You’ve packed your bags for your vacation this summer and can’t wait to go! You’ve even packed sunscreen and sunglasses so you think you’re all set. But there’s one thing you’ve forgotten which can ruin all your vacation pictures – your lips!
People generally consider the effect of summer on their skin and hair, but they often forget about the tiny area of skin on the lips. This is actually a grave mistake, since lips require more care than your skin or hair. Unlike the rest of the body, lips don’t have oil or sebaceous glands, so they don’t have any natural moisturization. The skin on your lips is also very thin and contains no melanin, subjecting them to direct attack from outside.
Summer’s main challenge for lips is dryness, leading to other problems like getting chapped or even cut. So to help you get really set for your vacation, here are 10 tips to banish dry lips this summer.
10 Tips to Banish Dry Lips this Summer
10 Tips to Banish Dry Lips this Summer
1. No licking!
First and foremost, don’t lick your lips!! It can be very tempting and it probably feels like you’re moisturizing your dry lips, but you’re actually doing the opposite. The digestive enzymes in our saliva break down the already thin skin of our lips, making them even more dry and chapped. Don’t even lick that smeared chocolate!
2. Use lip balm with SPF
This is as important as using a sunscreen on the rest of your face and body, and is a must do throughout the year. UV rays are active even on cloudy days and can affect your lips even though you may not be aware of it. Go for a light moisturizing lip balm with Vitamin E and reapply every few hours or when you feel like it.
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3. Go rich at night
Night is a time for your skin to rejuvenate, and is the perfect time for some intensive care. Opt for richer, creamier lip butter at night so that it has about 8 hours to work. This way, by morning, you wake up with super soft and nourished lips. Of course, this doesn’t mean you skip the SPF! Use a hydrating lip balm like the one from Burt’s Bee or from Burst of Happyness.
4. Skip the makeup
During summer, it’s better to avoid makeup in general, and lip gloss in particular. The gloss doesn’t behave well in summers and can result in an unpleasant situation with the lips. If you do need to wear makeup, wear a lip balm first, then apply lipstick. If you absolutely have to wear lip gloss, put it on over the lipstick.
5. Remove pigmentation
If you haven’t taken care of your lips till now and they appear pigmented, you can do some damage control. A mixture of honey and lemon juice can show improvement to an extent, but it needs frequent and consistent application. Apply the mixture with a cotton ball and leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour before washing off.
6. Exfoliation
A great way to refresh your lips by getting rid of dead skin cells is by exfoliation. But be careful, lips need very gentle exfoliation as compared to facial skin. One way is to gently rub the lips with a baby toothbrush after washing. The second way is to either use a store bought lip scrub or mix sugar with honey and massage the lips with it. Exfoliate only once a week and avoid if lips are chapped or cut. Look up a simple lip scrub recipe in one of my older posts.
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7. Avoid the lip area
If you’re getting a facial done or are applying anything on your face, always apply it around the lips, without letting any of the product falling on the lips. Cosmetics meant for the face or body are too strong for the lips and should not be used on them.
8. Remove makeup
If you do wear makeup during the day, be absolutely sure to take it all off before bed – doesn’t matter how tired you are! If left till morning, the makeup residue on the lips can dry it out, besides being messy. Use a gentle make up remover suitable for the lips and use a cotton ball to gently wipe it all off. After washing the face with a cleanser, apply the lip balm and go to bed! I love the variants from Omved – the cinnamon and mint one that last really long!
9. Hydrate
The main reason lips dry up is because they’re dehydrated! Do them a favor and drink up enough water during the summer. The humidity probably makes us lose more water than we’re aware of, the brunt of which is borne by our lips and skin. So keep a bottle handy and keep sipping.
10. Hands off!
Finally, leave your lips alone! You’ve done everything to care for them, now keep your hands off! Constantly touching any part of your face transfers all kinds of germs from your hands to your skin resulting in breakouts and infections. Apart from that, body language experts say that it shows a lack of self confidence, and you don’t want that!
When it comes to lips, prevention really works much better than the cure! It’s not easy to undo the damage done to the delicate skin on your lips, so follow these tips for soft and healthy lips. Your vacation photos will look great with that sunny smile of yours! And yes, always have that natural lip balm handy in your purse!
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*All of my reviews are based on my own personal experiences with the brand/products. If it is a sponsored post, it is indicated. Most of the brands and products reviewed are what I have tried and tested and truly recommend! All Photographs are (C) Pratibha unless stated otherwise.*
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