Kissing. It's easy right? Well it should be but for many of us it may be a technique that we don't feel overly confident with or that we don't feel we are 'good' at. Maybe a couple of bad date experiences have left you a little jilted, or maybe kissing in your relationship has started to wane with your long term partner? Either way, here are 5 top tips to get your confidence back so you can enjoy this wonderful past time to the max!

The kiss build up

Just like in the movies, the build up to a passionate kiss can be half the fun and excitement. We are not saying that every kiss requires big preparation (after all, it's the unexpected ones that turn us on the most) but if this is your first kiss with a new partner then you want to ensure that your body and mouth are in ultimate kissable condition.

Just like in the movies, the build up to a passionate kiss can be half the fun and excitement.

This means non-scented lip balm, fresh breath, smooth skin and a gentle spritz of perfume or after-shave. Don’t douse yourself with strong perfume or heavy lipstick as this may actually repel your partner, instead of encouraging them to lean in for a kiss.

Once you are kiss-ready, try sending some subtle signals to let your partner know that a kiss is on the cards. Eye contact is vital so throw some sexy glances in their direction and try to let them catch you sneaking a look at their lips, whilst keeping your own lips soft and slightly open. If you want to get the kissing started but don't want to appear too forceful, a great way to do it is to give a kiss on the cheek as a sign that you want to get closer. If you want to be extra cheeky, plant the kiss near the corner of their mouth to make sure they get the hint! Keep the eye contact up and then move in for the lips.

Start slowly and gentle

At the beginning of your kiss, try three soft, gentle kisses to the lips with a small pause in between each. Start slow as you want to leave your partner wanting more. As your kissing intensifies, make sure you’re not building up too much saliva in your mouth. A sloppy kisser is unattractive so, if you've got too much saliva, swallow it down to avoid awkward situations.

Slowly build up the duration and pressure of each kiss, allowing your mouths to naturally lock. One partners' lips will generally move on top of the others; however, feel free to move your lips to the bottom to mix things up a little. For an added twist, try gently kissing or lightly sucking on your partners lower lip, whilst their lips are on top for a sensual moment.

Just enough tongue

When things are heating up, it's time to introduce your tongue. Start by gently rolling your tongue over your partners bottom lip or rotating it in tiny circular movements to massage the inside of the mouth. Make sure not to go too fast as you want to wait for their response. As your kiss carries on, be wary of going overboard with your tongue. Too much tongue action can put your partner off and ruin any mood that was created.

It’s not unusual for tongue kissing to decrease for couples as they grow further into their relationships; however, it is important to remember that passionate kissing can play a huge part in maintaining a couple’s bond. If your partner has stopped kissing as foreplay, follow the steps above to give you both an unforgettable night of passion.

Mix it up a bit

Remember that variety is the spice of life and the best kissers use different techniques to surprise and delight their partners. If you usually use your tongue to kiss, you don’t always have to in order to hit those heights of passion. You can try kissing other parts of your partners body too, and then moving back to the lips as an erotic alternative.

Start by kissing your partner on the lips and from there move slowly to their cheek, side of their eyes and then their ears. Remember that ears are one of the most sensitive parts of a human body, so go gentle and use small kissing movements to really send pleasant shivers down their body. Then from the ears, move down the neck, kissing and caressing it gently. Then transition back from the neck, to the ears, to the cheek, and finally move back to kissing them on the lips. Don't shift movements quickly or abruptly, remember to keep it smooth and flowing and soft to make it all feel more natural and romantic.

Use your hands

No-one wants to kiss someone who stands there with their hands slopped down by their sides. Where is the fun in that? A far better way to use your hands is to start to explore your partners face and body as you are embraced in a kiss. Using your hands can draw your partner closer to you and heighten the connection for you both.

The best place to start is with the hair. Gently twirl strands of their hair or slowly massage the back of the scalp. From here you can move down to the neck and shoulder areas. Men tend to love their shoulders and biceps being held during kissing as it makes them feel stronger and like their partner is enjoying their physique. Also a gentle neck massage can stimulate the senses and arouse your partner in many ways.

Using your hands is one of the most crucial techniques for building passion during a kiss, for both you and your partner. As your hands begin to explore each other more, you will feel the passion and intensity of the kiss increase significantly, leaving you with a hint of what might be to come later on.