Made for Kissing
Complexity of Kissing
Kissing makes us feel good. It releases chemicals in our brains that make us happy and builds attachments to the people we kiss. To kiss someone takes 34 different muscles. Who knew kissing was such good exercise?
Kiss More
Kissing your partner increases your satisfaction. In general, more kissing means more relationship satisfaction. In a way, kissing on the lips is the most intimate thing we can do.
Touching Lips Globally
Most cultures do romantic kissing, but not all do. Native people from the South Pacific and Eskimo cultures don’t kiss often. These cultures do other kinds of face touching.
Kiss Test
Women, in particular, seem to use kissing when evaluating a potential mate. Kissing is where the magic happens. As in fairy tales, a kiss of true love brings the princess back to life.
Greet with a Kiss
Most Southern European cultures kiss each other when greeting. In most places in France, this means 2 kisses, 1 on each cheek. In other parts of Europe, it is 1 kiss, and in others, 4 kisses are the norm! In general, men don’t greet another man with a kiss, but 2 women do, and men and women also greet one another with a kiss. It is common in Catholic countries probably due to the Apostle Paul urging people to greet each other with a kiss. Greeting strangers with a kiss also happens often in Latin America.
Marriage Kickoff
The wedding kiss has been around for generations. A kiss is traditionally the first thing a couple does when they are married. It symbolizes two becoming one. It traces back to Roman times when the kiss served to mark public agreement to the marriage. A marriage was sealed with a kiss as most people couldn’t sign their name. More kissing often follows at the wedding reception when guests clink their glasses.
Kiss of Adoration
It is also common to kiss objects of great respect. Relics such as the crucifix are kissed. Or for example, the pope’s ring is kissed on greeting the pope. A kiss is a sign of respect. Roman slaves kissed the hand of their master. It is a symbol of submission and loyalty. Later, in the 1600s, men began kissing the hands of important women as a greeting of respect and adoration.
Touching Lips
Lips are extremely touch-sensitive. They’re at least 100 times more touch-sensitive than your fingertips, which are already very sensitive. A huge part of your brain’s touch processing system is dedicated to the lips. They are meant to be touched. Have you ever wondered why babies put everything in their mouths? They are actually using more of their brain when they use their lips to explore their world. Your lips have more nerve endings than any other part of your body. Use them.
Lips Telling Stories
Human lips are unlike any other species. Almost no other species has lips visible when the mouth is closed. Human lips also are designed for making complex speech sounds. In addition to speech, lips can send other signals. Lips are very thin skin, only about 5 layers, so they are a bit transparent. Blood vessels under the lips give lips their pinkish hue. When we are aroused, our lips get redder.
Fat Lips
Lips get smaller as we age. In general, thicker lips are a sign of youth. That’s why women sometimes get Botox to make their lips thicker. Lips also swell when we are romantically excited. The swelling makes them even more touch sensitive.
Lip Protection
Lips tend to dry out because they have no sweat glands like the rest of our skin. Lips also are missing the oil glands that most skin has. The best way to keep lips moist is to drink water. If you don’t drink enough, your lips will be dry, and because lips are more transparent, they have less protection from the sun’s UV rays than the rest of your skin.
Jelly Lips
A petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, works well to keep your lips moist, but it doesn’t moisten dry lips. For that, you need something else. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin added to Vaseline works best to keep your lips moist. Hyaluronic acid or glycerin by themselves will tend to dry out your lips. But, together with Vaseline, which traps moisture, they actually add moisture.
Glossy Lips
Many high-quality glossy lipsticks will also protect your lips (some cheaper ones contain harmful chemicals). Glossy lipsticks contain oil to hydrate lips. Matte or less glossy lipsticks don’t have as much oil, so they can dry out your lips. When you are in the sun and wind, it’s a good idea to protect your lips with a good chapstick that has some sun protection and protection against wind drying.
Kiss ‘n Tell
Kiss for the pleasure of delicate touching and get the added benefits of an improved relationship. Use your kissing as a sign of adoration and respect. Pucker up!
