If you care about your looks and preventing ageing signs, then you’re probably into skincare. Sticking to a routine every day that starts and ends with your carefully selected products is important in hydrating, rejuvenating and protecting from the elements. And this in turn not only helps with looks, but it’s essential for the skin health as well.
source: @activeskin
The same goes for regular care routine for lips with quality lip care products made from active ingredients such as essential oil extracts, yet not everyone pays it the attention it deserves. The skin on the lips is much more delicate than the rest of the face (three to five layers as opposed to 16). And the fact that it has to go through daily wear and tear by talking, singing, eating, drinking, breathing, kissing, it’s easy to see signs like splitting and peeling.
Not to mention, lips as some other areas, like the neck and hands can give away your age, especially if you don’t treat them with the needed TLC. Bad habits, such as smoking and lip biting, lack of sun protection as well as the fact there are no sweat glands on this skin to keep it moisturised are all ageing your lips.
This results in signs like dryness, thinning and loss of volume. If you are guilty of any of the aforementioned habits, and don’t have any care routine to keep your lips soft and plump, it’s high time you changed! Here are some ways you can show them some love.
Choose the Right Products
source: @biologiserum
Some of the basic steps in lip care consist of applying balms, masks and scrubs. The first two steps are great for hydrating, creating a protective layer against the harsh weather elements and even treat some problems like irritation. And the scrubs are essential for exfoliating the dead skin cells which is a process that helps with the skin regeneration.
Since the skin in this area is thinner and more sensitive, it’s advisable to refrain from applying your standard facial products. Same as when choosing beauty care, in the example of moisturisers, cleansers, toners and serums, you should pay attention to the ingredients in the lip care products, preferably buying those of organic nature so you’d get the benefits of amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
source: @burtsbeesaus
As there’s a vast array of options you’d come across, it’s good to choose based on the problem you’re trying to treat, or the amount of protection you want. Hyaluronic acid, zinc oxide, niacinamide are ingredients to focus on if you’re after preventing ageing signs from dryness, and avoiding sunburned lips. In terms of healing, aloe vera and bisabolol can be of help, as well as the anti-viral alpine rose extract. Whereas for softening, you should look for beeswax, shea and coco butter.
In case you don’t have the time needed for a routine that consists of applying separate products, I suggest acquiring one meant to treat various aspects, from UV protection to hydration and softening. For those who want to skip lipstick, there are plenty of tinted lip balms to choose from!
Get Your DIY Mode On
If you want to invest more on other lip care essentials and save up on the scrub, you can prepare your own with ingredients you have at home, like sugar, coconut oil and honey. For single use only, you can mix up just a bit of the three with some drops of water, whereas if you want to store more for a week or two, choose a small container that you prefer and fill it up for future use.
source: tairalyn.com
You can use the scrub up to three times per week, and it’s best to exfoliate at night when you’re preparing to doze off. Scrub gently, rinse well with water, and apply your favourite lip balm as a finishing touch!
Stay Hydrated
source: watercenter.sas.upenn.edu
This sounds too obvious but it’s true: if you want to have plump lips, you have to stay hydrated. There are people who forget to drink water daily, and then end up surprised how dry their skin looks. If this sounds like you, and you aren’t that much of a fan of water, just think how every drop you add to your body helps your lips stay in their fullness.
There are various apps that can assist you with getting your daily dose of water, so you won’t have to struggle to get in the habit of it. Also, caring about the hydration of your lips means avoiding the habit of licking them, knowing the saliva, which is full of enzymes, can be too harsh for them and end up drying them quicker than expected.
Enrich Your Diet
Caring for your lips requires you to care for your beauty inside and out. Along with minding your water intake, you should focus on enriching your diet with the right nutrients also, choosing those fruits and veggies packed with vitamins A, B, C and E. And oh, don’t forget the essential fatty acids either!
