The lips have some of the thinnest and most delicate skin on the entire body. While we lot of time and money on cosmetics to color our lips, or the occasional lip balm, we often don’t spend much time actually taking care of our lips.
We actually need to take as much care of our lips as we do the rest of the face. For example, while the lips are delicate, they still need to be exfoliated. As with the rest of the face, exfoliating removes dead skin cells, it also stimulates blood flow to the area. Increased blood flow means more nutrients and healthier tissues. Exfoliating also helps relieve and prevent chapped and cracked lips.
Exfoliate your lips at least once a week – you can do so at the same time you exfoliate the rest of your face and body. Use gentle exfoliating product, or make your own with one tablespoon granulated white or raw sugar and a very light food-grade oil. Add just enough oil to form the sugar into a grainy paste and gently massage the paste into and around your lips. Cleanse your face and lips with a mild cleanser, to remove excess oil. Apply a lip balm with UV protection to keep your lips soft.
On a daily basis, cleanse your face and lips with a mild cleanser. Always apply UV lip balm to protect your lips from the harmful rays of the sun. If you have lines around your lips, use a lip filler to prevent bleeding. Smoking contributes to the lines around the mouth, so consider quitting. Toothpaste may contain chemicals that dry out your lips, after brushing, rinse your lips, just wiping them may leave lip-drying toothpaste residue.