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With Valentines Day coming up you probably want your lips to be at their best. Having dry, chapped lips is no fun, and it is even worse when you want to smooch your lover.
During the winter our lips take quite the beating. The skin on our lips is thinner than our facial skin, making them more prone to drying out. Dry winter air, low humidity, and cold winds contribute to cracks and splits - not a pleasant experience.
What Not to do
Continually licking your lips is an instinct that only makes your chapping worse. Your skin gets more dehydrated as the saliva evaporates.
Peeling, picking or scrubbing your lips is only going to lead to bleeding and irritation, as well as slow the healing process
Avoid products containing irritants. Eucalyptus, menthol and camphor can actually irritate your skin further.
Protecting your Kisser
Lip Balm can provide topical support. The key to keeping your lips subtle and avoiding cracks and flaking is to apply balms often.
Look for balms containing nourishing oils such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, shea butter, argan oil, and vitamin E.
Wear your balm all day, re-applying frequently. Keep some in your car, in your purse and near your bed, so you always have it on hand.
Wearing a thick layer of ointment before going to bed will keep you from waking up with chapped lips. Breathing through our mouth all night dries our lips out.
Drink Water to keep yourself hydrated. Our body needs water to keep our skin moist.
Use a humidifier and keep the air in your home more moist. This will help keep your skin’s moisture levels up.
If you want some color, opt for tinted lip balms using aloe vera, coconut oil or beeswax as their base.
Diet
Make sure you are including foods containing Vitamins A, C and E.
Vitamin A: sweet potato, carrots, kale, dried apricots, sweet red peppers, and mango
Vitamin C: sweet red peppers, kale, strawberries, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and pineapple
Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, swiss chard, avocado, beet greens, and peanuts
Omega 3′ fatty acids help keep your skin moist. Salmon, mackerel and sardines are high in Omega 3’s. Cod liver oil is an excellent source (I recommend fermented cod liver oil). If you are a vegetarian, hemp oil, chia seeds and flax seeds are good alternatives.
With a little care and a little effort, you can say bu-bye to dry, chapped lips. Make this winter different - banish the sandpaper lips and get a perfectly kissable mouth.
Dry Lip Treatment
- gently rub a little sugar moistened with olive oil onto your lips
- let it sit for a minute or two
- with your fingertips or a wet washcloth, rub the mixture om your lips in small, circular motions
- rinse off with water
- follow with lip balm
How do you care for your lips in the winter? Do you have a favorite lip balm you recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Yours In Beauty,
Andrea
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