4 Tips for Preventing Chapped Lips
With cold weather quickly approaching, it’s time to discuss a skin woe that has plagued all of us at some point: chapped lips. If you want to know how to best prevent chapped lips this winter, here are a few tips to help you out.
How to Prevent Chapped Lips
Exfoliate on a Regular Basis
It might be strange to think about exfoliating your lips, but the truth is that dead skin cells can build up there just as easily as they can on the rest of your face. When there’s too much dead skin on your lips, they can’t properly absorb moisture from the balms and chapsticks you put on them. Fortunately, there are plenty of lip scrubs out there that can help you exfoliate your lips on a regular basis. If you’re not sure which products are best for lip exfoliation, make sure you speak with your dermatologist. They’ll be able to help you find a product that exfoliates your lips without irritating them or damaging them. Exfoliation is an important part of making sure your skin can absorb and retain the moisture it needs. Don’t skip this vital skin care step!
Avoid Lip Products that Contain Alcohol
If you love makeup, it’s safe to say you’ve at least tried out a liquid lipstick before. While these products look amazing on the lips, they also tend to dry them out. This is especially common with liquid-to-matte lipstick formulas, because many of these products contain alcohol. When you apply them to your lips, the alcohol sucks moisture right out of them. It makes sense for a lipstick that dries quickly to have alcohol in it, but it might not be the healthiest option for your lips.
Moisturize Your Lips Frequently
Aside from exfoliating regularly, moisturizing often is one of the most important things you can do to prevent chapped lips during the winter months. Investing in a good lip balm is one of the best ways to spend your money on winter skin care products, too. Look for lip products with ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter in them when you’re shopping for a lip moisturizing treatment. It’s also important to moisturize the area around your lips. If you have an eczema cream you use on your face, make sure you’re applying it to the area immediately around your lips, as well. This can help prevent a dry skin rash around your mouth.
Stop Licking Your Lips
Licking your lips might be an involuntary habit, but it could be damaging the skin on your lips. Saliva tends to evaporate rather quickly, which means they’ll likely be left even drier than they were before you licked them. Instead of licking your lips, invest in a good lip balm to apply frequently. This will help keep your lips looking moisturized and plump all winter long.
When cold weather is just around the corner, it’s important to start thinking about how you’re going to protect the skin on your face and lips. If you have questions about protecting your lips from chapping, set up an appointment with SE Dermatology Specialists today.