3 Reasons Why Lip Products Might Be Drying Your Lips Out & The Guide To Silky-Lips

A good lip gloss or lipstick can take our pout from work to the weekend in a single swipe. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and unfortunately, not all of them come through. So today, we’re listing down the not-so-good ingredients inside lipstick formulas that can actually dry out your lips. To get the scoop, keep scrolling for save-worthy info on formulas, the bad-guy ingredients, and a nifty trick for pillowy lips.

3 Reasons Why Your Lip Products Are Drying Your Lips Out

Bad Guy No.1: The Formula

PSA: Not all lip formulas are created equal. While some may be uber nourishing, others can leave your lips chapped and dry. Lip products like stains and matte lipsticks can dry out your lips over time because of their formulation. Mattes and stains are waxier in consistency, and therefore, have fewer oils, which allows for a richer colour on the lips, but less hydration. Creams are rich in moisturising ingredients that soften and plump your lips. Glosses add a shiny, wet look to your pout. They can even add a tint of colour and long-lasting hydration when infused with the right ingredients. Stains have a watery texture, which can ironically, end up drying out your lips. Likewise, while we love matte lipsticks, they can be uncomfortably drying due to a lack of oil inside the formula. No matter the type of formula you use, it’s important to pack on the hydration before you apply your lip products. If your lips are not hydrated before applying a matte lipstick or lip stain, the product will just sink into the cracks and crevices of your lips.

Bad Guy No.2: Humectants

If you’re a skincare lover, you’ve probably heard about hydrating hero aka hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, it actually draws moisture from the skin and increases trans epidermal water loss, Long term, it can actually dry your skin out in the process. Science has shown that in spite of the molecular size used, topical HA will always sit atop the skin. In other words, hyaluronic acid can’t get the job done alone. It should be layered underneath a rich occlusive formula like Vaseline, which locks in moisture, for total lip healing.

Bad Guy No.3: Dehydration

Many common skin issues, including chapped lips, bottle down to a lack of water in your system. Since the skin on your lips is extremely delicate, it’s one of the first places to show signs of dehydration. We suggest drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily to keep your lips soft and plump. Consider this your reminder to chug a glass of water, stat. In addition to that, we’ve also rounded up the ultimate guide to bast your lips and make ‘em buttery soft.

Here’s How To Bast Your Pout!

You can use a light chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid to first buff your lips and slough off the dead skin cells. Then, seal it in with a thick occlusive that melts into your lips by the end of your makeup routine, just in time to apply your lips product of choice. Lip basting before you start your makeup routine will give you plump, hydrated lips to then apply a matte lipstick or stain if you wish.