat in itself, in the quest for whiter-looking teeth and juicier lips.
If you’re after instant lip volume, opt for a plumping gloss containing chilli extracts and light-reflecting particles.
For brighter teeth, you can create the instant illusion of whiteness simply by using the right shade of lipstick: “A red or pink lipstick with a blue tone or subtle amount of blue pearl can be very flattering, because it makes your eyes and teeth look whiter and brighter,” says Poppy King, founder of Lipstick Queen.
Conversely, brown and peachy tone lipsticks can bring out the yellow in your teeth, so avoid these if you’re on a whiter-than-white mission.
Don’t be daunted by full-on blue lip products either. “They actually give lips more of a berry tint,” explains King, “and they’re perfect for maximising a brighter smile.”
SMILE SHOPPING LIST: ArtDeco Hot Chilli Lip Booster, £12.79 (Debenhams); Delilah Colour Intense Cream Lipstick in Vintage, £24 (Space NK); Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor Lip Gloss, £22 (Space NK)
TRIED & TESTED
Lisa Haynes faces autumn with a seasonal complexion brightener…
I hate autumn. It’s the start of cold, dark months ahead, and this year my face has started to protest about the seasonal change too. To banish my new-found dry patches and dull complexion, I head for a Sothys Oxygenating Seasonal Facial. The five-step treatment uses blueberry and cranberry-enriched products to detoxify and oxygenate skin.
The therapist begins by peering closely at my skin with a beaming magnifying mirror to assess the damage. I’m told I have typical combination ’city skin’, with some congestion and random dry patches, so a facial at this time of year is perfect to hydrate, restore radiance and buff away any dregs of summer tan.
My make-up is removed with micellar water and then my face is swathed in hot towels, before a two-in-one mask exfoliant is applied to my face and neck for five minutes. The blueberry and cranberry combination smells fruity but not overpowering, and once removed, my skin feels instantly fresher. Next, a rich, luxuriant modelling cream is used to massage my face. It feels unbelievably relaxing but, at the same time, wakes up my lazy facial muscles. Once again, there’s a focus on the neck, which the therapist tells me is a commonly neglected area.
A thick paste of peel-off mask is applied while my hands and arms are blissfully massaged, then the final step is an oxy-mineral serum that’s smoothed onto my face. I look in the mirror, having de-aged about five years on the treatment bed. The next day, my skin looks even fresher. Autumn, I am officially ready for you.
:: Sothys Oxygenating Seasonal Facials, from £45 for one hour, are available at Sothys salons and spas nationwide. To find your nearest spa, visit www.sothys-uk.co.uk