As the temperature drops and air begins to dry, so do our lips. Keeping your lips moisturized and chap free is no easy task in the depths of a New York winter, so with those bitter cold months just around the corner, it’s not too early to begin planning your winter lip care.
Here are some tips that will help soften the cracks.
Hydrate
First of all, it’s important to remember that hydration for your lips starts from within, so drink plenty of water this winter to help keep your body hydrated. When reaching for a warm drink, consider a simple cup of hot water. It will warm you up, keep you hydrated, and is good for your digestion, too.
Wipe Off Lipstick
The second important tip in preventative care for your lips is to remove all of your lipstick and lipgloss at the end of each day. Any residue left contributes to drying out the lips as well as causing unwanted pigmentation.
Remove Dry Skin
Once the lips have chapped, however, it’s essential to take extra care in removing the dry skin safely to maximize the healing process and quickly regain your healthy lips.
After soaking a small towel or flannel in hot water, gently place on your lips for five minutes. Then, using the pulp side of a mandarin peel, gently rub over the lips to remove the dry skin. Mandarin pulp is a great natural exfoliate and full of vitamin C which helps to brighten the lip color.
Alternatively you can apply a generous layer of natural lip balm, then using a dry toothbrush, preferably soft bristle, gently remove the dry skin from the lips. Now your lips are ready for your regular lip balm treatment.
Prevent Bacteria Buildup
Be sure to avoid unwanted bacteria getting onto your lips when applying your lip balm, as this is a major player in drying out the skin. If your lip gloss comes in a pot without an applicator, wash your hands prior to dipping your finger in, or better yet, use a cotton Q-tip to help reduce the bacteria risks.
If you use one of those squeeze tube-style lip balms or lip balm in a regular retractable lipstick container, take the time to clean off the residue that builds up around the edges because bacteria can grow there.
Choose Natural Balms
When choosing a lip balm think carefully about what you are putting on your lips. Being the cosmetic applied most frequently during the winter months, it is the most ingested too. Natural lip balms are a safer way to go to get the hydration you need.
Petroleum jelly, which is used in many of the top brand lip balms, works as sealant. While sealing in moisture, it can also seal in the bacteria already on the lips, working to dry the skin instead of hydrate.
So let your lips breathe this winter by finding the right lip balm to keep your lips hydrated, protected, and nourished. And when the chaps catch up, use the above tips and handle with loving care.
Friends Read Free