STOP to chapped lips – lip care in the summer and winter

Chapped and cracked lips are a common problem. It happens regardless of the season of the year, however, in winter or summer, it becomes even more intense. Lips that have lost their moisture are dry, itchy and (unfortunately) look unsightly – the application of a coloured lipstick only increases this miserable effect. Why do lips get dry and how to take care of them, to make them beautiful and tempting?

Why do lips dry out and become chapped?

The health and appearance of the lips are influenced by many factors – often independent of us. Here are the most important causes:

● frequent temperature changes

● staying in air-conditioned rooms

● dry air from radiators

● hot, scorching sun

● low temperatures (frost)

● lack of proper hydration of the body

● vitamin deficiency (especially from group B)

● salty, sour and spicy dishes

● cosmetics with alcohol

● hormonal imbalance

● taking medicines

Chapped lips – what should be avoided?

● avoid licking your lips (especially outdoors)

● cut down on using cosmetics with alcohol

● give up lipsticks in intense colours

● give up matte lipsticks

● try not to touch or rub your lips

● do not tear off dry skin on the lips

Chapped lips – what kind of lipstick can you use?

When choosing a lipstick, always check whether it contains alcohol or other irritating substances, eg heavy silicones. The more natural composition of such a cosmetic, the better. A good protective lip balm should abound in vitamins (A, B, E), preferably if it also contains natural oils. A great idea is to moisturise the lips with natural butter, for example, shea butter or coconut oil, which has an additional antiseptic effect.

When choosing lipsticks, make sure that they contain lanolin, natural oils, beeswax, and plant extracts

If your lips tend to dry out and chap – try to have your lipstick always at hand. Many girls buy a few protective lip balms and keep them constantly in several handbags, a coat pocket, on the bedside table, in the car, on the desk at work and in the bathroom.

Chapped lips: homemade remedies

The good news is that you do not need to buy a lipstick – you can do it yourself. One of the most interesting, DIY lip products is the one with a beautiful fragrance and very effective chocolate lipstick.

DIY- natural chocolate lipstick

You will need:

• 20 g of chocolate
• 40 g cocoa butter
• a little bit of olive oil

Dissolve cocoa butter and chocolate in a water bath. Combine all the ingredients with gentle stirring, then pour into a small container and leave aside to cool down. When the lipstick congeals – it will be ready for use.

DIY – a natural protective lip balm with cocoa butter

You will need:

• 20 g beeswax
• 40 g cocoa butter (you can also use shea butter or mango)
• about 20 g of sweet almond oil or jojoba oil

Dissolve all concentrated ingredients in a water bath, combine with sweet almond oil, mix thoroughly, pour into containers and leave in a cool place, until the mixture thickens.

CAUTION! The recipes are a base for creating other lip products including colour lipsticks. Just add a little traditional colour lipstick or mineral pigment to the blend. You can intensify the colour and shade as desired.

DIY – homemade lip scrub with sugar

A lip scrub will help you get rid of dry skins and increase the absorbency. It is very simple to make: all you need to do is to combine a teaspoon of sugar with honey, shea butter or other soft natural butter. Thanks to this you will get an all-natural scrub, which you can apply even on a daily basis to make the lips smooth and soft. After exfoliating, do not forget to put on a generous layer of protective lip balm, lipstick or natural oil.

If you have just run out of your lipstick, and you do not have any shea butter or any essential oil at home – you can apply regular butter or (preferably) honey to your lips.

DIY – homemade lip mask

The DIY lip mask is a good solution for dry and irritated skin – it works quickly and efficiently, bringing instant relief.

You will need:

• a teaspoon of honey
• half a teaspoon of lemon juice
• half a teaspoon of olive oil

Combine all the ingredients and apply the mask to your lips – hold it on for about 20 minutes and then … eat it. If you have capsules with vitamin E at home – add a few drops to the mask. You will intensify its regenerating effect.