How To Deal With Dry, Chapped Lips During the Summer Months

I don’t know about you, but I have been dealing with not only unusually dry skin but dry, chapped lips as well (which I really do not deal with during the summer). Chapped lips can be incredibly uncomfortable and even though we think of chapped lips mainly being a problem in the winter, warm summer weather can cause dryness, flaking, cracks and even bleeding lips. If you find yourself dealing with chapped lips often, here are some tips to keep your lips in top condition…

Stay Hydrated

It’s hard to keep your lips looking nice if your body is dehydrated!

• Drink Plenty of Water: Hydration is key to keeping your lips and skin soft, so aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
• Use a Humidifier: If you are spending a lot of time in air-conditioned environments, a humidifier can help keep the air (and your lips) from drying out.

Exfoliate Regularly

Your face needs to be exfoliated to stay smooth and so does your lips.

• Gentle Exfoliation: Use a gentle lip scrub once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells. You can make a DIY scrub with sugar and honey or use a store-bought one. Don’t get carried away and decide to use the lip scrub on your face! That would be a big no-no!
• Soft Toothbrush: As an alternative, you can use a soft toothbrush to gently exfoliate your lips (this is best done right after you get out of the shower when the lips are plumped, and the skin is soft).

Moisturize

When you do your morning skincare, make sure you include hydrating your lips as part of your plan. I like to apply lip balm or lip oil while I am applying my skincare. That way it has a chance to hydrate my lips before it’s time to apply lipstick (this will help your lipstick goes on smoother, and lips look more plumped).

• Lip Balm: Apply a hydrating lip balm regularly, especially one with SPF to protect against sun damage. Look for ingredients like Shea butter, beeswax, and natural oils.
• Night Treatment: Apply a thicker lip balm or a lip mask before bed to deeply hydrate and repair your lips overnight.

Avoid Lip-Licking

Licking your lips can lead to dryness and chapping. Instead, reapply lip balm as needed. Also, opt for hydrating lipsticks instead of matte or long-lasting formulas.

• Moisturizing Lipsticks: Choose lipsticks that are hydrating and contain nourishing ingredients. Matte and long-wearing lipsticks can be drying, so consider using a creamy or glossy formula.
• Layering Technique: Apply a hydrating lip balm or primer before your lipstick to ensure your lips stay moisturized.

I hope these tips help you to keep your lips hydrated and moisturized throughout the summer months and until next week, be happy, healthy, and beautiful!