By Lejla Hodzic
Dry lips are something most of us will experience at times in our lives.
Dry lips are a common concern that many of us face, and they can lead to discomfort, visible cracks and even pain. In our lip care guide, we aim to give you our best tips and tricks to help you take the best possible care of your lips in everyday life and combat dry lips 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
One of the main reasons for dry lips is dehydration. When our water intake is insufficient, our entire body, lips included, can suffer from dehydration. This state can clearly manifest as dry, chapped lips.
Weather conditions and temperature changes
Cold winter weather doesn’t just take a toll on the lips, but on the entire skin. The biting winds and chilly temperatures can strip away essential moisture, leading to "winter skin". This condition represents the pronounced dryness and dehydration our skin, including our lips, experiences during these frosty months. 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 adapting our lip care throughout the year.
Licking your lips
It might seem intuitive to moisten dry lips with your tongue; although this provides momentary relief, in the long run it is more harmful than helpful. Saliva evaporates rapidly, and the evaporation can exacerbate the dryness and leave the lips parched.
Medications and health conditions
Some medications list dry lips as a potential side effect. Additionally, certain health conditions can predispose individuals to experience dry lips.
Nutrition
A diet lacking essential vitamins and nutrients can contribute to dry lips, as these elements are fundamental to skin health. Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of the skin, as well as our lips.
Illness and allergies
When we are unwell or struggling with allergies, a blocked nose 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.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to get kissable, soft and well-cared-for lips.
It’s important to choose a lip balm for dry lips that doesn’t cause further irritation.
Regular use of lip balm not only provides immediate relief to chapped lips but also creates a protective barrier against external factors, such as wind and cold. Moreover, moisturising the lips with a balm, salve or lip balm helps both nourish and repair:
YIN lip balm - your daily moisture fix, which cares for the lips for hours - without creating that thirsty need for more. With a natural gloss effect.
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 can be used not only as a lip balm for dry lips, but also as a soothing balm for the face and body, designed to protect and restore sensitive and dry skin. It is made exclusively from natural plant oils and nature’s pure essential oils and contains ingredients such as nourishing argan and sea buckthorn oil as well as soothing chamomile.
Also available as a perfume-free alternative: SOUL balm.
Exfoliation isn’t just for the face and body; our lips can benefit from it too. Regular exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells, so that the lips feel soft and your care can penetrate deeper. You can easily exfoliate your lips at home with everyday items like sugar, a toothbrush and honey. You can also buy a lip scrub.
Karmameju’s PROUD face exfoliating mask is a good choice for this. This mask combines black volcanic sand with pomegranate enzyme for a gentle yet effective exfoliation. The mask can then be removed with the included 100% organic muslin cloth, which has a micro-exfoliating effect on its own and can easily 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, it can be beneficial to increase the frequency to 3-4 times a week.
“STAY HYDRATED - drink water”, we write on many of Karmameju’s products. Internal hydration is essential in combating dry lips and maintaining the overall health of your skin. Keeping a bottle of water on your desk or carrying one with you on the go can be a good reminder to drink plenty. By making sure you drink enough water throughout the day, you hydrate 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!
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