How to Care for Your Lips 101

How to Care for Your Lips 101

How to Care for Your Lips 101

Your lips smile, kiss, speak, and pout — and are a very beautiful part of you. The skin on your lips is much more delicate and thin than the skin on other parts of your body. This is partly because your lips contain neither hair nor sweat glands, which means they lack the innate, protective natural oils from your body. Your lips also have an insane amount of sensory nerve endings (this probably explains why, in addition to helping you eat and speak, the lips are classically recognized as a symbol of sensuality and considered one of your body's prime erogenous zones). That being said, your lips need an extra level of TLC to keep them soft, healthy, and moisturized. So pucker up and keep your lips perfect with these five daily steps:

take h2o wherever you go

Hydration is key to total body health. So drink up! Keep a water bottle with you when you are on the go, and aim to drink up to nine cups of water each day. Water is the best hydrator and is equally one of the best ways to keep your lips moisturized. Coffee and soda have ingredients that can be dehydrating, so don’t count them in with your daily nine cups.

stop licking your lips

If you think that licking your lips is helping to moisten them, think again. Saliva from your tongue removes the protective barrier around your lips and will actually dry your lips out. So "lick" the habit, and apply nourishing lip balm with jojoba oil and other lip-loving ingredients instead.

get in the balm

Lip balms are not all created equally. Many major lip balm brands contain synthetic chemicals, preservatives, and other compounds that can--believe it or not--dry out your skin. Remember to read the labels and choose lip balms with hydrating, natural ingredients such as vitamin E, shea butter, almond oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil — ingredients like those created and used by ArtNaturals.

If you wear lipstick, apply lip balm underneath it for a protective layer of goodness. Once you find one or two nourishing lip balms that you like, keep them with you at all times, pucker up and apply regularly. And by regularly, we mean all the time...in the morning, after you brush your teeth, after breakfast, on the way to your workout...you get the picture. You can never have too much balm on those beauties.

exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate

If you have dry, chapped, dull-looking lips, gently exfoliating them (just as you would your face and body) will help get rid of dull, dead skin and also boost circulation to the area. Make a homemade exfoliating lip scrub using jojoba oil and sugar granules or sweet honey and brown sugar. Create the paste, gently massage it into your lips for two minutes, and then rinse and moisturize. Afterwards, apply your favorite lip balm for a fresher, smoother and more kissable smile.

sun protect your kisser

Just like your skin, your lips need sun protection. The sun is wonderful, yes, but it can harm the delicate skin on your lips. Some lip balms will have natural ingredients that protect your lips from the harmful sun's rays. However, if your favorite doesn't have a sun-protecting ingredient, then apply a moisturizer with SPF to your lips before you apply your balm. SPF protection puts your money where your beautiful mouth is, and it prevents premature aging, dried out skin, and lip and mouth wrinkles. Apply SPF on both sunny and cloudy days. Your lips will love you for it. You can always go one step further and wear a sun hat or visor to keep the direct rays away. If you do get sunburned or windburned lips, use a lip balm with jojoba oil to nourish and repair them.

supplement your healthy diet

It's no secret that a balanced diet and moderate exercise is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Dried and cracked lips that are showing premature aging may be the sign of a vitamin deficiency. Vitamin D and vitamin B are two important supplements that can improve your overall health, including the health of your lips. A multivitamin is the best way to start supplementing your diet with more of the lip-loving nutrients you need.

get brushing

Dentists say that healthy teeth equal healthy lips. It only makes sense that if bacteria is removed from your teeth by proper brushing and flossing, it will stay away from your lips, too. So, keep those teeth healthy by seeing the dentist twice a year, brushing and flossing twice a day, and applying your favorite lip balm with an essential oil frequently.

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