Whether you’re looking to create a full on pout or add just a sheer shine to your lips, every woman must enlist the help of lipstick from time to time. Lipstick is a whole lot more than allowing you to simply look your best; it can help you from the inside out!

Having beautiful lips, whether they are bold and dramatic, or light and neutral, will immediately make you feel more beautiful. Feeling beautiful will give you that confidence boost you need to succeed throughout your day, and will help you stand out from the crowd. Before you know it, you will be getting that promotion at work that you have been looking for.

Here’s another benefit to putting on lipstick: hydration! While it is true that older lipstick formulas would only suck the moisture out of your lips, almost every brand and formulation of lipstick on the market today contains some sort of moisturizing agent such as vitamin E or aloe vera.

A lot of the better lipsticks and lip glosses out there also contain sunscreen. While we are all aware of how much damage the sun can do to our faces, we often neglect our lips and leave them at the sun’s mercy. By having sunscreen in your lipstick and putting on lipstick every day, you are helping keep your lips protected from the drying, aging effects of the sun. Consider your daily application of lipstick a preventative measure against aging!

Different “types” and different finishes of lipstick generally offer slightly different benefits for your lips (though if you shop around, you may be able to find the right finish of lipstick coupled with the benefits you need). Some of the different types and finishes include:

TRANSFER RESISTANT/LONG LASTING: These lipsticks are meant to last for most of your day. The almost always have an SPF of 12 or higher, and they do come infused with moisturizing agents.

TIP: Though these lipsticks do have moisturizing agents, you may still need to apply gloss to keep your lips from feeling dry throughout the day.

MATTE: As with the long lasting lipsticks, mattes may leave your lips feeling rather dry and chalky from time to time. Follow up the application of a matte lipstick with a gloss, or begin with a gloss as a base, to help keep your lips plump and hydrated.

CREAM: Cream lipsticks may not last as long, but they certainly will keep your lips happy and hydrated without the need for gloss or additional moisturizing agents.

SHEER/SATIN: Sheer lipsticks are loaded with oils that will keep your lips smooth and moisturized for as long as the lipstick lasts (which, unfortunately, is not all too very long).

For any lipstick types that tend to come off somewhat easily (such as creams and satin finishes) you can try to follow up with a lip sealer to help maintain that color all day long.

So not only do you look more glamorous and beautiful, but you’re doing your lips a favor too. Talk to some girlfriends or a make up artist about what lipsticks they like best and take recommendations – you’ll be glad you did!