Are Your Lips Kissable?

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. One of the areas of the skin that is often neglected is our lips. Are yours ready for their close-up?

 Winter and your lips

Age, dehydration, forced air heating, harsh winds and cold temperatures take a toll on your lips, making them, well, less kissable. The skin on the lips is different than skin on the rest of your body; it’s thinner and has no oil glands.

Because of this, your lips are less protected than other parts of the body. They are also exposed to the elements all the time. No wonder they become rough and chapped, don’t hold lipstick colour and may become painfully dry. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, spending time on the ski hills, cross country trails and the skating rink, your lips may also become sunburned, even in the winter.

 Lip Tips

Love your lips and they will respond quickly by following these steps:

1.    Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – at least eight cups a day. Your lips and the rest of your body depend on H2O to stay healthy.

2.    Don’t lick your lips. This habit damages the protective barrier and will dry out your lips.

3.    Always use a hydrating balm containing shea butter, vitamin E, coconut or almond oil.

4.    Humidify – especially in Calgary’s cold winters.

5.    Exfoliate when required. There are special lip exfoliators on the market to slough off dead skin.

 Plump up

To really make your lips look outstanding, consider a derma filler to pump up the pout factor. Sometimes Mother Nature needs a little help.

 And then, pucker up!