Best Winter Lip Care Tips: How to Prevent Dry, Chapped Lips

| Posted on |

Anyone who wears matte lipstick knows the struggle of applying it to chapped lips and with Christmas fast approaching, you want mistletoe-ready, kissable lips, not dry, flaky ones.
The skin on our lips is incredibly fragile. While we moisturise our face daily, we often neglect our lips, even though they’re such a prominent feature.
Unlike the skin on our face, which is made up of around 16 layers, the lips typically have only 3–5 layers. They also don’t contain glands, so they don’t produce natural oils.
winter lip care

Key Causes of Dry Lips

  • Dehydration – yes, that pesky water we’re meant to drink.
  • Licking your lips – saliva evaporates and leaves them even drier.
  • Environmental factors – weather, air conditioning, central heating, UV rays, and cold temperatures.
  • Allergies – harsh ingredients in lip or face products.
  • Vitamin deficiencies or medical conditions.

The Cure
(One of my all-time favourite bands, but also the answer to the lip problem!)

Look for ingredients rich in oils and humectants to hydrate and moisturise.
The words you’re looking for are: Argan Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, and Peptides.
Avoid:
  • Petroleum jelly – it may create a temporary barrier, but it won’t hydrate or speed up healing.
  • Lip plumpers containing menthol or chilli powder – these can over-dry the lips.
  • Picking at flaky skin or scrubbing aggressively with a damp flannel.
Lip scrubs are designed to gently buff away rough, dry skin. Don’t apply lots of pressure and avoid over-exfoliating, especially if your lips are already cracked. A gentle rub to loosen dead skin, then rinse away. I like to use reusable makeup-remover pads that can go straight in the washing machine.
winter lip care

Great Products