Pucker Up! Heal and Protect: The Ultimate Lip Care Guide
Heal and Protect: The Ultimate Lip Care Guide
Winter winds, indoor heating, and a lack of hydration can leave our lips feeling dry, chapped and uncomfortable. But fear not! With a little extra care and some simple tips, you can restore your lips to their soft and supple state. In this blog post, we'll explore the causes of dry, chapped lips and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to care for them. Let's dive in!
Understanding Dry Lips
Dry lips can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Lack of Moisture. Lips lack oil glands, making them more susceptible to dehydration. A lack of moisture can leave them dry, cracked, and uncomfortable.
Environmental Factors. Exposure to harsh weather conditions, such as cold winds and low humidity, can strip the lips of their natural oils. Remember, sun exposure can still wreak havoc during the cold winter months
Licking your lips. Please STOP - Period. Licking your lips provides a brief feeling of relief and sense of hydration from your saliva, but this is short lived because of the quick evaporation. Licking your lips will only be temporary fix but will ultimately make the problem worse.
Dehydration. Not drinking enough water can affect the hydration levels of your entire body, including your lips. Your skin, including your lips, is the last organ to receive the water that you drink, so drinking enough and staying hydrated is essential!
What to Avoid
Harmful Ingredients. Certain lip care products may contain ingredients that can contribute to dryness including fragrance, menthol, camphor, salicylic acid and phenol. Essentially any lip balms that are labeled as “Medicated” – steer clear of! Be mindful of what you're applying to your lips – less is more!
Do not use “lip scrubs” for exfoliation. The same concept applies to your lips as it does for your skin. These scrubs create micro tears in the skin of your lips and allows water to evaporated, further dehydrating your lips and depriving them of much needed moisture.
Caring for Dry, Chapped Lips
Hydrate - BOTH Inside and Out
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body and lips hydrated.
Use a humidifier at night, place it right next to your bedside. This will significantly improve the overall level of hydration of your skin and lips while you rest and repair.
The Ultimate Lip Cocktail
1) Start with adding moisture to you lips with a light spray of water or by simply putting water on your clean fingertips to your lips.
2) Next, apply a drop or two of a Hyaluronic Acid (HA) serum to your lips and massage in. *HA can hold up to 1000 times it weight in water, so it’s important to start a damp surface as noted above and then add HA for optimal hydration.
3) Finally, apply an occlusive to seal in the hydration that you just applied. This step prevents water loss and locks in moisture - the dynamic duo and key to success in combating dry skin and lips.
*Look for ingredients including ceramides, jojoba oil, coconut oil and petroleum – Yes, Vaseline or a new favorite of mine, CeraVe Healing Ointment. A little goes a long way!
Repeat this process morning and night, or as often as needed.
Protect from the Elements
During the day, use a lip balm with SPF to shield your lips from the sun's harmful UV rays. In cold weather, consider covering your lips with a scarf and the lip cocktail detailed above.
Nourish from Within: Enjoy A Healthy Diet
Consume foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables, to promote overall skin health. The Mediterranean Diet offers a well-balanced approach that is rich in healthy fats and oils.
These are just a few tips to keep your these tips into your daily routine, you can bid farewell to dry, chapped lips. Remember, consistency is key, so make these practices a part of your regular lip care routine to maintain soft, healthy lips all year round.
New Brand Spotlight: KARI GRAN
A lovely brand from Seattle, Washington that we are brimming with excitement over!
Kari Gran Lip Whip Duo and Lip Brush
Kari Gran is natural, clean and organic skincare that truly nourishes and hydrates the skin. Poured in small batches, made in the USA and they are cruelty-free and 100% plastic free.
We are proud to offer The Lip Whip in a variety of luscious colors, and some neutral options as well paired with and her beautiful lip brush for an easy, mess free application.
The Essentials Mini Kit
Cleanse, hydrate, protect and GO.
This simple, elegant skincare regimen is ideal for every age and every stage. This 2-week trial kit is packed with skin-friendly, oil-based products abundant in antioxidants and omega fatty acids that nourish and hydrate skin while also helping to support skin's overall health.
This kit includes mini versions of the Essential Cleansing Oil, Essential Hydrating Tonic in Lavender, Essential Serum, and Essential SPF.
The Essential Balm
Hydration, moisture and the perfect solution for your face and body,
The Essential Balm is a must-have product that is the ultimate multitasker. This velvety, moisturizing face and body balm nourishes and hydrates dry skin with organic oils of Camellia and Rosehip and helps soothe with organic Arnica and Sea Buckthorn CO2. Your skin will feel ultra-hydrated and smoother, without an oily residue. Gentle enough to use as a face balm, and potent enough to soften the driest patches on your body.
All products can be found at Skin Glow Collective. Please reach out if you are interested!
