Make dry, chapped lips a thing of the past with these top tips for keeping them looking and feeling soft and plump throughout the chilly months

Say Goodbye to Chapped Lips

Cracked and chapped lips are the bane of every woman’s life as winter approaches the beauty experts at online beauty retailer Hairtrade.com have come up with the tips to keep lips looking and feeling soft and plump all throughout the chilly months.

DON’T LICK YOUR LIPS

Naturally, when your lips start to become dry and chapped, your instinct is to lick them, but this actually has the opposite effect and will dry them out more. Plus, the enzymes that are in saliva which digest food are irritating to sensitive lip skin.

EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS

Invest in a quality lip scrub and use it once or twice a week to remove dry, dead or chapped skin cells from your lips. For a DIY option, simply mix honey and brown sugar for a soothing, natural exfoliator.

TREAT CRACKED LIPS RIGHT AWAY

Don’t think you can simply leave them to get better on their own, as they will usually get worse. There are some great creams and balms on the high street that will soothe cracked lips and help to heal raw, broken skin.

KEEP HYDRATED

Quite often dry, flaky lips are simply a result of dehydration. Increase your fluid intake with water, coconut water or herbal teas to give your lips a boost all year round.

APPLY LIP BALM BEFORE YOU GO TO BED

Slathering your lips with a generous coat of your favourite lip balm or a nourishing oil (olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil) before you go to sleep is a great way to moisturise and protect your lips during the cold nights.

USE AN OINTMENT-BASED LIP BALM

This will lock-in moisture and help to heal cracks and splits in the skin. Jojoba oil, glycerine, beeswax, shea butter and aloe vera are also good alternatives for lip balm bases.

AVOID LIP BALMS CONTAINING CAMPHOR, EUCALYPTUS AND MENTHOL

These ingredients actually dry out your lips, so will only make the problem worse.

DONT NEGLECT SPF

It can be hard to believe when we’re travelling to and from work in the dark, but the sun still rises every day – even if it is somewhat clouded over. So, opt for lip balms with an SPF factor of at least 15 to protect the skin on your lips from sun damage.

COVER YOUR LIPS FROM THE ELEMENTS

When venturing outside, try to cover your lips with a warm, woolly scarf so the harsh winter air has a tougher time reaching and damaging your lips. Some winter coat hoods also have Velcro or button snaps that secure around the bottom part of your face, so use them.

USE A HUMIDIFIER

Air can become dry during the winter as a result of having your heating turned up, which may contribute to dry, chapped lips. Using a humidifier to keep the humidity levels in your home between 30%-50% could help prevent this.