Lips are a crucial and important part of your face. But it’s not something that crosses everyone’s mind. Many women have daily routines for their face and hair, but is lip care something you have to do regularly as well? Healthy looking lips can transform your appearance entirely, and dry lips can even make you look tired. While you don’t have to do as much paying attention as you would your face and hair, taking care of your lips should still be consistent in your beauty routine.
But what exactly makes our lips so unique than the rest of our body? Well, for instance, the colored flesh around our mouths, called the vermilion zone, is different from all the other skin on our body. This area has no hair follicles, no sweat glands, and fewer pigment cells. The outer layer of the skin on your lips (called the stratum corneum) is also much thinner and sensitive. This is the reason why our lips have a tinge of color—you’re able to see the blood from the thin, colorless skin on our lips. The rest of our skin has the benefit of sweat glands that can deliver moisturizing oil to the surface and a thicker protective barrier to lock it in. In the case of our lips, all our lips have is saliva from our mouth, which can be drying. Now you know why your lips get so dry in the winter!
So are you now looking to keep your lips healthy and plump? Here are 4 ways to do that.
Exfoliate
Your lips need exfoliation just like your face. Because of this, scrubbing your lips should be a basic part of your lip care. For 2-3 times per week, scrub your lips with either a homemade scrub, like simple honey and brown sugar, or you can try Whish’s Lip Scrub , which soothes and softens due to its natural ingredients such as organic shea butter, organic aloe, vitamin E extract and organic avocado oil.
In addition, remove dry, dead skin flakes by gently brushing your lips with a wet, soft toothbrush or washcloth—ideally before bed. Gently brushing lips helps boosts circulation to the area, which is an added plus! If your lips are sensitive, have been irritated or have open cracks, we recommend waiting to exfoliate until they’re healed. Signs of irritation include intense stinging and/or persistent redness.
Stay Hydrated
Did you know one of the most common causes of dry skin is not drinking enough water? Drinking eight glasses of water a day can benefit you and your body in many ways—including your lips. The hydration from drinking water brings out a pinkish tinge and a juicy look to your lips, while dry lips look exactly the opposite—dark and dull. Keeping yourself hydrated can combat the dryness on the lips regardless of the season. While you may think external application of moisture is sufficient, internal hydration is just as important. So get yourself a glass of water!
Moisturize & Apply Balms
Dryness and chapping of lips can be a big turn off. And if not properly treated at the right time, your lips can become dark and pigmented. Regular use of lip balm offers the fastest remedy for chapped, dry lips. Composed of waxes and oils, some lip balm formulas contain menthol or camphor to soothe rawness and stinging. Others feature aloe to speed healing. Many of them also incorporate sunscreen for outdoor exposure.
Lip balms can be addictive, so choose them wisely. We recommend avoiding petroleum or petroleum-based lip balms as they don’t turn out beneficial in the long run. If you’re looking for a lip balm that will not only sooth and improve the appearance of your lips, but also moisturize the heck out of them, then Whish’s Lip Balm with Bakuchiol might be what you’re looking for. Not only does this lip balm have the necessary ingredients to keep your lips healthy and moisturized, but the added ingredient of bakuchiol .
Here’s a quick lesson on the importance of bakuchiol. Bakuchiol is a 100% natural retinol replacement and antioxidant found in the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea Corylifolia plant. Clinical research shows that Bakuchiol has a retinol-like effect on the skin when applied twice daily and touts all the benefits of traditional retinol such as: reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, improvement in skin texture, reduction in hyperpigmentation, discoloration and scarring, and all without the harsh, drying, and UV sensitive side effects.
Your lips deserve the same kind of attention the rest of your skin gets, so applying lip balm that has bakuchiol can bring an elevated lip care routine where you know you’re doing your best to keep those lips healthy.
Don’t Lick Your Lips!
This is simple: Never lick your lips. It might feel good during that moment and even feel hydrating for your lips, but once the saliva evaporates, it actually leaves your lips even drier. Lips do not have any protection of their own, which means that each time you touch them or lick them, they are getting directly affected—and in not a good way. In addition, if you can help it, avoid breathing with your mouth open. Imagine how much of the moisture gets stripped away with all the dry air blowing over it?
Aiming for lips that are healthy, hydrated, and smooth should be your goal with these and any other home remedy for your lips. Keep these simple and amazing tips in mind to get those naturally healthy and soft lips. Besides, if self-care makes you smile, your lips are definitely benefiting from it. Take care and flaunt your perfect pout in style!