5 Tips to

Beautiful Winter Lips

By Penelope Tiam-Fook, Rodan & Fields Consultant

If you're like me, you begin to notice pretty quickly, that your lips begin to feel dry and cracked during the winter months. The cold air just seems to wreck havoc on our tender lips.  To get your lips kissable again, especially with Valentine's Day fast approaching, there are things you can do to help ease dry, cracked or even peeling lips to get your pucker looking beautiful again.

First, I think we should take a look at what causes our lips to become chapped, cracked or peeled during the winter.  There is thin, oil film on the surface of our lips that provides natural protection against moisture loss. This protective barrier may be removed by environmental factors such as: cold/dry weather, indoor heating, sunburn, mild dehydration, and vitamin deficiencies.

Many of us struggle, unsuccessfully so, with overcoming these factors and go from one product to the next in search of something that will restore our once luscious lips.

Here are 5 quick tips to help you get beautiful winter lips.

Exfoliate

All lip balms are not equal. Avoid lip balms that contain wax and petroleum jelly which may temporarily relieve your dry lips, but really dry your lips out and cause dead skin cells to build up on your lips.

Instead, gently exfoliate lips with a gentle sugar scrub made with raw sugar and honey. The sugar removes dead skin cells while the honey adds and seals in moisture.

If you're looking for a on-the-go exfoliating treatment, try my Enhancements Lip Micro Dermabrasion. A ready-to-use repair treatment is my ANTI-AGE Lip Renewing Serum.  The serum helps to restore definition and keeps lips looking naturally full and youthful. Used nightly, each mono-dose capsule helps lips retain natural moisturizing factors, smooths lip texture, reduces the appearance of lip wrinkles, and provides protective antioxidant benefits.  The result is fuller, firmer, smoother, hydrated and more defined-looking lips.

Don't lick your lips

If you suffer from dry, cracked lips every Winter, then you're familiar with the cycle of your lips feeling itchy, red and irritated for a day or two, before becoming dry, then cracked and peeling, and sometimes, bleeding begins.

One reason this cycle repeats itself is the use of poor-quality lip balms which were mentioned above. The other is saliva. Saliva, which contains digestive enzymes to help us digest our food, is not a moisturizer.  Instead, saliva robs our lip tissues of its natural, oil film thereby drying out lips out even more.

One lip balm that gets my thumbs up rating is Rodan + Fields ESSENTIALS Lip Shield SPF 25.  This hydrating lip balm soothes, softens and protects lips from the aging and burning effects of the sun, conditions lips with collagen-stimulating peptides to smooth lip texture, provides antioxidant protection with Vitamins A, C and E, while shea butter, avocado and sunflower seed oil hydrate and moisturize lips.

Check your toothpaste

Does it contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)? SLS is used in many products like shampoo and toothpaste. It is a foaming agent, that's why your tootpaste foams when you brush your teeth.

What you may not know is that in the same way SLS strips your hair of product buildup and your hair's natural moisture balance, it also is used to dissolve the grease on car engines.

If that doesn't make you cringe, SLS also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It not only causes irritation, but it also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin. So, switch to a non-sodium lauryl sulfate toothpaste to stop your lips from being dry and irritated.

Nutritional Deficiency

If none of the regular advice eases your dry lips, take a look at your diet or talk to a dietician. You may not be getting enough vitamins or nutrients, like iron, in your diet. I, for one, need to do a better job of eating more fruits and vegetables.

Infections

Sometimes with all the advice out there from natural remedies to the local drug store products, your lips may still be cracked, peeling and sore. This could signal a bacterial or fungal infection, or perhaps a serious medical condition. If this is the case, it's time for a visit with your doctor.

Are you struggling with dry winter lips?

Leave your comments or connect with me on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/healthyskincare.

For more information about the products mentioned in this article, contact me at 850-320-SKIN (7546) or visit https://healthyskin.myrandf.com/.

Penelope Tiam-Fook is your Tallahassee consultant for Rodan & Fields.

Rodan + Fields� Dermatologists is changing skin and changing lives by partnering with independent business owners across the United States to bring innovations in anti-aging skincare to everyone. Founded by world-renowned dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, the creators of Proactiv Solution, Rodan + Fields' patent-pending AMP MD System makes real results possible at home without injections or other invasive procedures.

If you have any questions, give her a call at (850)320-7546.

CLICK HERE To Visit Her Website

CLICK HERE to LIKE Her FACEBOOK

CLICK HERE