By: Cat Juan-Ledesma
Before you pucker up after saying “I do,” take note that the skin on our lips is quite different from the skin on the rest of our bodies. For one, it’s thinner, which is why our lips have a natural pinkish flush from the blood vessels underneath. Second, they actually don’t have any oil or sweat glands to protect it from the environment. This is why your lips need a little more love and why thousands of tubes of lip balm are sold every second of every day all over the world. Here are some tips to prevent chapping and flaking and to make sure your lips get a moisturizing kiss for all their hard work.
- Exfoliate the flakes away: The first step to getting softer lips is to gently remove the dry skin on the surface. One of the easiest ways to do this is to mix a little coconut or olive oil with sugar and gently rub in on your lips in a circular motion.
- Look for key ingredients: Get products that have high moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which are humectants that attract water in the air. Other ingredients that are worth looking into are shea butter, vitamin E, lanolin or oils such as jojoba, sunflower, olive and coconut.
- Protect your lips from the sun: The skin on your lips is more prone to burning from the sun than the rest of your face. Be sure that your everyday lip balm has an SPF of at least 30 or higher to prevent burns or flaking.
- Water is your best friend: Dry lips are often one of the first signs of dehydration. Be sure that you’re getting an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Skip the soda or sugary iced tea and opt for good old-fashioned H20. It’s better for your health.
- Take advantage of sleep: While in slumber, you have less chances of smacking your lips together and rubbing off moisture. Take advantage of this time by slathering on a healthy amount of lip balm to give your lips a good boost before the day. I personally like spreading it even slightly outside my lip line to keep the skin around the area well hydrated as well.