How to take care of your lips ?
Whatever the season, and your skin type, your lips are fragile and should be pampered. They are particularly subject to climatic hazards, pollution, but also to bacteria and ambient dirt. The very thin skin of the lips can quickly damage and crack causing various pains and discomforts. But, how do you take care of your lips? In this article, you’ll learn all the actions you need to take to protect them, as well as home-made recipes to make them more beautiful and healthy!
Why are lips so fragile?
Your entire face is at the forefront of external aggression. However, the mouth is particularly sensitive, because the skin is much thinner. In addition, there are no sebaceous and sweat glands (which ensure the protection and comfort of the skin) on the lips. This makes them particularly vulnerable: they spoil and puke at the slightest aggression or when they are too solicited. Cold and sun are the main causes of cracks.
They dry the lips, causing inflammation or crevices. Next, pollution causes havoc in our mouth. It causes drying and premature aging of the epidermis, and in the first place of the mucous membrane of the lips. But, are also drained bacteria, responsible for cold sores for example. Finally, smokers dry their lips and fade over time.
How do I protect my lips from the cold?
When the first cold arrives, be especially vigilant and protect your lips. As for the skin of the body and face, the mouth needs a careful nourishing care. To help you better understand how to protect your lips from the cold, here are our 8 tips and tricks:
Avoid moistening your lips
We all have the same reflex: moisten our lips with our tongue, when we start to feel that they are pulling. However, we must avoid this gesture as much as possible, because if it calms us for a moment, it only accentuates the problem. Saliva will evaporate by taking with it the natural moisturizing agents of our lips. We also advise you to avoid biting them so as not to weaken them prematurely.
Don’t touch your mouth
You have to know that every day, we touch our face, and therefore our lips, more than 3000 times. However, this mechanical action must also be avoided as much as possible, because it promotes the spread of bacteria and viruses. This can be minimized if you wash your hands regularly or use a water gel.
The role of hydration and nutrition
If you think about it more in the summer, you should also drink enough water every day. The latter guarantees the hydration of our epidermis, and especially of our lips. It is recommended to consume 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day.
It is also possible to hydrate your body by consuming watery foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. These make it possible to retain water within skin cells and thus guarantee better hydration. On the contrary, food that is too salty, too spicy or too acidic may alter the natural pH of the mouth and thus sensitize the lips.
Watch out for matte lipsticks
Lipstick can have a protective effect, but you have to choose the right textures. Thus, matte finishes should be avoided, as they tend to suffocate the skin of the lips. It will be better to direct you to creamy and satin textures. Little tip: Coat your lips with balm before applying makeup. Comfort, shine and a neat finish guaranteed!
Keep your mouth clean
As with the rest of the face, the lips should be carefully removed every night. A gentle cleanser enriched with vegetable oils will be ideal for gentle cleansing, especially if you use stubborn lipsticks such as lip inks. In addition, these natural oils will nourish your lips. Warning: even if your mouth makeup has faded during the day, you should not skip the step of the cleansing lotion. There may be remnants of material in the wrinkles and fine lines of the mouth.
Erase your lips once a week
In order to remove dead and dry skin as well as the last impurities, weekly scrub is recommended. You can opt for ready-made exfoliants sold on the market or carry out your own scrub treatment. Here’s an easy and effective recipe:
Sugar and Honey Scrub
Mix one teaspoon of sugar and one teaspoon of honey in a small bowl. Smear your mouth with this natural mixture by gently massaging in circular motion. For even more nourishing action, you can add a spoonful of coconut or olive oil to this recipe.
Make a lip mask
As with skin and hair, lips also sometimes need a rejuvenating mask. It will be applied preferably once a week, after scrubbing to help the cells to regenerate. Products based on beeswax or almond oil are ideal, but you can again make your own mixture. Honey, alone or mixed with plain yogurt can be an excellent base. Leave for about 5 minutes, then rinse with clean water.
Always have a moisturizing balm at hand
In addition to all the tips in this article, it is important to always have a moisturizing balm at hand. You will be able to apply them on your lips at the first signs of alert. Shea butter, for example, will relieve you, while effectively protecting your lips from external aggressions. Consider choosing a treatment that incorporates SPF, as the lips are very fragile in the face of the sun’s rays.
We saw how to take care of your lips in this article. We hope that you have understood the importance of protecting your mouth and that you will apply these various recommendations.
