How To Keep Lips Soft & Kissable This Winter

Lips are often forgotten about and yet they can be very painful when dry and chapped. The skin on our lips is very different to the rest of the face; it is thinner, contains fewer melanocytes (pigment producing cells), and no sebaceous glands to provide lubrication, so it requires special treatment.

Are your lips dry? Are you noticing that your lipstick is starting to bleed or have you started to notice vertical lines on and around the lips?

Here are my top tips to keeping our lips soft & kissable this winter:

Drink water – It is very important to always drink water and lots of it. For most people, 2 litres per day or 8 glasses if that is easier to remember is enough to keep the body, skin and lips hydrated.
Avoid licking lips – It may seem counterintuitive but licking our lips dries them out. Saliva contains enzymes that dry out and irritate the skin of the lips. Break the habit by choosing and using a moisturizing lip balm whenever you have the urge to lick.
Decleor Intense Nutrition Lip Balm

Use A Balm – Look for balms with hydrating, non-pore clogging ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E and almond or jojoba. For me, no-one does balms better than Decléor. I love their Intense Nutrition Lip Balm. It drip feeds the skin, delivers consistent hydration to nurture the skin and helps repair.
SPF – Yes SPF again! Lips are susceptible to sunburn since they lack melanin, the pigment that helps shield skin from the sun. Try La Roche-Posay Anthlios XL 50+ or Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF 30.
Don’t Over Matte It – Matte lips are everywhere but it can be extremely drying (which helps them stay put for so long). Use sparingly when lips are extremely chapped. Instead, alternate use with hydrating lipsticks (with ingredients like vitamin E and/or glycerin) or add a layer of moisturizing lip balm underneath. For a touch of colour opt for Dior Lip Glow or BY TERRY Baume de Rose is another iconic option.
Clinique All About Lips

Give Lips A Treat – Even our lips deserve a treat especially at this time of year, try Clinique All About Lips with green tea extract, vitamin E and salicylic acid. Delivers both immediate and long-term results to minimize evidence of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage, giving the lip area a smoother, firmer look and feel. De-flakes lips, helping lip colour glide on, resist feathering.
Cuts In Mouth Corners – When this happens, it can be very painful. Keep lips hydrated with your favourite balm and apply a small dab of an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream into the mouth corners. Try not to stretch the skin until healed and do not pick.