During the cold season, the skin tends to dry out more than in summer. The skin of the face, lips or hands needs special care when the temperature drops. Moisturizing lip balm is one of the basic cosmetic products. When it comes to remedies for dry and chapped lips, there are several convenient solutions that can replace lip balm.
What can you use for dry and chapped lips?
Compared to the skin of other areas of the body, the skin of the lips is very thin and delicate, and due to the absence of sebaceous glands, it does not have a natural protective lipid layer, which makes them especially susceptible to adverse weather conditions.
Chapped lips look unsightly and cause discomfort when talking and eating. In winter, when lips are exposed to adverse factors, it is worth taking care of intensive care and additional protection.
Protective lipsticks with a rich composition are recommended. It is worth paying attention to the presence of sun filters (minimum SPF20). This is very important, since UV rays negatively affect the condition of the lips. Protective lipsticks should be applied regularly several times a day, always before going outside. At night, it is recommended to apply the cosmetic product in a thicker layer to ensure intensive lip regeneration.
At the same time, it is recommended to avoid applying products to your lips that contain alcohol, mint flavor and menthol (these ingredients can be irritating and drying). You should also temporarily give up colored lipsticks, especially matte ones, which dry out your lips and highlight their imperfections.
In winter, weather conditions and hot air in apartments are not conducive to maintaining skin in good condition. What to do to make your lips look beautiful and healthy? For dry lips, external methods should be used: exfoliation, moisturizing, nourishing and protecting. First of all, you need to remember about a healthy diet rich in vitamins A and B, and proper hydration.
One of the reasons for the deterioration of the appearance of lips is a lack of certain vitamins and minerals. Typically, the winter diet is not so rich in vegetables and fruits, so the body may lack some ingredients.
Additional Information! Chapped, very dry lips are often the result of deficiencies in vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), biotin, as well as zinc and iron. If your lips are in poor condition, you should change your diet to include foods that are sources of these vitamins and minerals (for example, vitamin A is found in liver, eggs, sweet potatoes, and vitamin B2 in dairy products, meat, fish, beans and peas ).
What can you use as a lip balm?
The skin of the lips is dry and suffers most from low temperatures. If they are not cared for properly, they will dry out and may even crack and become damaged. You can use commercial lip balms to moisturize them, as well as natural ingredients, it’s worth trying to create your own lip balm.
During the cold season, it is recommended to use intensively moisturizing creams and masks that will help the skin cope with thermal problems. Natural moisturizing oils and creams with high fat content are ideal for lip care during the cold season.
Look for natural oils such as shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, castor oil, hemp oil and jojoba oil. They soften, regenerate and leave a protective film on the lips. Chapped lips will also benefit from lanolin, which lubricates and soothes, while aloe moisturizes and supports skin cell turnover.
An ingredient that intensely moisturizes, nourishes, softens, smoothes and strengthens dry lips is honey. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which is important for chapped lips. Various protective lipsticks contain it, but you can apply it to your lips straight from the jar! It is worth making honey masks 2-3 times a day.
How to make a natural lip scrub?
Lip peeling is a cosmetic product that will help get rid of chapped skin on the lips. It not only smoothes the lips, but also improves their color. With regular use, you may notice that they will become a deeper pink. However, you should not overdo it, as if used too often, you can damage the epidermis and only worsen the problem. Depending on the type of peeling and skin preference, it is performed once or twice a week.
Note! You can easily prepare a high-quality natural lip scrub at home. It will be 100% natural, and its preparation is usually cheaper than buying a ready-made product.
Prepare a mixture of honey and sugar and apply it to your lips. Leave on for a few minutes, then rub in gently to exfoliate dry skin. Remove with a napkin and leave the remaining honey on your lips. This will moisturize the skin.
You can use a mixture of coffee and olive oil as an exfoliator, and let the oil moisturize your lips after exfoliating. After this, you can apply the clear gel found in aloe vera leaves. Aloe vera gel soothes irritated skin and reduces discomfort. In addition, it deeply moisturizes and acts as a mask. In the evening, apply a thin layer to your lips and leave overnight. In the morning, lips remain moisturized and velvety.
How to make a lip scrub with coffee and honey? To create it you will need the following products:
- coffee grounds;
- honey.
Mix a teaspoon of coffee grounds with a teaspoon of honey. On the lips, it will not only remove dead skin but also nourish the lips (honey is very good for the skin).
Peeling with honey and cocoa will perfectly smooth your lips. To prepare it you will need:
- tsp fine sugar;
- ¼ teaspoon cocoa;
- tsp honey;
- a few drops of water.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply on lips. Massage for a few minutes, leave on the skin, then rinse. The peeling prepared in this way will leave a delicate color on the skin, making the lips look as if they were painted with lipstick.
Lip massage, carried out for just a few minutes, stimulates blood circulation and softens the epidermis. Perform circular movements with your fingers or a massage brush. Within a few days there is a noticeable improvement in the appearance of the lips.
Note! Dry lips can be a symptom of allergic reactions or many medical conditions (eg, thyroid disease, diabetes, psoriasis), as well as a side effect of medications (eg, retinoids, acne medications, diuretics, chemotherapy drugs), so in situations where methods , used for dry lips, do not bring the expected result, it is recommended to consult a doctor!
How to make your own lip balm
Oils are key. You can use olive, coconut or avocado oil in various combinations. Additionally, shea butter or cocoa butter can be an ideal replacement for lip balm.
All ingredients are heated until completely dissolved, being sure to stir constantly to avoid burning. Once melted evenly, remove from heat and continue stirring until mixture cools. Once cooled, mix the ingredients with vitamin E and other essential oils of your choice. Pour the mixture into small jars or molds and allow to cool to room temperature.
You can take a tube of used lipstick. Melt the butter and place it in a container, when it hardens, it is simple and practical to use. In addition to the main ingredients, you can add other favorite products from the kitchen.
Butter will give the lip balm a soft texture and provide your lips with the necessary dose of moisture.
You’ll need wax to strengthen the lip balm’s formula and help it stand up to the heat. This ingredient prevents lip balm from melting when heated.
Vitamin E is optional but recommended. This antioxidant will help prevent the oils in your lip balm from oxidizing and going rancid, and you can also use rosemary oil to keep the formula stable.
Additional Information! Lipstick for dry lips will be more effective if it also contains petroleum jelly, beeswax, propolis, glycerin, vitamin A and vitamin E.
When using a classic lip balm or a balm based on natural ingredients, it is important to apply it in the evening, especially if you have been out in the cold for a long time. It is also important to moisturize your lips if you use dry lipsticks.