Looking
for Luscious lips this winter? Your lips are like a sponge ~ when
exposed to moisture they absorb the water and plump up nice and full and
when dehydrated they dry out and look cracked. Unlike other parts of
your body that you can put clothes or a hat on they are always exposed
so they are more
prone to dehydration, particularly during the cold, windy winter
months.
Like the rest of your skin, your lips have all three of these layers --
the difference is that the stratum corneum on your lips is far thinner
than it is anywhere else on your body. Your lips also don't have any
sebaceous glands -- these glands keep your skin moisturized, but your
lips are on their own. Their only source of moisture is your saliva, and
that's why they can easily become dry and chapped.
Another difference between your lips and the rest of your skin is that
your lips don't have melanin, the pigment that makes you tan when you're
exposed to the sun. Melanin is your body's natural way of protecting
your skin from ultraviolet rays, and because your lips don't have any,
they're at a higher risk of getting sunburned. Because your lips can't
protect themselves from sun damage, it's important to use a lip balm
that contains sunscreen -- your lips can develop sunspots and skin
cancer just like the rest of your skin.
7 Luscious Lip Tips
HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE
~ make sure you are drinking plenty of water every day to keep both
your body, skin and LIPS properly hydrated .... a rule of thumb
suggested in some circles is 1 ounce of water for every two pounds you
weigh. So at least 8 oz a day if you are slight and in the 130 pound
range but the more you substance you have the more water you need to
keep it hydrated! I always carrier a bottle of water with me where ever I
am going ~ Love my Contigo it
stays cold for hours and does not sweat all over my things and its
awesome leak proof lid means I can toss it in my purse and go!
Loose the Lip Licking ~ saliva contains digestive enzymes
whose sole purpose are to break down food when it is constantly put in
places it does not belong it will do the same thing ~ break down the
layers of skin causing dry, cracked and painful lips to occur.
Buy only the Best Balms:
When looking for a lip balm look for ones that hydrating ingredients
like coconut, almond, vegetable or jojoba oils, shea butter, Vitamin E,
Aloe Vera and avoid ingredients that will dry you out like alcohol. I
personally love the results I get with Aloette Lip Difference
Humidifier heaven: During
the winter months the furnace in our home is a humidity sucker taking
the much needed water out of the air as it works to turn the cool air
into warm for us as a result our skin in general including our lips can
become dry ~ run a humidifier during the winter. We had one hooked right
up to our furnace that during the winter 'adds' water for us and during
the summer months removes it to keep the perfect amount of humidity in
the house ~ since doing this I have stopped struggling with bloody noses
in the winter and my skin does not feel all dry and itchy when I wake
up!
Exfoliate Exfoliate Exfoliate:
Lip exfoliators ~ including products that contain fruit-acid-based
alpha or beta
hydroxy acids will help to slough off dead skin from your lips much like
the ones you'd use on
your face. Use them once or twice a week to help get control of already
cracked and dry lips and than once a week to maintain luscious lips.
Please note if you are sensitive skin fruit based alpha or beta hydroxy
acids can be a trigger ~ reduce the frequency of use at signs of
irritation: intense
stinging and/or persistent redness. The results with Aloette's Soothe and Smooth have
been amazing over here ~ it offers both an exfoliation step as well has
a hydrating and healing Aloe based treatment to soothe lips. I use this
before bed time specially during the winter months to help prevent the
'morning cracked lips'.
Sun Protection for your Lips: Lips
are susceptible to sunburn since they lack melanin, the pigment that
helps shield skin from the sun. Apply a layer of a sun-protective
product daily ~ either in the form of your moisturizer for your skin or SPF specifically for the lips.
Minimize the Matte: Many
Matte
lipsticks on the market can be extremely drying as this is what helps
these lipsticks stay put
for so long on your lips. If you already have dry lips this style of
lipstick can than be problematic and should be used sparingly and
ideally when used accompanied with an awesome hydrating balm used
underneath.
Yours In Beauty
Margaret
Hey there all ~ just wanted to thank everyone who has been following along with the Awaken to Aloette with Margaret blog, Your support truly means the world to me! 
