Chapped lips are the pits. Uncomfortable, irritating and don’t even get me started on trying to battle a bright lippy while scales of skin are flaking off your precious pout. It’s just not it.
If you’re experiencing dry lips, you’re certainly not alone. They make the gig look easy, but truth is, our lips have things a little tough — the skin is quite thin and unlike the rest of our body, our lips don’t produce sweat. That means that our lips are naturally a little less juicy and protected than the rest of our skin.
That’s why we often find that our lips need a little extra TLC. If your lips are feeling a little worse for wear (we’ve all been there), then here are three possible culprits that you can point your finger at and go *tsk tsk* before swinging into action.
Before we jump in, a quick reminder that I’m not a dermatologist, and these are just my own experiences trialling beauty products and working in the industry. Make sure to always patch test and seek advice if you’re unsure if a certain product is for you.
The weather.
It’s a tale as old as time. The weather changes and our skin is like, 'WTH'. Whether it’s extreme heat, cold or wind, I find that these changes can make my lips feel like the old biscuits I’ve fished out from the depths of the pantry (read: very dry).
Growing up in Queensland, my lips got quite the shock when I moved to Melbourne. I was certainly feeling the impact of that dry, cool air! And it’s not just the weather, but the way we respond — by cranking up the heater or blasting the air con — that can also have an impact.
While we can’t control the weather (I can probs turn down the heater, but I digress…), we can still come prepared for all the seasons.
Keeping a lip balm on me at all times is my go-to way to combat this and Blistex knows a thing or two about lip care. Take the new Blistex Jojoba Rescue, for example, which intensely moisturises lips for 24 hours with jojoba (known for its essential fatty acids) and coconut oils, plus kiwi fruit extract and vitamins C and E.
Then there’s the Blistex Lip Relief Cream — a soothing and moisturising handbag essential, with an advanced moisture formula featuring beeswax, jojoba oil and grape seed oil. And, of course, the Blistex Intensive Repair, a specially formulated jar of goodness to provide quick, cooling lip relief with menthol and eucalyptus, along with SPF15.
Over-exfoliating.
We all know that exfoliation is a great way to keep our skin fresh and get our hardworking products to sink in and work their magic. But you can have too much of a good thing (I would know, I’m a sucker for exfoliation and have overdone it a time or two).
Lip scrubs have had a moment over recent years, and they’re quite a satisfying way to smooth out your smile. I have a few faves on rotation that feature super nourishing ingredients, making the experience feel very luxe.
However, being quite thin, our lovely lip skin is a tad delicate, so it needs to be treated with care. While they appreciate the thought, too much scrubbing isn’t the way to their heart (they will accept chocolate and flowers though, thanks).
I find that keeping the lip exfoliation a little more low key is a winner — enough to keep things fresh, but not too much that irritation starts to creep in.
Not using the right lip product.
If you’re religiously lathering on a lip balm, and your lips are still chapped, it’s possible that you’re not using the right product for you.
In the Instagram age of trending products, it’s easy to want to add to cart all the products that we come across online, including all the weird and wonderful lip products.
However, we’re all wonderfully unique and so is our skin. Even though we all share standard needs when it comes to caring for our skin (like wanting to hydrate our pouts!), all of us have varying skin types, concerns and goals.
So, a lip product that might be the bees' knees for me might not be your perfect match — and yours might not be mine. In the past, I’ve tried to persist with lip products that friends have said worked wonders for them, even though it wasn’t working for me!
That’s not to say that we can’t be inspired by others' shelfies! It just means it’s worthwhile discovering more about your own skin, getting the deets on new products you’re interested in trying, and seeking advice if you’re unsure if they’re right for you.
Here’s to happy, hydrated lips!
Shop Blistex at Chemist Warehouse in-store or online.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Reapply every two hours and avoid prolonged sun exposure. Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection.
Feature Image: Supplied.