Chapped lips are a serious issue during the winter for many people. As with your winter skincare regimen, the lips need a winter plan too. Did you know that the lips are the driest place on the body? Lips have no sebaceous glands and zero sweat glands. Here are a few tips to get ahead of the game.
- Sleep with a humidifier on as this adds humidity to the air (hydration)!
- Exfoliate the lips. Try our favorite Bite Beauty’s Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub. A delicious lip mousse that conditions, fights free radicals and exfoliates by utilizing Resveratrol, Fruit acids and Rice Bran. Do not exfoliate chapped lips.
- Wear SPF on the lips even during the winter. UV rays are still prevalent during the winter months.
- Do not lick or bite your lips.
- Stay hydrated. Humidity drops during the winter so drink fluids and lots of water.
- Cover Up! If it’s windy or cold wear a scarf around your mouth and nose area.
Ingredients to look for:
Understand which ingredients are helpful, as some chap sticks dry the lip out! Good ingredients to look for are Almond Oil, Beeswax (acts as a protective barrier), Lanolin, Vitamin E and Shea Butter. Coconut oil may feel soothing too as it is antibacterial, anti fungal and anti microbial.
Ingredients to avoid if lips are chapped:
Citrus- no juice or fruit as this acid will sting open cuts on the lips.
Matte lipsticks- as good as it looks, this will dry lips out more.
Menthol, Camphor or Eucalyptus products-these can be common in lip balms, but can sting and irritate already cracked lips.
Lip plumpers- as these utilize cinnamon or chili to irritate lips and bring blood to them, they’re not good for dry or irritated lips.
The elements (wind, sun etc.) – Cover your face with a scarf when outdoors.
Biting or picking- will dry the lips, make them look flaky and make them bleed in severe cases.
Salty food- will dry lips and mouth which may cause more lip licking-can also sting the lips
Spicy food- same as above
Acid based skincare products- careful with acid products for thecae as they may spread to the lip are causing more irritation and or burning.
The best protection for lips is prevention. Once you find a lip balm or chap stick you like, buy a bunch and keep one in each bag! A few of our favorites: Dr. Lipp, Bite Beauty, Badger.
