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It's officially Fall Queens and with Fall weather comes the struggle of dry, chapped, and cracked lips. I have had my fair share of crusty dusty puckers and I'm not letting us go down like that this year. So, I did some research and for both you all and myself, I have compiled a list of tips to make and keep our lips kissable no matter the weather!
Queen Maree's Jazzy Tips for Kissable Lips
1. Stay Hydrated
Okay, these first two are going to be at the top of every beauty list I ever write for Phorbe. That's how important these first two steps are. This first one is simple, in order to keep your lips looking juicy and healthy you have to keep them hydrated.
You can keep your lips hydrated internally by drinking water, at least half your body weight in ounces, per day every day.
If you're really serious, a humidifier will help keep the air in your home hydrated, which in turn will help hydrate your lips and skin externally.
2. Watch What you Eat and use Around your Lips
Salty and spicy foods absorb moisture and in turn will dry out your lips. Make sure you're eating more fruits and vegetables to help keep your lips plump and fluffy.
It's also important that you pay attention to the toothpaste & mouthwash, lip stick, and lip balm you use. Chapped lips can be an allergic reaction to a chemical in your toothpaste and mouthwash. If you feel your lips drying out after brushing your teeth in the morning, you may need to look for another product.
The Today Show says oxybenzone, the chemical found in sun screen lip balms can be a problematic ingredient for many lips. They also say you should look out for the dye in brightly colored lipstick and balm.
3. Don't Lick, Bite, or Pick Your Lips
It's just as your mother said when you were a teenager. Stop picking your face, or you're going to make it worse. The same goes with your lips.
A lot of people lick their lips thinking they are moisturizing them. However, you're doing nothing but inviting cracks and to your lips. Your saliva has no moisturizing property, your basically just wetting your lips and the dryer and colder the weather the quicker your lips will dry and start to crack.
Even worse, when you bite and pick off the dead skin from cracks on your lips, you leave your lips susceptible to scabbing and infection. We are going for smooth and supple. Not scratchy and bumpy.
4. Moisturize
The biggest weapon you can use against dry and chapped lips is lip balm. Lip balm! Lip balm! Lip balm!
First you need to choose the right product. In my research, I found that the number one ingredient that will help protect your lips and lock in moister is petroleum. Petroleum is the same ingredient found in Vaseline and Aquaphor. Petroleum provides a protective barrier from the biting cold and and wind of the Fall and Winter seasons.
The goal is to apply and reapply lip balm throughout the day. Even at night, apply a layer of lip balm to help protect and rejuvenate your lips over night. There are lip balms that contain aloe vera and vitamins. Those are good products to try.
Stay away from products that contain camphor, eucalyptus and menthol. These do the opposite of what you want them to. They dry out your lips.
5. Breathe Through your Nose
This one is simple. Try not to breathe through your mouth when you're outside in the cold. When you're sucking in and pushing out air through your lips, you are basically accelerating the drying process. Instead breathe through your nose.
Did I miss anything? Do you have tips on how to keep your lips juicy and smooth during the cold season? Share them with us in the comment section below.
It's a beautiful day to conquer the world. So, go forth and conquer!
-Queen Maree
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCTOBER 16, 2018