Got dry, flaky lips? You’re not alone. In fact, winter is one of the worst times of the year for your pout. Thanks to harsh weather conditions and a lack of moisture in the air, your poor mouth is probably in need of some serious TLC.
Luckily, there’s an easy cure. Here are four steps that will have you on your way to healthier, more kissable lips.
1. Hydrate
Chapped lips are a definite sign of dehydration, so be sure to drink plenty of purified water, notes holistic health coach Heather Pierce Giannone. If you don’t love the taste of plain H2O, stock up on moisture-rich foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, to supplement your intake.
2. Exfoliate
Just like other areas of skin that become drier in winter, lips can get flaky and dull. To ensure dead skin is removed carefully, without any peeling or bleeding, founder of The Lano Company, Miranda Coggins, suggests using a made-for-lips exfoliation product that won’t damage skin.
To manually exfoliate, take a baby toothbrush (make sure it’s clean and soft), and gently rub back and forth to remove all flakes. Add a bit of Vaseline to lips for slip if necessary, recommends licensed esthetician Felicia Alva.
3. Moisturize
Now that you’ve exfoliated, you’re ready to moisturize. This is important to do both morning and evening, notes NY-based esthetician Dr. Marina Peredo. “When you moisten lips with cool water, the top layer of your skin becomes more permeable and allows products to lock in moisture.” So after you’ve showered in the morning and applied your facial moisturizer, get into the habit of doing the same with your lips. Then, again, after your evening cleansing routine.
4. Protect
“Because the skin on your lips lacks melanin to shield it from harmful UV rays, sun exposure can lead to dryness, flakiness and aged, lined lips,” explains Arbonne‘s Senior Director of Product Development,Deborah Hicks. “[SPF protection (specifically a moisturizing lip balm with an SPF 15+) is an absolute must for daytime.] To further protect your lips, add a creamy, moisturizing lipstick or gloss over top, and avoid any matte lipsticks as they tend to have a drying effect on your pout.”
Oh, and one more thing, don’t lick and bite your lips! This will only further aggravate the problem.
