They come in all in all shapes, colors, and sizes but all are nonetheless beautiful, sexy, and necessary.
I’m speaking of LIPS!
This area of our skin gets a lot of use but can sometimes be neglected.
ANATOMY
Did you know that the skin on your lips is made up entirely different than anything else in your face? The skin is thinner which allows more blood vessels to show close to the surface. This gives them their color and sensitivity. They also lack oil glands, which keep the skin lubricated. This is why they suffer due to extreme temperatures and dehydration.
Follow these tips to keep your lips feeling smooth and balanced:
1. No licking!- Saliva has powerful digestive enzymes that can destroy the bit of hydration on your lips and leave them raw. Instead, use a lip balm to create slip.
2. To balm or not to balm– In essense, all lip products go on the same way but not all are created equal. A balm will give you a more emollient benefit throughout the day. A conditoner, however, is usually thicker and is meant to be worn longer as a treatment to reap its benefits. Take note to stay away from menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor if you are allergic, sensitive or you have cracked lips as these ingredients will only aggravate the issue.
I do not splurge on lip balms but do use them throughout the day. That way if I misplace them, it doesn’t hurt the bank.
* NIVEA A Kiss of Vitamin Swirl
*Burt’s Bees Lip Balm
For overnight conditioning and repair, I use lip conditioner that has additional antioxidants and collagen. My favorites are:
*Fresh Sugar Advanced Lip Therapy
It’s taste and smell are addictive while the Black Currant Seed Oil and Sea Fennel Oil hydrate and smooth out lines. I use nightly and immediately after exfoliating.
*Dior Crème de Rose Lip Balm
Rose of Damas essential oil and shea butter really pack a punch of hydration for your lips. Vitamins A and E combined with SPF 10 also make it my go to when in extreme weather conditions like summer and winter. It also doubles as a nice nail cuticle conditioner.
3. Hydrate – You hear it day in and day out of how important drinking enough water is. This is one the first areas to show signs of dehydration. Sadly enough, caffeine will dehydrate you even more.
4. Exfoliate correctly– Exfoliation is benefial and necessary to remove dead skin cells from our bodies. However, over doing it can have the adverse effect. In general, I exfoliate with a product once or twice a week depending on when it is needed.
My go to exfoliators are:
*Bliss Fabulips Sugar Scrub
This scrub is made with granulated sugar, almond, and walnet shells which gently remove any flakes. Jojoba oil and vanilla condition without residue and stickiness. This is a staple in my makeup kit!
Don’t want to buy one? I make a small batch at a time to give to clients and models. Make one at home by using this recipe:
In a glass bowl, mix:
* 4 tablespoons of brown sugar
* 3 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
* 10 drops of rosewater
* 1 tablespoon of raw coconut oil
Mix throughly and store in a glass container. I use this in the shower and scrub my lips in a soft circular motion for 1 minute. Rinse and pat dry.
5, Don’t stay matte forever – I love a good matte lipstick color but these can be quite drying and can accentuate lip dryness. Rest your lips in between by properly using a lip conditioner, exfoliating, and hydrating.
Stay soft and hydrated my friends!
Header Image Credit:
Hair and Makeup: Walter Fuentes
Photos: Jorge Rivas, Nicollette Mollet
For the love of beauty 