Identifying the causes was our first step in beating the perennial problem of dry lips. Please check on this previous post, in case you haven’t read it. If you have isolated the possible culprits, avoid them and observe for any signs of improvement.
If you are suffering from allergic reactions or medical conditions that give rise to the smoocher issue, be sure to consult your doctor about it. Otherwise, these tips should work for uncomplicated cases of dry lips:
1. Brush it off. When brushing your teeth, include your lips in the routine at least once a week to facilitate exfoliation.
2. Lip exfoliators. Philosophy, Benefit and Smashbox are among the brands that offer these products which are to be used on a weekly basis. These usually contain scrubbing beads and emollients.
3. Drink up. The lips will talk if you are not getting enough hydration, as though it were a live chat software. Water is a cheap yet effective means to a healthier and well-hydrated body.
4. Use Protection. When going out on a sunny day, apply a lip balm with sunblock of at least SPF 15. During the cold season, seal the lips with a protective lip wax or conditioner containing lanolin.
5.Watch Your Mouth. If you sleep with an open mouth, dab a lip emollient before hitting the sack. Besides preparing your lips for a possible smooching episode on dreamland, this will prevent drying up your puckers during the whole snorefest.
6. Soak it up. Add one teaspoon of salt to a pint of water. Get a washcloth and soak it in the solution before leaving it on your lips for 30 minutes. Pat the lips dry and apply your favourite moisturizer or vitamin E oil. This should be done daily for a week as a symptomatic solution to flaky lips.
7. Choose Your Tools. Save the long-wearing lipsticks for special occasions. Lip pencils and matte lipsticks may last longer but they suck the moisture off your lips. For daily use, stick to the moisture-rich variety or lip gloss even if needs to be re-applied more often. When the dryness is severe, it would be wise to go on a lipstick vacation until your puckers recover.
8. Makeup technique. If you must apply lipstick, minimize the appearance of the lip lines by going in one direction. Strokes that go everywhere will only emphasize the dryness.
