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Do you often suffer from chapped or split lips? Letting your lips dry out like that can leave you vulnerable to irritations, allergies and even infections, so it’s vital that you consider your lips in your daily beauty routine.
For the most beautiful, healthy pink lips, make sure you follow these tips below.
Never EVER lick your lips
You probably can’t help it. Hey, it’s a natural habit that most of us have, that when we feel our lips drying up, we end up smacking or licking our lips for some much needed moisture. But what ends up happening is that the saliva evaporates pretty quickly, thus leaving your lips drier than they were to begin with. That’s because your saliva contains enzymes that break down the protective barrier that your lips naturally have.
It’s a tough habit to break, but with lip balm always in your bag, it’ll be easier to condition yourself to reach for that instead of licking your lips.
Pick a lip balm with SPF
Remember that your lips are part of your skin as well, so if you’re putting SPF on your face, you really need to be putting it on your lips as well. The sunburned feeling isn’t great to begin with, and it feels even worse on your lips. To prevent that from happening, you need to buy a lip balm that is not only hydrating but also has that SPF element. And like you would with sunscreen on your face and body, be sure to reapply as often as needed.
Have more than one lip balm
If you switch bags daily, or can’t seem to keep track of small items like a lip balm, it’s better to buy multiple lip balms so you can place one in every purse. You can also place them in different locations, such as one at your office desk, one for your bedside table, another at your vanity, another in your work bag, etc. That way, you’re reminded that you should be applying lip balm before you sleep, before putting on makeup, etc.
Drink more water
It’s amazing how many skin problems disappear when you have the doctor-recommended daily intake of water. People often forget that it’s not just about what you apply onto your body. What you put in your body is just as important, so for healthy lips, hydrate your entire body with more water.
Wear less matte lipsticks
If you can’t leave the house without lipstick, then you need to minimize the matte lipstick use. While the finish is gorgeous, matte lipsticks tend to have drying formulas, which is why they are long lasting.
And just because we’re suggesting to wear less matte lipsticks, don’t take it as wearing lipstick less overall. Hydrating lipsticks are awesome at providing your lips the extra moisture, as well as a protective layer from the sun, since your lips don’t have melanin, the natural pigment found in the rest of your skin that helps shield it from the sun.
But if you must wear a matte lipstick, just remember to put on a layer of lip balm beforehand.
Use petroleum jelly or coconut oil for intense hydration
For an overnight remedy for dry, chapped lips, apply petroleum jelly or coconut oil before you go to sleep. Both offer the protective layer to retain your natural lip moisture, which ends up speeding up the natural skin renewal and hydrating your lips from deeper within.
Exfoliate with a lip scrub
Just like the rest of your face and your body, you need to exfoliate in order to remove dead skin cells and reveal new and healthy skin. Besides, who doesn’t want soft, kissable lips?
Exfoliate when necessary, especially on days you choose to wear a matte lipstick.
Lip scrubs are really easy to make at home. All you really need is some kind of rock sugar, honey, almond oil, and cinnamon or cayenne pepper, if you want to add any plumping action to the scrub. Once you’ve made a paste, you can massage it onto your lips with your fingertips for a few minutes, then rinse off with warm water and finish with lip balm. Check out Hello Glow for more details on the recipe.
If you don’t feel like making your own lip scrub, you can always get one for cheap from local beauty brand Human Nature. Have a look at their lip scrub on their official Lazada store.
Sheena is the lead fashion writer here at Pretty Me Philippines and has contributed articles for numerous lifestyle blogs and online publications. Other than keeping up with the latest trends, she loves baking and home DIY projects.
