To continue with our theme of cold weather and skin, today let’s talk about lips.
Skin on our lips is one of the thinnest on our body and has only a few oil glands to keep them moisturized. Low temperatures and wind in addition to breathing with an open mouth and lip licking, all can result in chapped lips. Chapped or cracked lips occur due to evaporation of moisture from the lips. You may think, by constantly licking lips you are adding moisture but the opposite is true, by licking lips you are removing thin oily film that is produced by the oil glands leaving the lips dehydrated.
It is a common belief that petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is a cure for chapped lips. It does help with moisture loss but does not cure the chapped lips, by itself petroleum jelly does not add any moisture back to the lips. In our opinion petroleum jelly is not a healthy alternative to cure chapped lips because it contains mineral oils, wax and paraffin. For better and healthier choice try products with natural oils and vitamins.
Our favorite products for healthy lips are:
Mint or Cherry Balm – Nourishing botanicals heal lips and keep lips soft & supple, while a full spectrum SPF 15 protects.
-SPF 15 – active ingredients: Octyl Methoxycinnamate (7.5%) and Oxybenzone (3%)
– Hemp seed oil – an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, prevents skin damage and premature aging
– Meadowfoam seed oil – prevents moisture loss, reduces wrinkles and visible signs of aging, is a natural lubricant
– Mango seed butter – treats skin cracks and small wounds, heals sunburn and frost bites, treats the dry skin
Irina’s favorite is Cherry Balm, “it’s delicious and feels so smooth on lips”.
Liquid Lips and Gloss – A high shine, luxurious formulation for an ultra-moist look that lasts, while rich nutrients condition and protect. Contains an exclusive antioxidant blend of vitamins A, C, E and green tea extract. Contains conditioning ingredients such as sunflower and sunflower seed oil. Sunflower seed oil helps skin retain moisture, helps with skin regeneration, contains Vitamins A, B, D and E, and omega 9 fatty acids.