10 Daily Tips to Prevent "Chapped" Lips
As Makeup Artists, one of our challenges when working with clients through winter months is that most of the time they have chapped or dry lips. This makes applying a straight lip line, or having the lip color look smooth challenging. This is because we don't have a flat sure to work on leaving the lips looking flaky, dry and really not pretty. Below are 10 things you can do daily to prevent this from happening during the winter months.
- Turn on your humidifier at night- Let's face it, the heat and staying in orders more during the winter months take a toll on your skin- extra moisture in the air while you sleep will do good for keeping your lips as well as the rest of the skin on your body plump and hydrated. Think humid like the summer months and how moist your skin looks.
- Drink that water- refer to our last blog post on why and how much, this works just as good for your lips!
- Exfoliate- the easiest is while in the shower take your index finger and rub back and forth on your lips, the rubbing motion will get rid of that dead skin on your lips without adding anything extra except your finger and the water. Daily will keep your lips nice and smooth.
- Place a lip balm in your bag, desk and coat and apply several times a day. Having it withing hands reach will make it easy to make sure you are applying. Something that has a natural oil works best (shea butter, almond oil)
- Before you wash your face, apply a lip balm because your cleanser, if it has any type of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide may disrupt the PH levels on your lips.
- Don't lick your lips, this tends to dry them out rather than hydrate them. Your saliva has acids that are great to break down your foods but can wreak havoc on the thin skin on your lips.
- If your lips are dry- stay away from the matte lip colors, liquid lipsticks and anything else that is drying. Use products that have lip conditioners are are labeled hydrating for now until your lips are back in shape.
- Don't drink OJ, Grapefruit juices, or anything else that is acidic/citrus until your dryness goes away.
- If you are out in the cold weather, wear a scarf over your mouth the extreme temperatures can dry you out as well.
- VASELINE! Yes it works, you can use this on your lips, feet, elbows and anywhere else you see dry flaky skin.