Ladies, a little heart to heart here… there are only a few things that are as uncomfortable and almost painful as dry, chapped (and sometimes bleeding) lips. Which is why most of us stock up on lip balms and keep them everywhere- a few in our skincare drawer, one in each bag, and one on our nightstands. But what makes our lips different from our skin?
Did you know that the skin on our face has up to 16 cell layers while our lip has only 3 or 4, making it extremely sensitive to heat, cold, and even touch? The lips are don’t have any sebaceous glands which means that they are not capable of producing oil and so cannot keep themselves moisturised. Hence, helping them out a little by using lip scrubs, lip oils, and trusty lip balms is important.
Apart from using cosmetic products, there are even some changes you could make to improve your lip texture, and today we’re breaking those down for you.
Here Are Some Lifestyle Changes You Could Make For Soft And Supple Lips
Ready to dazzle the world with your fabulous pout?
Get Rid Of Any Lip Irritants
We hate to break it to you, but your daily dose of caffeine could be causing your lips to dry out. Coffee acts as a leech and sucks out a whole lot of moisture from the skin. It is also a diuretic that causes individuals to urinate more often, leading to dehydration and dry skin. However, if you cannot function without your morning brew, we suggest that you sip on it with a straw and increase your water intake throughout the day. This is the same for wine and any other beverages that have artificial ingredients in them.
Protect Your Lips From Sun Exposure
By now you already know the importance of sunscreen, but did you know that your lips need some sun protection too? The harmful UV rays can be damaging them more than you know, hence it’s important to use a lip balm with SPF properties every day.
Don’t Lick Your Lips
No matter how dry your lips feel, licking them will only make things worse. Your saliva moistens the lips for only a couple of seconds and then evaporates, leaving them drier than they were before. Keep in mind that your saliva also contains digestive enzymes which can wear down the skin. You should also avoid biting, picking, and peeling your lips if you want an Insta-ready pout.
Vitamin E To The Rescue
If your regular lip balm isn’t doing much, take your lip care game up a notch with Vitamin E essential oil. This promotes cell regeneration, so using this throughout the day and before going to bed, can aid in making the process quicker. Apart from this, Vitamin E also protects the lips from environmental stressors.
Apply Lip Balm Before And After Eating
Did you know that after drinking or eating anything there is some amount of water residue on your lips? Once this evaporates your lips are stripped away of moisture too. Hence, using petrochemical lip products like petroleum jelly which have a thicker consistency can help lock in the moisture on your lips and prevent any water evaporation.
Get In Some Greens In Your Diet
We all know that eating healthy is an extremely important component of skincare. Even when it comes to the lips, vitamin-rich foods like green leafy vegetables along with eggs, carrots, spinach, apricots, strawberries, green peppers, and nuts will help the body retain water and aid in cell repair. So you’ve got to eat your way to soft, supple lips!
Quit Smoking Completely
Breaking news: smoking is not only bad for your lungs but your lips as well. The tobacco in a cigarette dries out your lips by stripping away the skin’s water and oil content which is why after every puff your lips tend to feel a little tighter and more parched. If you’re trying to kick your smoking habit to the curb, use a sleeping mask or an ultra-rich lip balm to keep your lips from drying out.
So gorgeous, ready to show off your pout?
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