Lush lips

Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips do not contain any oil glands to keep them lubricated and moisturized, so are susceptible to dryness, flakiness, and (ugh) cracking. Both sun and wind can contribute to chapping…peeling, bleeding lips are just not a good look in any culture!

The secret to a luscious pout is exfoliation and lubrication. If your lips are extremely cracked and sensitive, try moistening a face cloth in warm water, then pressing it onto your lips. After a minute, gently rub the cloth back and forth across your lips to remove dead skin. For lips that are not too bad, simply use your toothbrush, softly rubbing it across your lips. This will remove dead skin and stimulate circulation (resulting in a pink and plump mouth!).

Follow with a rich barrier balm, like paw paw / honey ointment, or a lanolin based balm. These are both fantastic humectant (moisture attracting and retaining ingredients) and will help repair any cracks while nourishing your pout. NEVER use a petroleum or mineral oil based lip balm as, while initially lubricating your lips, these toxic ingredients will over time deprive your lips of any natural moisture, making your dry lips worse.

For a sweet treat (and a spa-like treatment), try Shizen’s Sugar Scrub (which not only exfoliates but adds natural waxes to protect your lips.) For a night treatment, you can’t beat Shizen’s Lip Hydrating Serum either.