Come winter, your lips start craving moisture like never before. Since the skin on the lips is particularly thin and sensitive, dehydration becomes a pressing concern during the colder months of the year. In such a case, a lip balm can become your skin saviour.
A lip balm is a wax-like substance you apply on your pucker to further hydration and keep dryness and flaking at bay. Ceramides and humectants lock in moisture and fortify the skin barrier, making your pout smooth and supple. Pro Tip: Consider exfoliating your lips with a lip scrub before applying balm to slough off dead skin cells and facilitate deeper absorption.
Prep Your Pucker
As mentioned previously, exfoliating your lips before lip balm application can help eliminate dead skin cells and allow for better absorption. If you don’t own a lip scrub, whip one up at home with brown sugar and honey.
Double Down on Hydration
If chapped lips are your biggest beauty concern during winter, double down on moisturisation by introducing a lip mask to your routine. An overnight lip mask lends a healthy dose of hydration, making you wake up to a soft and supple pucker. You could also rub a moisturiser on and around your lips at bedtime, layering it with a lip balm.
Lip Balms For All Occasions
If you’re experiencing severe lip dryness, lay off mattifying lipsticks and minty lip glosses to avoid worsening the condition. Instead, opt for tinted lip balms that double up as a balm and lipstick, boosting moisturisation while lending your lips a subtle hue.
Ingredients to Avoid in a Lip Balm
Avoid lip balms providing a minty, tingling sensation or ones that boast a camphor or cinnamon flavour. You’d often find such irritants in plumping formulas, which compel you to get caught up in a vicious cycle of dryness and re-application. The same goes for lip balms featuring menthol, flavours, and fragrances. Plus, avoid formulations that offer a burning sensation, for they’re only exacerbating dryness.
What is a Natural Lip Balm?
Natural lip balms are devoid of chemicals and toxins. They contain organic and nature-derived ingredients that are ideal for sensitive skin types and minimise the chances of unwanted skin irritation or inflammation. Natural lip balms contain botanical or fruit extracts and nature-derived ingredients, including beeswax, vitamins C and E, and coconut oil.
What Are SPF-Infused Lip Balms?
As the name suggests, SPF-infused lip balms offer sun protection, limiting the adverse effects of sun exposure on your lips. Why shield solely your face from sun damage when you can protect your lips, too?
How Often Should I Use a Lip Balm?
When it comes to lip balm application, there’s no number. You can apply lip balm as much as you need to maintain optimal hydration and avoid dryness or flaking. However, don’t overdo it for prolonged periods, as your lips may lose their natural ability to keep the skin hydrated.
Lip Care Tips to Keep in Mind
- Avoid licking your lips – even if you feel tempted to – as the saliva can leave them even more dry.
- Drink substantial amounts of water to stay hydrated and ensure optimal skin health.
- Don’t over-exfoliate your lips, as this can cause micro tears and leave your lips damaged and inflamed.
Lip Balm Hacks
Did you know your lip balm could double up as a blush, eyeshadow primer, eyebrow gel, lip gloss, and a highlighter?
- If you’ve forgotten to pack in a blush, swipe a tinted lip balm along the apples of your cheeks for an instant flush. The creamy texture of the product will also work well for dry skin types – similar to the consistency of a cream blush.
- Top up your matte lipstick with a soothing lip balm for nourishment and a distinct sheen. If you want to steer clear of a high-shine finish but still desire a subtle glint, swap your lip gloss for a lip balm. You could also apply the lip balm before lipstick application to avoid cracking and bleeding.
- Ace your base by using your lip balm as an eyeshadow primer. The smooth texture of the formulation will ensure that the eyeshadow blends seamlessly and doesn’t budge.
- To accentuate your best features, swipe a non-tinted lip balm along your cheekbones and on the other high points of your face.
- To avoid mascara smudges, take some product on a Q-tip and swipe it along your lashes to eliminate clumps and lock your look in place.
- You could also use your lip balm to tame flyaways. A stroke is enough to keep your hair in place.
- When you’re out of eyebrow gel, turn to the versatile lip balm to groom your brows. After applying lip balm on your eyebrows, use a spoolie or brow brush to shape them.
- A lip balm can also help when you’re looking to make your fragrance last longer. Before spritzing a scent on your pulse points, swipe some lip balm on the area to make the fragrance fuse into your skin as your body temperature amps up.
Conclusion
While using a lip balm is essential – especially during colder months when your pucker runs the risk of becoming dry – you mustn’t overuse the product. Try out a bunch of lip balms to know what works best for you. If you notice any allergic reaction on your skin, steer clear of using that formulation and scan the label to identify the ingredients that could be causing the problem.
