Chapped Lips, Dry Skin. What to Do?

Although moisturizer and lip balms add hydration, their real goal is to seal in moisture. When you reach next-level dry and become cracked or chapped, simple fixes like more chapstick or an exfoliation scrub will do nothing. Your saving grace this season is not finding the right products, but cutting out habits that dehydrate the skin and lips. And since we’re in the business of solutions, we compiled a few tips that foster hydration, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Chapped lips

We’ve all experienced chapped lips, but have you ever known what causes your lips to get so chapped. Contrary to most of the skin on the body, lips have poor barrier function, making them exceedingly sensitive to cold temperatures. Despite the fact that cracked lips won’t be repaired in a single day, with discipline and patience, the below tips with replenish the lips year round.

1. Exfoliate.
   Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that could have blocked lip balm from reaching and moisturizing new skin below the flaky areas.
2. Wear lip balm regularly.
   It’s a good idea to apply 6-8 coats a day to avoid lips from drying out.
3. Apply an overnight dry lips treatment.
   Sleeping tends to be the best time to lock in moisture. As your lips are not moving, lip creams are able to soothe lips from any irritations gathered throughout the day.
4. Avoid licking lips.
   Licking lips when they are chapped is almost second nature. However, it ultimately dries them out even more once the saliva evaporates.
5. Resist peeling.
   You might think the peeling and flakiness of your lips will stop once you remove the skin. In all honesty, we thought the same. Yet peeling skin runs the risk of removing healthy skin, further prolonging healing time.
6. Ward off lip products that contain irritants.
   Numerous colored and matted lipsticks contain chemicals that dry out the lips. When selecting your next lip product make sure it does not contain fragrances, dyes, or alcohol.
7. Cover lips with emollient (moisture locking) lip balm.
   Gentle lip balms made with beeswax, shea butter, or coconut oil will be your best friend this season.

Dry skin

Below you’ll find our top tips for restoring, moisturizing, and softening parched skin.

1. Avoid excess washing.
   Believe it or not, over-cleaning is the top reason for dry skin. Our skin has a natural barrier, made of oil, water and moisturizing factors. With increased washing, soaps and cleansers tend to strip all the good skin hydrators.
2. Opt for a warm shower.
   Often times in the winter, a hot shower is exactly what’s craved the instant you get home. The issue is, exposing yourself to hot water can strip skin of essential oils, leading to inflammation and irritation. It’s best to wash in a warm temperature and for no longer than 15 minutes.
3. Limit exfoliation.
   Exfoliating is great as it removes dead cells and allows moisture to reach your skin. If you notice yourself exfoliating more than twice a week, you might start to see dryness. A good rule of thumb is to lotion directly after exfoliating to keep essential oils in.
4. Purchase a thicker moisturizer.
   With the change of season and less moisture in the air, the water in your skin tends to evaporate more quickly than in humid months. Applying a thicker moisturizer will coat the skin with the moisture it loses in the cold.
5. Apply lotion when skin is damp.
   When you apply lotion, you want to make sure it soaks into the skin. Post shower and excessive hand washing should always be followed by lotion no more than 5 minutes later to ensure absorption.
6. Invest in a humidifier.
   It is so easy to get in the habit of turning on the heater after a long work day and an even colder commute. Although the heat feels good in the moment, it could be adding to the dryness of your skin. The drier the air, the drier the skin. Investing in a humidifier could be a great start to maximizing the water in the air.
7. Drink more water.
   Essentially your skin will remain hydrated if you are fueling it with water. Since water evaporates quicker in colder months, make sure to keep your water intake high.
8. Get 6-8 hours of sleep a night.
   Ah, beauty sleep. Getting around 6-8 hours of sleep a night allows the cells to repair and restore.