Let’s talk lips. You smile with them, eat with them, talk with them, and even kiss with them. They should be soft and pink and healthy. Yet, the reality of our lip health is probably far different. They are often neglected and subjected to the punishment of cold winter weather that leaves them chapped, dry, and cracking. Diet plays a big part in keeping your smile soft and sweet, as well.
The first dietary component to healthy, beautiful lips is drinking plenty of water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water is the easiest, most frugal way to be nice to your lips every day. A diet that contains leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fresh fruits is another way to help any smile glow. In addition to plenty of great nutrition, our lips need protection.
Weather that is too hot or too cold can wear out even the healthiest lips. Our lips are often the facial feature that is most exposed to the fluctuations of climate. If you must go outside in the extreme cold and wind, apply lip balm for protection. Try not to lick your lips, pick the skin with your fingers, or bite them, experts advise. It only irritates the skin and reverses any of the benefits you have gained by keeping your lips soft and healthy. If your lips are already chapped and dry, there are a few easy remedies you can try. First you need to exfoliate your lips to remove any dead skin cells. Once they are removed, your lips will be ready to receive moisture.
Here is an easy recipe for a lip scrub:
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix these ingredients together to form a paste. Apply the paste to your lips and leave on for a few minutes. Gently rub your lips with your finger to lightly scrub and then rinse with lukewarm water. A few drops of olive oil on your lips will help keep them soft until morning.
Sometimes our lips are just too far gone and they need some soothing before we can begin to think about exfoliating. To begin healing those dark, dry, chapped, and perhaps cracking lips, try one of these easy home remedies:
Plain Honey: Honey has natural antiseptic and antibiotic properties. If your lips are cracked and bleeding, honey will help heal them. It may cause a bit of tingling when applied to severely chapped lips.
Apple Seeds and Water: Grind up some apple seeds and add enough water to make a paste. Place it on your lips before bed and leave on overnight. Rinse with lukewarm water in the morning.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Beeswax: Mixed together into a smooth paste, these two ingredients will soothe the driest lips.
Black Tea: A teabag dipped in boiling water and allowed to cool to a lukewarm temperature can be pressed to the lips to help increase moisture.
Once you get those lips back in shape, you need to keep them that way. The simple way to do that is to apply a lip balm or lipstick daily. Your lips do not contain any oil glands, so they need a little help to maintain moisture. You can purchase lip balm fairly inexpensively, but if you would like to try your hand at making your own, many recipes are available. With a little time and effort, your lips will thank you for keeping them healthy, soft, and ready for every smile.
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