Hello,
This is Martha Thomas, head of customer care for Tree of Life Beauty, and I want to welcome you to our blog where we discuss important ways to age gracefully, "how-tos" for keeping skin healthy as you age, and so much more.
This week we will discuss "Lip Care 101" If you missed any of our past blog posts, please check them out here on our website.
Please be advised that we are not doctors or dermatologists, and this article should not be taken as medical advice or any medical statement. Any questions or issues involving your skin-care needs should be taken up with a physician, and we highly recommend you consult with your doctor before taking up any skin-care regimen.
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Your lips are made of skin just like the rest of your face, so it's important not to forget them when going through your skincare routine. We usually avoid our lips when applying products to prevent accidental consumption of ingredients or chemicals. This means that lips call for their own special step.
Do you know why lips appear red? The skin on your lips is so thin that the blood vessels underneath are visible, giving lips that pinkish hue.
So what can you do to keep your lips plump, hydrated, and healthy?
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Hydrate.
There are no oil glands on the lips. Oil acts as the skin's natural barrier. Without it, the skin on the lips gets dry and cracked easily. Your lips also get dehydrated quickly, because they tend to do the most work on your face (talking, eating, kissing). That's why you'll likely notice that your lips get chapped before the rest of your face does; cracked lips are a warning sign of dehydration or irritation.
When lips are moisturized, though, they act like a sponge and immediately plump up. To keep lips hydrated, drink a lot of water and stop licking your lips (which actually dries out your lips more). You should also consistently apply a hydrating balm.
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Get a good balm.
Lip balms are the best way to consistently hydrate the sensitive skin on your lips. You want something that is light enough to absorb into the skin fully--rather than sitting on top. Petroleum jelly works well to add in and retain moisture in a powerful way. For other balms, you want to look for hydrating ingredients like Shea butter, vitamin E, jojoba and coconut oils, rose or lavender oil, and beeswax.
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Apply lipstick after balm.
Lipstick looks better and lasts longer on moist lips. Always use a moisturizing balm before applying any lipstick or lip liner. Keep in mind that matte lipsticks, although trendy, are highly drying and can dehydrate lips quickly.
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Use SPF.
Your lips are skin, so they can get sunburnt too. Choose balms and lipsticks that have SPF in them to protect from loss of collagen.
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Exfoliate.
Just like the rest of your face, your lips need occasional exfoliation as well. However, face exfoliators can be too harsh on sensitive, thin skin, so you'll want to get a lip-specific exfoliator. This will remove the top layer of dry, dead, chapped skin in a gentle way. But don't exfoliate too often because this can actually over-dry your lips.
You can also exfoliate with your toothbrush. After you brush your teeth, rub your lips softly with the bristles of your toothbrush. This will get rid of the top layer of dead skin cells. It will also increase blood flow to the area, so your lips will look red and fresh.
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Treat wrinkles.
Around the lips and eyes tend to wrinkle first, because they have the thinnest skin and the most movement throughout the day. Around the lips, wrinkles often form from emotional consistencies-- like frown lines or laugh lines. Even a frequent use of straws can pucker your lips and cause wrinkles around the edges of your mouth!
You should use highly hydrating products, because the thin skin around your mouth can be very sensitive.
The best solution for this is our retinol moisturizer with hyaluronic acid. This will help you retain youthful glow, while also delivering smooth hydration.
If you want a gorgeous face, you can't forget the sexy lips. Plump, hydrated lips will boost your natural beauty towards age-defying splendor.