Lips are like underwear – normally they go unnoticed, but if something is wrong and they’re uncomfortable it bugs you all day! Lacklustre lips are one of the first-world’s most whined about problems, yet we often don’t properly care for them until they’re cracked, burnt or chapped and we’re scrounging around our bags for something – anything – to put on them! Lips have skin too and deserve care just like the rest of your face. Thankfully, maintaining supple and plump lips is simple and fun – let’s learn how!
The ins and outs of lips
Why are our lips so prone to problems? There’s two main reasons:
Thin skinned
It’s sometimes easy to forget that your lips form part of your skin because they look so different. Unlike the mucous membrane on the inside of your mouth, the outer visible lip is covered by a thin layer of skin, which keeps it dry and protected. But the stratum corneum or the outermost layer is far thinner on your lips than the rest of your body. This is why lips peel and crack so much easier.
Below the surface
The second reason why lips seem so fickle is that they have no sebaceous glands. Rather than self-moisturising, they require outside help to stay supple and not dried out. The plus side of this means that lips don’t need to be cleansed like the rest of the face (aside from removing makeup).
External causes of damaged and ageing lips
On top of these complicating factors, lips are constantly battered by daily life and the elements, leading to damage and premature ageing. They’re at the forefront of all our actions, being it talking, drinking, eating, or just being out and about. Three big things cause visible lip damage and ageing:
Drying out from wind + time
Unfortunately the nature of the beast is that our daily life including dry winds and normal wear takes its toll on the lip skin, drying it out. If left unmanaged this dryness leads to splitting and bleeding that can be painful, cause infections and even permanently scar.
Sun exposure
As with the rest of the skin, UV exposure to the lips leads to painful sunburn (read: paper-mache feeling lips for days), pigmentation, loss of collagen and risk of skin cancer. The long-term result is thinning, patchy, and potentially lethal lips.
Repeated movements
Things like puckering up for cigarettes or straws day in day out sets in deep wrinkles that treatments can’t fix. If the lips are already dry or damaged, these movements agitate the skin and encourage cracking.
The right way to treat your lips
Luckily preventing these issues is easy – daily lip care is quick and fun! No more looking for lip balm after you’ve got dry lips covered in peeling skin. Healthy lips should always look smooth and shiny and are one of the most flattering no-makeup secrets!
My lips are a prominent feature of my face, so I make sure to take great care of them. Here are my lips as of this morning:
The trick to lip happiness is simple – regular and habitual application of two kinds of lip products:
Moisturising product
This layer is designed to be emollient, to soak in and hydrate the lip surface. And that means none of the mentholated Carmex or Blistex which is barely moisturising and has irritating oils. Lanolin or an oil-based product is perfect.
Top picks:
Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm
HURRAW! Vanilla Bean, Chocolate & Root Beer (The vanilla is my favourite and current product of choice)
Sealing product
The sealant should stay on top of the moisturiser, providing slip and shine and keeping product and moisture from evaporating or being licked off. Petrolatum is a great choice, but preferably with an added sunscreen for daytime.
Top picks:
Lucas’ Papaw Ointment (This is what I have used for years!)
I keep these two products by my side:
I layer these two products on a few times a day, applying the moisturising followed by the sealing product. I make sure to apply after brushing my teeth in the morning or when I’ve arrive at wherever I’ll be for the day, after lunch, and after brushing teeth at night. At night, feel free to be more generous with your product than during the day to counteract any lip-licking that happens in your sleep and help it last 8 hours.
If you’re starting from scratch with a rough set of lips, you may apply the products more often until they’re softened up.
Most importantly, find products you enjoy using – this will encourage you to apply them every day.
Of course, if your lips are cracked chronically no matter what you try, you should see a doctor to determine if there’s a deeper cause.
Daily lip tips
On top of the products you use, some daily habits you should keep:
1. Don’t smoke or use straws unnecessarily
As mentioned earlier, the repetitive puckering motion trains deep, vertical lines to form across your lips. Not to mention that a cigarette habit is one of the worst things you can do for overall skin health.
2. Avoid matte lipsticks
Not only will the dry formula draw moisture from your lips, but the texture exaggerates existing dryness and won’t lend well to lip moisturiser application during the day. I’m not a massive lip colour fan, but when I wear it I reach for glosses. They trick the eye into seeing a more full moist set of lips. My favourite at the moment is Rimmel Oh My Gloss in Crystal Clear.
3. Exfoliate gently
I personally don’t exfoliate often – hydrated lips don’t need it! But when when lips are feeling flaky or peeling. use a soft clean toothbrush, damp washcloth, or sugar scrub. Do NOT bite or rip off the excess skin – ever.
These tips and treatments should keep a youthful, comfortable smile on your face! Enjoy the panic-free life of always knowing where to find your lip balm. I accept thanks in the form of new lip balms to add to my collection.
[…] Exfoliate your lips using a lip scrub or a soft toothbrush to remove any dead skin. Follow with a thick lip balm at night to keep them soft and free from cracks. If you’re planning on wearing a bright lipstick, go ahead and spend some time on a full lip care routine. […]