We all want healthy, glowing, sensual, smooth, soft lips. Even though we are not used with it, we should all be aware of the fact that taking care of our lips is extremely important, especially during cold winter days. Representing a transition area, the skin on the lips is more sensitive and more vulnerable to all external noxious factors such as wind, cold, UV rays and pollution. Therefore, you need to learn a few basic lip care tips and tricks in order to keep them healthy and seductive.
The skin on our lips is five times more sensitive and delicate
than the one on our face. This is why we need to pay extra
attention to the lip care process. During the day women are used to
apply lipstick, gloss or lip balm on their lips. However, when it
comes to all the skin care routine, everything
stops at cleansing.
You should know that lips are made from the same membrane as the
one that protects the interior of the mouth, still the skin
protecting them is not as rough as the skin on the body. That means
that the moist on the lips constantly evaporates and water
retention at their level is very reduced.
Moreover, since lips don't have the same pigments or glands that
contain fats, we can consider them as one of the most sensitive
areas of the face. Even though we don't realize it, there are
numerous factors that highly contribute to our lips getting
dehydrated, dry, but also an unpleasant aspect and feeling. In this
context, we have to be very careful and try to find out and respect
a few basic lip care tips and tricks. Besides all the products
found in stores there are also numerous natural, homemade
alternatives.
There are various things we do that directly affect our lips and
which became part of our everyday life. For example, one of the bad
habits that has a negative effect upon our lips is licking them as
the only thing we do is dry them. Saliva contains salts that are
aggressive to the thin and sensitive skin on the lips.
When saliva evaporates, the moisture level decreases, lips become
dry in an instant and they chap much more easily. Another harmful
habit is biting the skin on the surface of your lips, action which
causes bleeding and unattractive lips.
What we need to do is to always carry with us a moisturizing lip balm. Your daily routine should start in the evening when lips should be cleansed using an eye cleansing lotion or gel, therefore something appropriate for sensitive areas. Before going to bed apply some lip balm that you need to massage so it enters the skin.
In order to be effective, the entire lip care process should be done in the evening as you shouldn't apply anything else on your lips for at least one hour. While in the shower, use a toilette glove and some sugar and gently exfoliate your lips. Immediately after, moisturize them. This is an essential step for healthy lips.
Another important thing to consider is to protect your lips against harmful sun rays even in winter when the intensity of UV rays can increase up to 60% due to snow reflection. Since the skin on your lips doesn't contain melanin to protect them from UV rays, sun exposure can lead to dryness and exfoliation, and it might even cause carcinoma at lip level. Therefore, when going out, be very careful so that the lip balm you choose contains a SPF of at least 15.
A special attention should be given to your lips during winter
time, especially if your lips are chapped. Always use a lip balm as
it moisturizes and prevents exfoliation. Make sure your lip balm
contains hyaluronic acid, vitamins A and D, avocado and jojoba oil,
Shea butter, and chamomile.
If you want to smooth wrinkles in this area, massage the lip
contour with a propolis lip balm. You can also replace your lip
balm with some honey. Another useful homemade product is a mixture
made of honey and olive oil that you should apply and leave it act
for at least 15 minutes. If you love using lipstick all day long,
in winter you should try to apply it less as it might cause rashes.
However, if you still want to use it, apply lip balm first.
The importance of a scrub in our beauty routine is already
known. Exfoliating your lips will allow the lip balm to enter the
skin for a maximum effect.
Once a week use a scrub or an exfoliating gloss in order to remove
dead cells at the surface. Gently massage the lips and remove the
product with some cold water. You can also use a homemade scrub by
mixing some brown sugar and honey. After exfoliating, apply green
tea masks that nourish your lips. In the morning, you can also take
a soft toothbrush and apply some moisturizing cream on it. Massage
your lips for a few minutes, but make sure you don't swallow the
moisturizer. This is a great step that helps you remove dead cells
and moisturize dry skin.
If you want to prevent dry lips, you should know that what you eat or drink plays a major role too. For example, the eight glasses of water that one should drink daily allow the hydration from the interior. Moreover, foods rich in vitamin A, fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium are important also. Besides, the lack of vitamin B or iron in the body is the cause of sensitive skin on the lips. You should have a balanced diet and eat every day foods rich in vitamin B, such as brown rice, spinach, milk, nuts, eggs, bananas, soy, broccoli, or fish.