Solutions for cold-weather-ravaged lips
Dry. Chapped. Cracked. Those words describe lips that are screaming for attention and relief. Winter is the season that wreaks havoc upon our skin, and our lips are just as vulnerable in the harsh weather—a condition that transcends both age and skin type.
The key to maintaining soft, supple, healthy lips is integrating their treatment into your skin care regimen says Lily Lieu, Field Executive Training Manager for Darphin, Bobbi Brown and Origins in Canada.
“We should treat lip care the same way we treat our skin, all year-round TLC,” Lieu explains. “Regular care for lips will ensure lips are hydrated and protected from chapping and cracking and, in the long run, help defend against lip lines.”
Exfoliation, with a gentle lip scrub, will aid in healing and support the maintenance routine.
The Body Shop’s Hilary Lloyd, VP Marketing & Values for North America, says they suggest using a lip scrub one to two times a week, then moisturize with a lip balm, ideally with an SPF (the brand is releasing one this year) for daytime and a hydrating balm with your nighttime regimen.
Maintaining hydration is the challenge says Lieu as “the lips require more care to stay hydrated as the lip area does not have sebaceous glands that produce oils to keep it hydrated like our skin does.”
“When lips are dry and you repeatedly moisturize with saliva, it can actually cause even more chapping,” Lieu adds.
Applying a lip balm regularly, in addition to a nighttime treatment will maintain hydration but that doesn’t necessarily require multiple products. Many brands have treatments that are multi-purpose. Lieu says that Origins Drink Up avocado lip butter lip mask works as a scrub, a daily lip balm and as an overnight treatment to nourish lips while you sleep.
While the lips need care, so does the area around them. The skin surrounding the mouth can reveal obvious signs of aging that can be diminished with targeted care. Lieu says that for lip line concerns and down-turning corners, there are products to help prevent and defend against those issues.
Darphin’s recently-launched Stimulskin Plus Absolute Renewal Eye & Lip Contour Cream, is a dual-purpose product aimed at reducing lip lines. Lieu says the brand’s testing found that it visibly reduces fine lip lines in just 10 weeks and lifts lip corners and softens nasolabial folds. Lloyd says eye products often can be used around the lip area, as the tissue around the eyes and lips are similar.
“We suggest using our Aloe Soothing Eye & Lip Contour Care to hydrate and help protect against irritation caused by dryness,” she says. Specially formulated for sensitive dry skin with organic Community Fair Trade aloe vera from Campeche Mexico, makes it a gentle treatment for both the sensitive areas of the face and those with skin sensitivities.
Applying lip balm has its benefits for makeup application too
Just as healthy skin is the perfect canvas for makeup application, so are hydrated lips.
“We recommend using a balm before applying choice of lip colour and/or lip liner, so your lip colour lasts longer and applies evenly,” Lloyd advises.
Or you could opt for colour and treatment combined, reccomends Lieu.
“For someone who might want a lip balm but also with colour, Bobbi Brown has amazing lip tints in different colours that offer a slight tint to the lips but has nourishing lip oils to hydrate and protect the lips,” Lieu suggests.
Lieu says that keeping lips heathy and hydrated is simple if you’re just mindful of a few things. She advises to drink lots of water (yes even in the cold months), apply lip balm before bed, use a scrub but just as important don’t pick and pull off dead skin. Be kind to your lips, just use a gentle scrub which is “quick and easy without the pain”.
Now, pucker up.