Before solving a problem, you need to understand it. “The lips, like the area around the eyes, are distinguished by the complete absence of fatty tissue, sebaceous and sweat glands. Therefore, the skin in these places is more strongly influenced by external irritants, and by definition it needs more moisture,”says cosmetologist Natasha Bimson.
This explains why the skin of the lips often becomes dry. It cracks under the influence of other factors. When your lips dry, you have a desire to lick them - have you noticed? Thus, you find yourself in a vicious circle: trying to moisturize your skin, you dry it out even more. How to deal with the problem?
REDUCE CONTACT WITH IRRITANTS
This category includes drinks - coffee and alcohol. Beamson advises drinking them through a straw to reduce the area of contact with the lips. These drinks affect the water balance of the entire body, but since the thin skin of the lips is already dry, the consequences for it are more serious.
CHECK LIP BALM COMPOSITION
The most common ingredients in lip care products are refined products such as paraffin, petroleum jelly, glycerin, as well as various fragrances, camphor and menthol as bulking agents, and even salicylic acid, which manufacturers use as a preservative.
If we talk about petroleum oils, then they create a dense protective film, preventing moisture from evaporating and the skin from breathing, but at the same time does not provide additional moisture. Castor oil is also one of the prohibited ingredients. All of them are capable of creating a comfortable feeling on the lips, but they do not contribute to hydration and do not heal cracks.
WHAT INGREDIENTS SHOULD BE IN THE COMPOSITION?
Beeswax-based balms are very popular now. It works as a thickener, but at the same time perfectly smoothes the skin, increases its elasticity, protects against drying out and at the same time allows breathing. For severely chapped lips, use candelilla wax balms.
Natural oils - shea, shea, coconut, almond, apricot or olive - care for the skin of the lips. For the winter, it is better to choose a product with a higher concentration of wax and a lower concentration of oils. Honey is one of the nourishing and emollient ingredients, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamins A, E, C and F act as antioxidants and protect the skin from aging.
If you prefer aromatic balms, look for essential oils in the composition. They also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
