Cleanse, hydrate, use sun protection—we’ve all got the quintessential summer skin care tips down. But there is a small area we often overlook during these hot months–our lips! While lips look different than the rest of your skin, they share some similarities. Like the rest of your skin, the lips are made up the same three layers. The epidermis, the outer protective layer, covers the stratum corneum and the lower dermis.
Don’t let these similarities fool you, though. The lips are truly unlike any other part of the body. On our lips, the startum corneum layer between the epidermis and dermis is much thinner than in other areas of our skin. Additionally, our skin contains sebaceous glands to coat and hydrate itself, but our lips do not have these glands. Our lips are naturally moisturized by salvia, but oftentimes, you need more TLC for this delicate area.
Follow these tips to keep your pout looking pretty:
Know what you’re applying
What you put on your lips is just as important as what you put into your mouth. Every time you apply a product with questionable ingredients you could actually be ingesting toxic chemicals, fillers and dyes–not exactly things you want on your lips or near your mouth.
MyChelle has created all-natural lip treatments to help you keep your lips looking luscious. We trade harsh waxes, artificial colors, fake flavors and petroleum-based ingredients for nourishing plant oils, butters and natural flavors enhanced with stevia. Emollient, nourishing shea and kokum butters soothe chapped lips and protect lips from dehydration, while organic Melissa and L-lysine to help prevent and heal fever blisters (cold sores). You’ll love how it smells and feels. This exotic lip balm is packaged in a generous .5oz (14g) tube and flavors include Guava Orange Vanilla, Peach Mint, Black Currant Pomegranate, Pistachio Coconut and Raspberry Cherry Pineapple.
Protect and hydrate
The lips are so unique and, in fact, have zero sweat glands or hair follicles. They don’t get the same kind of natural UV protection that the skin on other parts of our body gets. When spending prolonged time in direct sunlight, make sure and apply a lip SPF of 15 or higher to prevent sun damage and dryness from occurring. Because the skin is comprised of mostly water, keeping your body hydrated is essential to healthy lips. When you become dehydrated, you’re more susceptible to chapped, irritated lips. To avoid dehydration, drink at least 8 glass of water per day–your body, skin and lips will benefit greatly.
Anti-aging is a must
As we get older, the skin around our lips can start to show visible signs of aging with fine lines, wrinkles and sagging becoming more apparent. Keep anti-aging items handy to apply to the lip area. The Wrinkle Spot Treatment is a must-have product that allows you to target and spot-treat troublesome areas with a potent combination of fruit extracts and the clinically-proven, age-defying peptides Leuphasyl®, Inyline and Argireline. Proven through independent studies, this cooling, wrinkle-reducing trio instantly plumps aging areas with the easy rollerball applicator.
Exfoliation does your lips good
You can and should gently exfoliate your lips to help them stay healthy and hydrated. Exfoliating removes the dead, peeling skin that builds up, giving you smoother, softer skin underneath. Create a DIY treatment by mixing 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon honey and ½ teaspoon milk to create a paste. Rub the paste in gentle, circular motions. The honey is antibacterial and healing, while the sugar and milk are exfoliating and increase cellular turnover. Try this delicious at-home treatment once a week for soft, supple lips.