A good lip care routine includes regular exfoliation, daily sun protection, a healthy diet, and adequate hydration. Guardian Life has curated effective ways to care for your lips, ensuring soft, smooth, and moisturised lips.
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Everything from licking your lips to using the wrong lip balm can sap moisture, leaving behind uncomfortable dryness and flaky patches.
Before diving into care tips, it is important to understand the causes of chapped lips. According to board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, “The lips are a very sensitive area of the face, often exposed to harsher conditions than other areas,” she says. “The lips also absorb topical ingredients more effectively than normal skin and can experience water loss greatly too.”
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Since the lips don’t have oil glands, they dry out 10 times faster than the skin on our face and body.
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Here are five simple tips for maintaining soft, moisturised lips:
1. Avoid licking your lips
It may be tempting to lick your lips when they feel dry. However, saliva evaporates quickly, taking moisture with it and leaving your lips even drier than before. Also, avoid biting or picking at your lips, especially when they are chapped.
2. Use a lip balm with SPF
Lock in moisture and protect your lips from harmful UV rays by using a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15. Apply it before heading outdoors. Also, avoid lip balms with ingredients like eucalyptus, camphor, and menthol, which can dry out your lips. Reapply every two hours for all-day protection.
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3. Stay hydrated
A woman drinking water. Photo from pexels by Diva PlavalagunaHydration is key to keeping your lips moisturised. Drinking water not only supports your overall health but also helps keep your skin and lips soft. It might help to always have a bottle of water in hand. Likewise, watch your intake of caffeinated beverages, which can cause dehydration and worsen dry lips.
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4. Exfoliate gently
Exfoliating removes dead and dry skin, leaving your lips smooth and soft. You can use a damp toothbrush, lip scrub, or washcloth to gently scrub your lips. However, be mindful not to exfoliate too frequently, as this could irritate your skin and cause them to dry out.
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5. Use hydrating and moisturising products
Products with the right ingredients can help protect your lips and prevent chapping. Ingredients that are slightly drying to facial skin can have an enhanced effect on your lips. “Retinoids, or other acne medications, are a prime example. They often cause drying and chapping of the lips—especially in the corners—even though they’re often not the intended target by the products,” Nazarian says.
If you’re using drying skincare products, Nazarian recommends applying lip balm first to create a protective barrier. Look for products containing hydrating ingredients like castor seed oil, ceramides, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, shea butter, and white petroleum jelly. Products labelled “hypoallergenic” often contain some or most of these ingredients.
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