6 Tips That Make You a Better Kisser

As cliché as it sounds, a kiss can feel like a Michael Bay-level explosion, or it can make you feel absolutely nothing at all. And if a common goal of the kiss is helping determine your attaction to someone, lip-locking can also establish a budding relationship: it's the great divide between friend and lover. But there's more nuance to a simple kiss than just an equation of lips and tongues, and there are easy ways to set the pace even if you're not the most experienced kisser. Below, 6 tips on how to make the most out of a make-out session (sorry, I had to) like you're a seasoned pro.

# Freshen Up

It goes without saying that you're a better candidate for a smooch session when you're not giving off whiffs of coffee breath or garlic as you gaze deeply into someone's eyes. A little self-awareness goes a long way and packing a tiny pack of mints or gum on your next date is key to prepping yourself for a kiss.

# Work Your Eyes

When you're leaning in for a kiss, you can't use your mouth to speak, so why not say something with eye contact? When you're actually mid-kiss, though, dial it back a bit since it can be unnerving if one of you has your eyes open on a date. Temporary blindness during a kiss can intensify the way it feels—the sound of another person's breathing or the gentle touch of their hand.

# Stay in the Moment

As with anything even remotely sensual, you're guaranteed to feel more connected to the other person if you stop feeling anxious about your breath or something you said 10 minutes earlier or if you're a bad kisser by simply tuning out any extra mental chatter and giving into the moment.

# Pay Attention to Surroundings

Whether it's candlelight, a tent under the stars, in the ocean, or in a sudden rain storm, special new surroundings make a kiss interesting. Because your eyes are closed most of the time during a kiss, you'll hear and even feel the things that are happening around you more clearly.

# Be Spontaneous

Catching someone off guard with a kiss can be a wonderful thing. Give them a little gift when they least expect it.

# Control Your Saliva

Make sure, like your tongue, you control your saliva. No one craves a river of slobber down their chin.