Keep your lips kissable...

NOTHING is as irritating as dry flaky lips that make you look like you haven’t had a decent meal in days. It gets even more annoying when you want to apply lipstick on them. It just won’t go on right – it’ll be crumbly and definitely nothing close to sexy. Peeling lips combined with lip gloss or lipstick actually look like dirt – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that something is not right. There’s need to take better care of your lips if you’re going to get a better pout out of them.

Think of your lips as a sponge – when exposed to moisture, they absorb water and plump up but when dehydrated, they dry out and shrink. And, because they’re always exposed, they’re prone to dehydration. I recently read that the skin on the lips is also unlike skin anywhere else on the body – its thinner and has no oil glands which act as a barrier for skin, helping to protect it from the elements. The result can chapped lips that couldn’t hold lipstick colour even if you spray-painted it on.

With a little loving care, your lips can be perfect in no time. Take a water bottle with you wherever you go. Drinking enough water – the equivalent of at least 8 glasses of fluids daily – will keep the body, skin and lips hydrated. Licking your lips damages the protective barrier, which can dry out the lips. Saliva contains digestive enzymes that can break down this barrier. Instead, regularly apply lip balm.

Know thy balms. Look for hydrating ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E and almond, jojoba or coconut oils. Good old petroleum jelly works well too. If you have sensitive skin, use camphor-based medicated lip balms sparingly – they can be irritating on the skin. Exfoliate when necessary. Weird, I know but lip exfoliators slough off dead skin much like the ones you’d use on your face. But if you have sensitive skin or your lips are severely chapped or cracked, use these products cautiously as they contain acids that can irritate skin.

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 with a reasonable SPF of about 15. These are found in pharmacies and departmental stores with cosmetic sections such as Edgars, Truworths and so forth. Don’t make matte forever. Matte lipsticks can be extremely drying –which helps these lipsticks stay put for so long. That’s why you should use them sparingly when your lips are extremely chapped.

Instead, alternate them with hydrating lipsticks as indicated by ingredients such as vitamin E and glycerin or add a layer of moisturising lip balm underneath. Opt for the non-matte, hydrating lipstick with primrose oil and vitamin E. To plump up your pout, use lip liner in a shade slightly darker than your lips, apply the lipstick, and then in the center of your lips, blend in a drop of foundation and top it off with a gloss. Always try to treat your lips right.

Peeling lips could be an allergic reaction to a lipstick, toothpaste, food, beverage, or medication you’re taking. It may be difficult to trace the source of the problem but always try to take note of any new food or products you try. Wrinkles around the lips are caused by sun exposure, age, and smoking. These wrinkles should be treated like wrinkles on the rest of the face, with chemical peels and creams that contain anti-aging ingredients such as retinol. Maybelline has good products that you can use to help keep your lips plump and healthy. Try avoiding, cheap, fake products which will cause your lips to peel.

Clinique is also a great product especially products with green tea extract, vitamin E and salicylic acid. Revlon, Clarins and Elizabeth Arden also have good ranges. It may seem odd or unnecessary but before you buy any product, always read the packaging to see what went into it.