Northern Beaches Mums Group
Northern Beaches Mums Group

4 ways to protect your lips this winter

Even though winter is undeniably the best season to get cosy with hot chocolate, cuddles and chilly winds, the cold can still be pretty unforgiving. This is especially true if you are someone with sensitive skin.

As we make it a point to adjust our skincare routines with the changing seasons, we often overlook focusing on our lips.

So in this article, we have put together 3 dermatologically tested tips that you can use this winter to ensure your lips are protected against the cold.

Lip Balm

Chapped lips or not, lip balms are an essential. Lips do not have oil glands, which makes them more vulnerable to the cold, dry air. Most oil-based lip balms do a great job of sealing in the moisture to your lips. The wax-like substance shields your lips from dry air, and especially the cold temperatures that can wear off the skin on your lips. 

Even though the skin of your lips is more sensitive and thinner than facial skin — which makes it more sensitive to the cold — it also makes oil-based lip balms easier to absorb. In most cases, lip balms work as an overnight fix for dry, chapped lips! 

Lip balms not only provide your lips with the necessary moisture they need to fight the cold, but also protect them from sun damage.

This is important because we are almost always exposed to the sun. Long-term exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can cause the lips to get discoloured, cracked, and dry. This is why it is very important to use a lip balm with SPF in it. 

In addition, if you have recently received a lip filler treatment, your skin will be more vulnerable to sun damage. In severe cases, you might even develop blisters and sores; both in and around the lip filler sites. So investing in a medicated lip balm with at least 30 SPF can prevent any possible damage in this scenario. You can read more about lip fillers in this blog post by VCI.

Now, while lip balms are an easy, quick remedy for dry lips, it is important to avoid balms that contain menthol, phenol (or phenyl), camphor or any other type of alcohol. Lip balms containing these ingredients are often marketed as “medicated” but cause more harm than good.

Alcohol has a numbing effect that provides instant pain relief from chapped lips but will not actually do much to heal the skin. Instead, it tends to dehydrate the skin further, leaving it worse than important. So it is important to do your research before picking out a lip balm for everyday use. 

Hydration 

Although lip balms work as a great fix for chapped lips, they might not be a permanent one. They do seal in the moisture to your lips and help in healing them temporarily. However, when the thin layer of the lip balm wears off, your lips are worse off. 

Some dermatologists call this a “vicious cycle” as you are left with more damaged and flaky skin and ultimately, in need of more lip balm. This is why doctors believe that a more permanent solution for dry lips is actually just water! 

One of the most common signs of dehydration is dry skin. As your facial skin gets wrinkled or dull due to the lack of water, the skin on your lips might get the same way — dull, dehydrated, and cracked. 

If you notice other symptoms of dehydration in yourself, chances are your chapped lips need only water to heal. You can start by drinking at least 8 glasses of water everyday. But we usually do not feel thirsty during the winter, and forget to drink water as a result. Downloading apps like “Hydro Coach” that remind you to drink water is a great way to keep track. 

Home Remedies

Families are increasingly moving towards natural skincare and health remedies. Our bloodstream absorbs most of what is being applied to our skin so it is always wise to avoid applying strong substances that can cause health problems in the long-term or severe allergies, especially if you have sensitive skin. 

This is where natural remedies come in, which are not only super easy to whip up at home but quick and affordable too! 

Lip Scrub

When your lips are dry and chapped, dead skin cells can make your skin flaky. It also prevents lip balm or any other moisturising agent from fully penetrating into your skin. So gently exfoliating your lips can help lift the flaky skin for new, healthy skin cells to grow. 

You can make your lip scrub by combining ingredients that are already available at home.

Mixing equal parts of any exfoliating agent like sea salt and honey/oil (for moisture) can help you get rid of dead, flaky skin. You can store it in an airtight container for future use as well. 

Coconut oil, aloe vera, and petroleum jelly are other natural ways to protect your lips against the cold. They work well by locking in moisture and providing enrichment for dry skin. The best part? They are cheap and easily available!

And that’s a wrap!

Protecting your lips this winter is key to keeping them healthy and hydrated. Follow these four tips and you’ll be on your way to having soft, luscious lips all season long! Have you tried any of the home remedies listed in the post? Let us know in the comments below.