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Kiss winter chapped lips goodbye
Coming out of a long, cold winter often means dealing with dry, chapped, cracked and irritated lips – leaving you to slather on that chapstick, hoping for relief.
Unfortunately, that little tube isn’t getting to the root of the problem and is at best, a temporary fix.
So, what do you do to finally get the smooth, moist, softer lips you want?
Here are the six secrets to kissing those chapped lips goodbye…
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Softer lips secret #1 – Hydrate
It may sound simple but if you want to have healthy, beautiful lips, you have to get enough water each day. Your lips are especially prone drying out thanks to their thinner layer of skin, so staying hydrated is vital to preventing chapping.
Also, be sure not to lick your lips since this tiny little act will speed drying.
Softer lips secret #2 – Coconut oil
One of the best ways to soothe your cracked lips is coconut oil. This healthy, natural oil can keep your lips soft and supple by providing a barrier to keep that needed moisture locked in.
It’s also packed with healthy fatty acids that provide your lips with the oils they need to heal.
If your lips need some intensive healing, try adding a drop of tea tree essential oil to the coconut oil before applying to your lips to speed the healing process. But be warned: If your lips are painfully chapped, tea tree oil may cause a mild burning sensation, but it usually goes away quickly.
Softer lips secret #3 – Get your vitamins
Certain vitamin deficiencies could lead to chapped lips, especially low levels of vitamin B and zinc. To boost your vitamin B levels, eat more meats, yogurt and nuts. And, zinc-rich foods include oysters, beef, lamb, spinach and pumpkin seeds. Of course supplementing with a quality vitamin is also a good idea.
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Softer lips secret #4 – Aloe vera
Aloe vera has long been known for its skin-healing properties and those properties work for your lips too.
Aloe helps lock moisture into your lips, fight off viruses and bacteria that could try to invade through those cracks and is anti-inflammatory to calm the irritation.
To use aloe vera, simply cut the leaf lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the gel inside.
Apply a thin paste to your lips before bed and let soak in overnight. You can store any extra gel in an airtight, glass container in the refrigerator to use nightly.
Softer lips secret #5 – Natural toothpastes
Did you know that those commercial brand toothpastes you’ve been using are packed with chemicals and synthetic ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate that can dry out your lips, cause irritation and leave you unhappy with your smile?
Choose a natural toothpaste instead to avoid those damaging ingredients and soften your lips.
Softer lips secret #6 – Sugar scrub
Another way to improve the look of your lips is through exfoliation.
You can make your own sugar scrub at home by mixing two teaspoons of sugar with one teaspoon of honey. Then, simply apply the mixture to your lips and allow to sit for two minutes. Next, use the tips of your fingers to rub gentle circles on your lips to loosen that old, dead skin and whisk it away.
When you’re done, rinse with room temp water for a beautiful smile.
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One last tip
There’s one final secret you should know. If you’ve been living with dry, chapped lips for a long time, be sure to get your thyroid checked since poorly functioning thyroid could be behind your lip problems.
Find the supple, smoother, softer lips you’ve been looking for by using the tips above and show the world that beautiful smile!
Sources:
- Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties — Clinical Microbiology Reviews
- 9 Tips for Chapped Lips — Institute for Integrative Healthcare Studies
- Aging Without Growing Old — Judy Lindberg McFarland
- The effects of two sodium lauryl sulphate-containing toothpastes with and without betaine on human oral mucosa in vivo — Swedish Dental Journal
- The Many Hidden Causes of Chapped Lips — doctoroz.com
By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst
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