10 Ways to Avoid Chapped Lips ...

When it is cold outside I’m sure you find yourself wrapped up in hats, scarves, gloves and coats to keep your body, ergo skin, warm. However, do you think about your lips and face? Pull your scarf up to your nose to protect your lips from the wind, rain and ice cold. Or, go one step further and wear a balaclava, especially if you ride a bike and have the cold wind hitting your face.

Keep your lips moist with a good lip balm. Choose a moisturizer that contains beeswax or petroleum jelly to really keep the moisture in.

You might think that your moisturizing routine is perfect, you have all the top lotions and potions, however you need to avoid putting them on your lips. Rubbing cleanser on your lips can dry them out. Also watch out for facial wash that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as these ingredients can really chap your lips.

Staying hydrated is important for countless reasons and it’s also one of the essential ways to avoid chapped lips. Drinking enough water has a whole host of health benefits including preventing your lips from chapping from the inside out. Drink eight glasses of water each day to help keep your lips hydrated and soft.

When you are looking after your lips, don’t forget the exfoliating lip scrub. Exfoliating your lips gently will help to keep them smooth and soft. If your lips are already a little chapped then use the scrub to rub off any dry and dead skin. They’ll be kissable in no time!

However tempting it might be to lick your lips to stop them cracking don’t do it! It actually causes them to dry up even more. When the saliva on your lips disappears the natural moisture does too.

Don’t give up lippy just because you are worried about chapped lips; you just need a little education on what ones to use. Wearing matte or long lasting lipsticks are probably just going to dry up your lips because they contain alcohol that strips them of their natural moisture. Try a lipstick that contains balm, or a natural one with a beeswax base. Alternatively, try topping your lippy with a little lip balm so you have the colour you want and you are keeping your lips protected too.

Whatever time of the year, put sunscreen on your lips to prevent them from cracking and burning in the sun. Even on cold winter days the sun rays are still beaming down on our skin so it is important to wear it then too. Try a lip balm that contains sunscreen, preferably with a SPF of 15 or above to be sure that you don’t get sunburnt lips; something that can be pretty painful!

When the air is dry it can damage your lips and make them dry and cracked. Turn on the humidifier when you sleep to add a little moisturizer into the air.

This is a little bit of a strange one, but it works! Breathing through your mouth is the fastest way to get yourself undesirable chapped lips. Breathe through your nose to prevent the cold air entering through your mouth and drying up your lips.

You’ll never have the perfect pout if you don’t invest in the care of your lips. Do you pay yours enough attention?