Caring for our faces is crucial. Consistently cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing so we can have acne-free, radiantly smooth skin is a must in facial care, but what about our lips? Those can become dry, cracked and chapped so easily, but yet caring for our lips seems to escape our minds. Our lips are constantly exposed to irritants, from weather conditions to food to environmental pollutants, and if not properly cared for, can make our lips become dry and unhealthy. Below is a list of tips on how to care for our lips naturally and achieve soft, luscious lips anyone would die to kiss!
1. Use lip balm
To help in lock in moisture, I swipe on my favorite lip balm before stepping into the shower each morning and let the steam help trap the moisture in. Make sure to apply lip balm consistently throughout the day, especially during extreme temperature conditions. Hot and cold weather make our lips extra sensitive to dryness, so apply a moisturizing lip balm containing vitamin E and with SPF to protect your lips from sun exposure. Try Eco Lips brand for a vegan and eco-friendly lip balm with SPF and vitamin E.
2. Clean lips
Use lemon juice to help remove dirt and brighten your lips. Rub the juice on your lips for five minutes and then wipe off and admire the brighter, cleaner appearance.
3. Weekly Scrub
Once a week, exfoliate your lips (as you do with your face) to help remove dead skin cells. You can try a mixture of brown sugar and olive, coconut or almond oil and apply using your fingertip in circular motion across your lips. Wipe off and then apply a lip moisturizer–try cocoa butter for its ultimate moisturizing effects.
4. Use Aloe Vera Gel
To help keep your lips hydrated, apply aloe vera gel and leave on for 15 minutes before bed. Wash off with warm water.
5. Massage lips
Massage your lips daily to increases blood flow. You can massage your lips by rotating your fingertips in a circular motion across your lips, or by pressing your fingertips into the center of your lips and then outward.
6. Choose the right lip gloss
Before adding your gloss, apply lip balm first so your lips stay supple and soft. For the most flattering color, make sure the lip gloss is one to two shades darker than your natural lip color. For fair skin, try nude or apricot shades. For medium skin, try mauve, deep burgundy or berry shades. And for dark skin, try plum, red or caramel colors. If your lips are thin, avoid dark shades and maximize fullness by using tinted lip glosses to make lips appear plumper. An excellent conscious, vegan-friendly brand to try is SpaRitual.
7. Eat lip-friendly foods
A produce-rich diet high in vitamins and minerals is essential in order to maintain good lip health. Specifically focus on vitamin E and B rich foods such as whole grains, dark, leafy greens, almonds and sunflower seeds. Avoid spicy and salty foods which can cause inflammation.
8. Most importantly, stay hydrated!
And above all, drink water! Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and keep your lips hydrated as well.
Photo: Helga Weber via Flickr; Steven Depolo via Flickr; Paola Sparta via Flickr; Roger McLassus via Wikimedia Commons
