It’s officially winter and everything on my body feels dry. My skin, my hair and especially my lips. I have products that help my lips stay hydrated all year long but I need to amplify the routine in the winter to avoid dry, cracked lips. You may have a line-up of dry skin products to help your face and body stay moisturized throughout the winter, but using products specifically for the lips is key. This blog post will be a guide on how to keep your lips hydrated effectively and the products I like to use to help with this.
How to Keep Your Lips Hydrated
There are a ton of reasons why lips can become dry. I’m going to share some of the common causes of dry lips, how you can avoid this and products/solutions that can help keep your lips hydrated all year long.
What Happens When Your Lips Are Dry?
If your lips become too dry or are consistently dry, the skin on them will become tight, cracked or flaky. Even the skin around your lips can become red and irritated if your lips are too dry. Often dry chapped lips can bleed, become painful and are vulnerable to such things as cold sores or mild infections. Obviously these are extreme cases but it’s important to try and treat dry lips before these issues can occur.
What Causes Dry Lips?
Weather
Since it’s winter, it’s common for the cold temperatures to dry out your skin and lips. But this can also occur in the warmer months especially if you are out in the sun frequently.
Dehydration
As I’m typing this, I am chugging my bottle of water beside me because my lips are actually feeling dry. LOL Often when I’m dehydrated or have not had enough water during the day, one of the first places I begin to feel it is on my lips.
Medication
This is a challenging one because certain medications are needed for health issues but a side effect can be dry lips. It’s important to be vigilant while on certain medications that you keep your lips as hydrated as possible.
Sun
Sun exposure can be especially drying to the lips whether you are at the beach or skiing down a mountain. Sunburn can occur very quickly and in addition to keeping your lips well hydrated, you need to make sure you protect your lips with lips balms or lip moisturizers that have sun protection.
Licking Your Lips
Ugh, I am so guilty of this. Licking your lips or biting your lips can actually cause them to dry out further. It can become a vicious cycle so try to avoid it when possible.
How to Keep Lips Hydrated
Drink Lots of Water
This is an obvious one but it’s always going to work. Making sure you are drinking plenty of water will help keep the skin on your lips (and everything else) well hydrated.
Use a Humidifier
I like to use a humidifier all year long but I keep it right next to me during the winter. As soon as the heat comes on in my house, I can already feel the dryness setting in. Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier makes a huge difference in helping your entire body stay adequately hydrated.
Exfoliate
Make sure you exfoliate your lips regularly. You can use a damp washcloth and slightly massage them for a gentle exfoliation. A soft bristle tooth brush also works really well. There are also a ton of lip scrubs on the market that you can use while doing your skincare routine that will help exfoliate off the dead skin cells and nourish your lips at the same time.
Apply a Lip Mask Nightly
You may apply lip balms during the day, but it’s important to use an extra thick or intensely nourishing lip mask before you go to sleep. Apply a thick layer and allow it to soak in throughout the night.
What To Use to Hydrate Lips
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask
The Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask is a jelly lip mask that can be used during the day or at night. It is formulated to smooth, hydrate and restore fullness to the lips. It does come with a gold spatula so you don’t have to use your fingers to apply which already makes this better than so many other formulas I have. Ha! I hate having to put my fingers into a lip balm pot especially if I’m out and don’t have a tissue nearby to wipe off the excess. I love using this lip mask either at night or during the day.
YSE Beauty Like a Gloss Hydrating Lip Mask
This is a newer discovery and I have immediately fallen in love with this formula. It’s incredibly thick and almost has a jelly-like feel to it that envelopes the lips instantly. It has a high shine so I can wear it during the day and it looks beautiful layered over any lip color. However, it is especially effective at night when I apply a thick layer before bed. (discount code: MAREE-15)
Tatcha Lip Scrub
I appreciate that this lip scrub can be applied directly to the lips rather than having to dig my finger into a pot to apply. It’s not too harsh but manages to give a nice, gentle exfoliation before I apply any lip care treatment. It also contains various ingredients that also help to nourish the lips while still removing all the dead skin.
Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Hydrating Lip Treatment
Even if you are using the best moisturizing lipsticks, you may still need a more targeted treatment. If you want to continue your lip treatment during the day, opt for a tinted lip balm. So many people have been telling me to try this lip balm formula and that once I did, I would immediately fall in love with it. I can confidently say that are 100% correct. It comes in a variety of colors but you can also choose the clear version. It is the most comfortable on the lips, creamy and smooth without being sticky. It feels nourishing and delivers just enough color and pigment.
Peach & Lily Collagen Cushion Peptide Lip Balm
Another amazing lip balm that is available in clear or tinted. It truly plumps the lips and makes them look like glass while still deeply nourishing them. In addition to the clear version, there is only one shade right now but they launched a second one in a kit that I really hope they make permanent.
Currentbody LED Lip Perfector
This is not a necessity but I swear by the benefits of LED red light therapy for my skin and am loving this LED lip mask. While it is designed to help soften lip lines and speed up cellular renewal for more full, even-toned lips, I have noticed that using this regularly has also helps keep my lips feeling less dry! (discount code: ALITTLEBITCB)
Currentbody Hydrogel Lip Masks
These lip masks are designed to be used with the LED lip perfector but I enjoy using them alone as well. They are packed with three different kinds of hyaluronic acid and really give my lips a shot of moisture. (discount code: ALITTLEBITCB)
Tatcha Kissu Lip Tints SPF 25
The Tatcha Kissu Lip Tints SPF 25 are a creamy, hydrating lip tint with SPF 25 and buildable color. The pigment is so much more rich than I imagined and really give amazing color payoff on the lips. They feel super smooth and moisturizing and hardly at all like a traditional sun product for the lips. There are three shades in the range – Camellia, Midnight Lily and Plum Blossom. All are more pinky in tone with varying shades of intensity. I hope they continue to expand the range and come out with more colors in the future because the formula is amazing.
Aquaphor
A tried and true staple that I’m sure almost everyone has in their home. Aquaphor can be used for so many different things but it’s especially effective as an overnight lip mask. Apply a thick layer and allow it to soak in while you sleep. It can help heal dry, cracked lips and nourish them while your body rests.
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