5 Lip-Care Tips to Get Rid of Chapped Lips

Dry, dull lips are never a good look, and how are you supposed to show off your brand-new lustrous lipstick if they are cracked, chapped, and dehydrated! Dry lips can be caused by a number of things, including exposure to the elements, dried out air in a building where the heating/air con is too high, not drinking enough water, and even what you eat! So, what can you do about it? Read on as we discuss these causes further and give you our top tips that can help.

Dry Air

If you work in a building where the air conditioning and heating are constantly on in response to the temperature outside, there is not a lot you can do while you are there. However, when you get home, you can give your lips the moisture they were deprived of by using a humidifier and a good quality moisturizing lip balm. If you want maximum effects, find a heavy cream that can be used overnight. Alternatively, the best smoothing lip mask can be used just before you head out the door and provide round the clock protection in just a few minutes.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Drinking lots of water is good for your brain, body, and skin, and it is just as important for your lips. If you don’t drink the recommended 2 liters of water a day, now is the time to start. Dehydrated lips have a hard time trying to repair themselves without this basic element, so help them along by drinking water, limiting your intake of caffeinated beverages, and increasing the amount of fruit you eat. 

Bad Diet

We all know that we should eat more fruits and vegetables, but there are some foods that can irritate your lips more than others. Citrus fruits and salty foods in particular can aggravate the delicate skin of your lips and cause cracking. Moreover, a lack of healthy fats can increase dryness, so you want to include things like coconut oil and other nutrient-dense fats in your diet.

Licking Your Lips

Did you know that licking your lips actually has the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve? This is a habit a lot of people have, and one that is difficult to break. However, the saliva in your mouth is full of acids and enzymes designed to break down your food for digestion, and introducing these to your lips causes them to break down the skin surrounding them. So, try to resist the urge and take a sip of water instead when you feel as though your lips are beginning to dry out.

Not Having a Lip Care Routine

Of course, as well as changing your environment and diet, you can also help the hydration process along by adding a lip care routine to your evening ritual. First of all, always make sure you fully remove your makeup before going to bed. Following this, it is a good idea to gently exfoliate your lips with a scrub. You can make a lip scrub yourself with a teaspoon of honey mixed with two teaspoons of sugar. This will remove the dead skin cells, revealing the soft, supple skin underneath. Then, two or three times a week you may want to treat your lips to a lip balm or mask.

Dry lips may be a common occurrence in your life, but that doesn’t mean you just have to put up with it. As you can see, there are plenty of small changes you can make that will help you say goodbye to dullness and hello to a perfect pout!

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