Do you lick your lips when they feel dry? You just can’t help it! The feeling of dry, chapped lips can be pretty annoying, and worse, really uncomfortable. So what do you do? You lick them. For a second they feel some relieve, and then a few seconds later, well we all know what happens. They feel even drier than before! So we lick them again!
Lips don’t contain oil glands, unlike our skin, so they can become dry really easily. When the lips feel dry, it could be a sign that your body is dehydrated. Or, if you are a skier, you have definitely had chapped lips due to the cold, wind and UV exposure. If you live in a warm climate, and you are on boats, you have also experienced dry, chapped lips. Especially if you don’t protect them with sunscreen and keep them moist with petroleum jelly or beeswax.
Other causes of chapped lips : Mouth breathing, Toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulfate can irritate enough to cause dryness and chapping. Acid in citrus fruits, too much vitamin A, or not enough of certain B vitamins are also culprits. Allergies, and certain medications (such as Accitane- to treat acne. My son suffered for 8 months with chapped dry lips while he was on Accutane. He was miserable. He walked around with tubes of Aquaphor). Also, certain medical conditions may cause chapped lips!
There are a lot of remedies that you can try to alleviate your discomfort and rapidly heal your dry, chapped lips.
One of my favorites is Aquaphor. It provides a protective barrier over your lips, and it contains moisturizing ingredients that keep them hydrated and nourish your lips. This was my son’s savior while he suffered with chapped lips for eight months!
I highly recommend Aquaphor as a chapped lips treatment .
Beeswax also locks in moisture and is a great ingredient . Glossier has a cult following for their The Balm.Com, which has Beeswax as a main ingredient to lock in moisture, along with cupuacu fruit t0 soothe and moisturize the lips.
Exfoliate chapped lips. A gentle exfoliation stimulates the healing process of chapped lips. My favorite Do It Yourself mask to gently exfoliate my lips, or my kid’s lips is to make a paste of brown sugar, and honey, or coconut oil.
Another way to exfoliate your lips is to massage them with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
If your lips are severely chapped, follow exfoliation with these tips , which is an excellent way to alleviate inflammation : apply Aloe Vera 2 x a day.
You can try a lip balm with colloidal oatmeal and natural oils to moisturize , protect and aid in skin regeneration for your lips.
Use Oil, such as Argan, Coconut, Sunflower, Jojoba, Avocado etc – Oil is not irritating.
Oils function as a wet barrier on the skin, which can prevent extreme dryness and dehydration. I will go so far as to purchase Hourglass No 28 Lip Oil Treatment, which hydrates and plumps the lips.
Honey seals in moisture and has anti-inflammatory ingredients that sooth chapped lips.
Slap on some cold cucumber slices- you know how it hydrates and soothes puffy eyes? It is just as effective for the lips. Hold cold slices against the lips for a few minutes.
Apply antioxidant-rich tea that is skin protecting, and anti-aging. Chamomile or Green tea bags steeped and chilled help soothe and heal.
Look for other natural ingredients such as Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Beeswax and Oatmeal, along with Coconut Oil, Jojoba, and Avocado oils. These ingredients do a great job moisturizing, protecting and nourishing the lips.
A Lip Sleeping Mask is also a good idea if you are a chronic chapped lip sufferer. Give yourself a weekly deep conditioning treatment.
The Korean Brand Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask is just that perfect mask.
The Things You Should Not Do:
No Products with menthol
No fragrance in the products
Don’t Lick Your Lips – You know what’ll happen
The Things You Should Do :
Put barrier protection on your lips , such as Lano Lips 101, or petroleum jelly to protect your lips from drying out from soaps and detergents
Use a Humidifier in your room while you sleep
Breath through Your Nose
Protect Yourself Against the Elements- Wind, Cold, Hot, The Sun, Harsh Weather Conditions
And when you find a product that works for you, stick with it, keep it handy, and stock up on it!
You Are Awesome!
xoxoxox
Sookie
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