Dry lips are a common concern that many of us face, leading to discomfort, visible cracks and sometimes even pain. In this guide, we aim to provide our best tips and tricks to help you take the best care of your lips and combat dryness effectively.
The answer to "Why do you get dry lips?" is vital, as understanding the reasons can pave the way to better lip care.
The skin on our lips is distinctively thinner than the skin covering the rest of our body. This makes our lips especially sensitive to external elements, such as cold weather, wind and dry air. Furthermore, our lips lack the protective oil glands found in other skin areas, depriving them of the natural oils that usually aid in maintaining moisture.
Dehydration
At the forefront of reasons for dry lips is dehydration. When our water intake is insufficient, our entire body, lips included, can suffer from dehydration. This state can prominently manifest as dry, chapped lips.
Weather conditions
Cold, winter weather doesn't just target our lips; it takes a toll on our entire skin. The biting winds and chilly temperatures can strip away essential moisture, leading to the widespread phenomenon known as "winter skin." This condition represents the pronounced dryness and dehydration our skin, including our lips, experiences during these frosty months. Recognizing this, it becomes all the more crucial to offer our skin and lips the extra care and protection they need during winter.
Conversely, the warm temperatures and increased sunlight of summer can also lead to dry lips. The sun's UV rays can damage the delicate skin of the lips, while the warm air and higher humidity levels can make us sweat more, increasing the risk of dehydration. This makes it all the more important to give our skin and lips the extra care and protection they need by adjusting our lip care routine throughout the year.
Licking lips
It might seem intuitive to moisten dry lips with a quick lick, but this action can be more harmful than helpful. Saliva evaporates rapidly, and its evaporation can exacerbate the dryness, leaving the lips parched.
Medications and health conditions
Some medications list dry lips as a potential side effect. Additionally, certain health conditions, such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders, can predispose individuals to experience dry lips.
Unbalanced diet
A diet lacking essential vitamins and nutrients can contribute to dry lips, as these elements are foundational for skin health. Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining overall skin health, including that of our lips.
Illness and allergies
When we're unwell or grappling with allergies, nasal congestion can force us to breathe through our mouths. This mouth-breathing can lead to quicker drying of the lips, as the constant airflow saps moisture.
While there are myriad factors that can render our lips dry, it's up to us to ensure they remain moisturized and healthy.
Fortunately, there are several strategies and products that serve as an effective answer to the question - "What helps with dry lips?" Here are some tried-and-true methods to ensure your lips stay soft, hydrated, and healthy:
It's essential to choose a lip balm for dry lips that doesn't cause further irritation.
Regular use of a lip balm not only provides an immediate relief to chapped lips but also creates a protective barrier against external aggressors, such as wind and cold. Moreover, consistently moisturizing the lips with a balm helps both nourishing and repairing:
YIN lip balm - a moisturising and protective lip balm for daily care. With a natural gloss effect that lasts long on the lips, keeping them protected, well-hydrated and soft.
YANG lip treatment - a reparative SOS lip cream and mask that comes to the rescue of dry and cracked lips with a fast-acting SOS formula that works in the deeper layers of the skin.
CALM balm stands out as a multifunctional solution. Not only can it be used as a lip balm for dry lips, but it also serves as a soothing balm for the face and body, designed to protect and restore delicate and dry skin. Made exclusively from natural plant oils and pure essential oils, it boasts ingredients like Argan oil, Kanuka oil, and Chamomile. To use, simply warm the balm between your palms and apply it to the lips and other exposed areas.
It's essential to choose a lip balm for dry lips that doesn't cause further irritation.
Regular use of a lip balm not only provides an immediate relief to chapped lips but also creates a protective barrier against external aggressors, such as wind and cold. Moreover, consistently moisturizing the lips with a balm helps both nourishing and repairing:
YIN lip balm - a moisturising and protective lip balm for daily care. With a natural gloss effect that lasts long on the lips, keeping them protected, well-hydrated and soft.
YANG lip treatment - a reparative SOS lip cream and mask that comes to the rescue of dry and cracked lips with a fast-acting SOS formula that works in the deeper layers of the skin.
CALM balm stands out as a multifunctional solution. Not only can it be used as a lip balm for dry lips, but it also serves as a soothing balm for the face and body, designed to protect and restore delicate and dry skin. Made exclusively from natural plant oils and pure essential oils, it boasts ingredients like Argan oil, Kanuka oil, and Chamomile. To use, simply warm the balm between your palms and apply it to the lips and other exposed areas.
Exfoliating isn't just for the face and body; our lips can benefit too. Regular exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells, leaving lips feeling soft and rejuvenated. It also preps the lips for a smoother lipstick application, preventing uneven patches and improving overall lip color appearance.
You can easily exfoliate your lips at home with everyday items like sugar, a toothbrush and honey.
Karmameju's PROUD face exfoliating mask is a also a good choice for this. This mask combines black Volcanic sand with Pomegranate enzyme for a gentle yet effective exfoliation. Use wet fingertips to exfoliate the skin and lips in circular motions. The mask can then be removed with the included 100% organic muslin cloth, which has a gentle micro-exfoliating effect on its own and can be used alone on the lips.
Generally, it's recommended to exfoliate the lips once or twice a week. However, if you suffer from particularly dry lips, increasing the frequency to 3-4 times a week might be beneficial.
We write “STAY HYDRATED - drink water” on many Karmameju products.
Internal hydration is essential in combating dry lips and maintaining the overall health of our skin. Keeping a bottle of water on your work desk or carrying one with you can serve as a constant reminder to drink up.
By ensuring you consume enough water throughout the day, you're hydrating your body from the inside out, which directly benefits the condition of your lips.
Maintaining a well-balanced nutritional diet is a significant part of the answer to the question, "What helps with dry lips?" Eating foods rich in essential vitamins, especially vitamin E and C, can be a game-changer for lip hydration.
Vitamin E serves as a potent antioxidant that deeply moisturizes and shields the lips, while vitamin C plays a crucial role in collagen production, ensuring our lips stay full and healthy. To harness these benefits, it is important to include citrus fruits, berries, nuts, and leafy greens in your daily meals.
Dry lips can be caused by everything from weather conditions to personal habits. But here are your must-dos:
So, take good care of yourself. With a little consistent care, you can easily achieve and maintain healthy, well-cared-for, kissable lips!
Karmameju is changing the design. We're undergoing a design change in Karmameju's packaging. We are changing the visual identity to make it even easier for you to find the right products for your skinWith the design change, the former face ranges 01, 02 and 03 will be categorised as LOVING, CALMING and ENERGIZING as well as PERFUME-FREE. The products are still the Karmameju products you know and love, just in new colors.
