Tips on How to Take Care of Your Lips

We all know that the colder months causes our skin to become dryer and in need of more attention. Many of us invest more money in buying creams to protect the delicate skin on our faces but pay little attention to the skin on our lips. Chapped, dry lips are something all of us have faced at some point. If you feel like your regular lip balm isn’t doing the job and want to find the solution to this burden, then read on!

What products do I need to help prevent and cure dry lips?

Lip Balm

Lip balm is a handbag essential for many of us. It can be an uncomfortable experience having slightly dry lips, let alone cracked lips. This is where Lip balm comes in. It contains a moisturising ingredient that helps prevent water loss as well as wax to help the product stick to the lips.

With balms available in an extensive variety of scents, tinted colours, SPF, packaging and a wide range of price points there is a lip balm that suits everyone! There are many ingredients that you should look out for when purchasing your next lip balm as some can be more harmful than good.

Ingredients to avoid:

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association the list of ingredients below can cause irritation to your lips and even cause them to become dry.

  • Camphor
  • Eucalyptus
  • Flavouring: Cinnamon, citrus, mint, and peppermint flavours can be especially irritating to dry, chapped lips
  • Fragrance
  • Lanolin
  • Menthol
  • Octinoxate or oxybenzone
  • Phenol (or phenyl)
  • Propyl gallate
  • Salicylic acid

Ingredients to look out for:

Dermatologists recommend that you look out for one or more of the following ingredients to be present in your lip balm.

  • Castor seed oil
  • Ceramides
  • Dimethicone
  • Hemp seed oil
  • Mineral oil
  • Petrolatum
  • Shea butter
  • Sun-protective ingredients, such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide
  • White petroleum jelly
  • Jojoba oil
  • Coconut oil

Product Recommendations to add to your lip care routine:

Step 1: Apply Phlov- KISSING ME SOFTLY

This appetizing lip scrub provides lips with softness, tempting smoothness and multi-level nourishment. Made with ingredients to exfoliate, delay the ageing process and protect your lips against unfavourable external factors.

 Step 2: Apply Phlov- GREAT-FULL LIPS!

This intensely nourishing 2in1 lip serum is for chapped, irritated and dry lips. This lip treatment is designed to keep your lips soft, smooth and to enhance the natural colour of the lips.

Apply slightly above the lip line and use a day cosmetic or a regenerating night mask.

Top tips for healthier lips-

  • LICKING/BITING LIPS-

If you don’t have a lip balm to hand licking your lips is not the answer to eliminate the dryness.

Saliva contains digestive enzymes, like amylase and maltase, which wear down the skin on the lips. Over time, this will leave the lips more vulnerable to dry air. The skin can even break open and bleed.

Once your lips are dry resist the urge to bite any dead skin off, this can lead to painful sores, redness and even bleeding

  • DRINK MORE WATER!-

Being very dehydrated can make your lips prone to dryness. Drink about 8 glasses of water per day to stay properly hydrated.

  • NUTRIENTS- Make sure you are eating foods rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Improper diet and nutrient deficiencies can make skin and lips drier than usual.
  • BREATHING THROUGH YOUR MOUTH- This causes more air to flow across your lips, which dries them out.