While I’ve got my face hydration programme down pat, with season and travel modifications, I have routinely been plagued by dry lips, particularly in autumn and winter. In the spring and summer, they stay fairly well hydrated, but with the slightest dip in temperature, they seem to lose all moisture retention properties.
While the rest of our body gets bundled up when it’s chilly, our lips are forever exposed to the elements and because they don’t contain any oil glands, they’re virtually defenceless against the environment in preventing dryness. The skin in this area is also extremely thin, which is why our lips appear red thanks to the visibility of our blood vessels. This thickness, or lack thereof, further challenges moisture retention.
The most obvious way to keep our pucker perky is by regularly using lip balm. Whether on its own or under or over lipstick, balm provides a barrier between our lips and the environment. Easy to apply, even without a mirror, it’s the just what we need when our lips start to feel dry.
Lip saviours are something I’m always on the lookout for, so it’s no surprise that I have quite a few favourites. If you have love one that I haven’t mentioned, please do share! Who doesn't love a bit of newness to try?
Long ago, I started a love affair with a certain Chapstick variety that I can no longer source, but it is fairly closely matched by this one from Nivea. I keep this Laura Mercier balm in my handbag and apply this one from Tatcha each and every night. No, I don’t need its shimmer as I’m heading to sleep, but when I discovered it last year, it delivered the most trouble-free lips I’ve ever had in any winter. New pot is already in use.
I know many people love Reve de Miel from Nuxe, however I didn’t get along with the jar format while the stick version is perfect for me. Same goes for the By Terry Baume de Rose. The glass package is beautiful, but I prefer the doe-foot applicator and the slight sheen it gives my lips.
Perhaps you’re a Carmex addict, enjoying the camphor and menthol scent and the tingle upon application? Just bear this in mind: if your lips are very chapped, these ingredients may be irritating, rather than soothing and healing. I recommend you proceed with caution.
While balms are helpful to sooth dry lips, gentle exfoliation can help prevent them from getting to this state. Consider the options below if you want to go this route.
Apply a bit of balm to lips and then sweep a clean toothbrush over them to remove dead skin. You can also swipe your AHA facial toner over your lips once or twice a week. And you can make your own lip scrub using equal parts sugar and coconut oil, I’d suggest starting with a teaspoon of each. All of these methods will slough off dead skin revealing younger, smoother skin.
Of course as with the rest of our skin, lips look plumper when we’re well hydrated. If we fall off on our water consumption, this area can quickly show the effects through dryness and reduced size.
And because cold days and dark nights bring the perfect opportunity for a deep burgundy lip, if your canvas is anything less than baby smooth you’ll be challenged to achieve the dramatic effect you’ve chosen. If you regularly protect your lips, they’ll be able to wow whenever you need them to.