Lip Tips for the Perfect Pout

By Gigi Steel

Cold air and hot furnaces can make keeping our lips soft and hydrated in the winter a constant pursuit. Lips have no oil glands to prevent chapping, so extra care is needed.

To avoid cracked and dry lips, try these tips . . .

• First, drink plenty of water. Water is needed to produce saliva and hydrate your mouth and lips. Eating water-rich foods such as oranges and apples is also helpful.

• Sleep with a humidifier. This will help to keep the moisture in your skin from evaporating.

• Look for lip products that contain healing ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, jojoba and coconut oil. Pure petroleum jelly will also work to hold in moisture.

• Exfoliation can help to remove cracked and unsightly dead skin cells. You can use a soft toothbrush to massage your lips or rub them gently with a honey and sugar mixture.

• Don’t lick your lips. This habit will quickly dry them out.

• Cover your face with a scarf to protect your lips against the cold winter winds.

• Wear lip balm with SPF whenever you are outside. The sun can reflect UV rays off the snow and burn your skin.

• Use a lip product that locks in moisture. There are many products containing ingredients that do more to dry your lips out than to moisturize them. Avoid excessive colors, dyes, and flavors. Look for coconut and moringa oils for moisture and protection.

• Avoid “matte” or “long-lasting” lipsticks. These products can be especially drying as they draw moisture from your lips. The color may also settle into the furrows bringing attention to cracks.

• Quit smoking. Smoking dehydrates skin and leads to cracked lips.

• Always wear a lip balm to bed. This can simply be a little coconut or olive oil.

Of course it’s also important to care for the rest of your face. Wash your face every night before bed. Cleansing removes the dirt, pollution, and dead skin cells that accumulate during the day, allowing fresh skin cells to rise to the surface while you sleep.

A nighttime moisturizer should be applied to lock in the moisture. Keeping your lips soft and chapped-free will allow lipstick to glide on smoothly; keeping your face clean will give you a

radiant glow.