As soon as the weather turns colder, many people find that their lips start to feel dry and chapped. Despite using lip balm and other moisturizing products, the dryness often persists and can even make it difficult to wear lipstick or gloss. To prevent this problem from getting worse, it’s important to take proactive steps to protect your lips. To help with this, we’ve asked skin care experts to share their top tips for avoiding dry, cracked lips during the winter months.
Staying hydrated is essential.
Hydration is everything when it comes to smooth, soft clips — and that means nourishing yourself inside AND out. “Drink plenty of water to keep your skin and lips hydrated,” said Skin Expert Sophie Taylor “You can also try using a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home. Use a lip balm or lip moisturizer regularly to help lock in moisture. Look for products that contain ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, and glycerin, as these can help to protect.
Avoid Harsh ingredients and habits
While considering hydrating factors to add to your skincare and lip care routine, don’t sleep on the things you should be avoiding namely, harsh ingredients and practices.
“Avoid using hot water when cleansing your face or washing your hands,” Taylor said. “Warm water is less drying to the skin, so try to use lukewarm water instead. Avoid picking or biting your lips, as this can damage the skin and make it more prone to dryness and cracking. Avoid using products that contain alcohol or other harsh ingredients, as these can be drying to the skin.”
Its a sunscreen time.
“You can still tan on a cold and cloudy day as the UV rays penetrate through the clouds, therefore reaching your skin and creating a tan. Even if you can’t feel the sun on your skin, the UV rays that lead to tanning are still present. Different types of clouds allow for different amounts of UV rays to pass through therefore you will have a higher chance of tanning when there are fewer clouds. It is essential to remember that the visible sunlight is not what causes you to tan, but the UV rays that you can’t physically see.”
And always wear a lip balm with SPF to help keep your lips moisturized and avoid that dry, parched feeling we’ve all come to associate with cold winter days.
