You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss… hang on a minute. No it isn't! Because when it comes to dating, a kiss can change everything. Sometimes it's spine-tinglingly magical and sends shivers from your neck to your toes. And sometimes, well, it feels more like licking a wet fish. While the chemistry you feel on your night out says a lot about how the kiss might go, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of butterflies, chills, fireworks, and other memory-making moments. Try these lip-smacking tips to make this the first of many kisses to come.
Read when the moment is right
Ever found yourself bumbling and mumbling at the end of a date, wondering if your attempt at a good night smack will be the kiss of death? You're not alone. "This is, without a doubt, one of the most common questions people ask me," says Sheila Lee, creator of advice site Kissingbooth.com. So how do you tell if someone would welcome a smooch from you? According to Lee, look for these signs: Is your date making tons of eye contact with you, or standing closer than a friend or business colleague would? If so, says Lee, this person probably wants you to go for it. If you really can't read your date, make yourself available for your date to make the move. Lee's suggestions: Stand close to your date, and let your arm rub against his or hers. Face your date with your arms open, not crossed, to show you're open to a kiss. Tell your date you had a good time, and ask your date how he or she felt. And most important? "Smile. A lot of people are turned on by a smile, which shows you're comfortable with the person you're with and happy. If your date thinks he or she is making you happy," points out Lee, "then he or she is likely to think a kiss can make you even happier."
Lock lips in a place where you don't have to hold back
Yes, it's romantic to kiss, say, out on a street corner, but if you're not the PDA type, you might end up holding back during your kiss. And those unsure feelings could hold back a fireworks-worthy performance. The fact is, kissing signals our brains to produce oxytocin, a hormone that gives us that wonderful, weak-kneed feeling. And the chemicals that produced that feeling prompt you to want to kiss more and create more, like a love drug. To make sure nothing stops that chemistry-building chemical process, make sure you're in a spot where you feel comfortable and safe, and you're not worried about what you're doing or who's watching: Move inside a doorway, behind a column, into a quiet room, or in the front seat of a dark car. That way, your and your date's bodies will be free to do what they're — ahhhhh, sigh, melt — supposed to.
Make eye contact before, during, and after your kiss
Eye contact immediately ups the intimacy level of any sexual act, say experts—so if you're smooching with your peepers shut tight, you could be missing out! Even singer Jessica Simpson is a fan of opening her eyes during a smooch. "I love to kiss with my eyes open," she's said. "It's kind of weird because you might only see one eyeball, but it's amazing what you can see through someone's eyes. It sounds clichéd, but the eyes really are the window to the soul." So, before you go for gold, take a few seconds — one Mississippi, two Mississippi — to look at your partner eye-to-eye and establish this is a special moment between the two of you. After you first kiss, pull back, open your eyes, really look at your date, then kiss again. Then, open your eyes once during the kiss to bring the personal touch home.
