Of all the lovely side effects of sharp winter winds and single digit temperatures, chapped lips takes the number one slot for most agitating on my list (For the record, this list is hypothetical. I don’t actually have a bitter notepad tracking this.). Recently, I was a victim of this frosty punishment. My lips were so chapped that I was constantly aware of their painful tightness and rough edges. Applying chap stick every three minutes not only distracted me from class, but it didn’t work quite as well as I hoped. So I scoured the net, and here are some of the best tips to fix those lips. They certainly helped mine:
1. Apply lip balm after you brush your teeth.Moisture on your lips is, ironically, the quickest way to dry them out. So before you hop into bed, make sure to swipe some chap stick on your dry kisser.
2. Avoid licking your lips! The aforementioned rule about moisture is key to this. It may seem to help in the moment, but ultimately your worsening your condition. Similarly, try to breath with your nose rather than your mouth; air running over your lips will also suck out moisture.
3. Temporarily dismiss glossy balms.The focus here is to re-moisturize and sticky lip-gloss does your lips no service. It also probably draws attention to particularly rough patches, so it’s a double negative (Multiplication rules don’t apply to this scenario). Opt for a balm with extra moisturizer or try straight petroleum jelly, which is totally effective yet inexpensive.
4. Drink up! Unfortunately, I’m not suggesting alcohol, which will dry your lips even more, but tea or water. Beauty and moisture come from within, so stay hydrated and your lips are more likely to as well.
Sources:
http://www.allure.com/beauty/blogs/reporter/2010/02/how-to-treat-chapped-lips.html
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/lip-care/tips/5-tips-for-battling-cracked-lips4.htm
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Ohio U chapter.