No matter the season, dry, cracked and chapped lips can strike at any time. Unsightly and uncomfortable, they can be a result of multiple factors, and when you’re looking to heal chapped lips, there are a number of key anatomical differences between the skin on our lips and the rest of our face that need to be taken into account.
First of all, the skin on our lips has a different structure than the skin on the rest of our face and is much thinner, making it more delicate and sensitive to external aggressors. The skin on our lips also doesn’t contain the sweat or sebaceous glands responsible for producing the hydrolipidic film that normally protects the skin, prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and locks in moisture. Finally, our lips only produce a small quantity of melanin, making them much more sensitive to UV damage. Combined, this all means that our lips are not only more vulnerable to external aggressors, but also tend to dry out more quickly, making proper, regular lip care all the more important.
The good news is that chapped lips are preventable, says Los Angeles-based celebrity esthetician and skincare expert Gina Mari. “Paying attention to your lips and incorporating lip care into your daily skincare routine can not only make your lips soft and supple, but can actually prevent the pain and irritation of chapped lips." That said, if you have been negligent in the lip care department, there are also some simple fixes for restoring smooth lips in a pinch. Here, Gina Mari shares five tips for healing chapped lips overnight and keeping them in prime condition.
Chapped lips are dry lips, so start by making sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day. Avoid drinking hot tea and coffee, as they can both weaken the lipid barrier and act as a diuretic, leading to more dehydration.
Resist the urge to chew and lick dry lips as saliva evaporates, leading them to become even drier. And definitely do not pick at them; this will cause far more irritation, and definitely extend the healing time.
The first step to healing chapped lips is to gently slough off any flakes and dead skin. This will not only improve the appearance of dry lips and increase blood flow which delivers nutrients to the skin, but also allow your lips to really soak up the benefits of any treatment products. "When treating my clients, I am constantly working on the lip area and always include the vermilion border (the area around the lip line)," Mari shares. "I exfoliate with extremely light microdermabrasion to remove dead skin cells and really lock in hydration with oxygen and LED light therapy."
For an easy DIY exfoliator perfect for lips, simply mix two tablespoons of granulated sugar with half a teaspoon of honey (preferably manuka) and a dash of olive oil.
Look for lip treatments that contain ingredients that soothe, heal and moisturize and are free of fragrances or flavorings that can irritate dry, chapped lips. During the day, reapply every two hours as our mouths are constantly moving meaning the product will be absorbed quicker as well as disappear faster. At night, apply a thick layer last thing before bedtime to create an occlusive barrier while you sleep, such as Rose Inc's new Lip Treatment Hydrating Lip Balm.
Skin naturally loses water content in a dry environment and is able to retain hydration more effectively in a humid one, even absorbing moisture from the air. If you are a mouth breather, this can also lead to dry lips, and a humidifier can help to reduce congestion in the nasal passage and make it easier to breathe through your nose.
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