Winter Tips For Your Lips
We wish we could live in Bali all year round, but sadly we know all too well the effect cold winters have on our skin.
Winter can be a challenging time for our bodies, the lack of daylight and constant changing of temperatures can take its toll mentally and physically, especially on complexions - and even more so on your lips.
During these months, a good skincare routine is key – but it is also crucial to look after your inner health. Stay hydrated with plenty of water and take supplements, ideally vitamin C and D to help compensate for the reduced amount of sunlight and keep your skin health in check.
One of the biggest skin complaints during these colder months is the effect the cold has on your lips. This is in part because the skin on our lips is so thin, which offers little protection against the onslaught of rapidly changing elements.
The twin skin terrors of cooler temperatures and a decrease in humidity creates dry air that whips moisture away from our skin and bodies – in some cases up to 25%.
Harsh winter winds and dry indoor heat (central heating is a prime cause) often make the problem worse and aside from the obvious effects on lips, can lead to cracked and bleeding skin elsewhere on the body. Painful skin conditions such as eczema can also be aggravated.
Chapped lips cause the skin around the mouth to become dry and flaky and it’s the constant moving between hot and cold environments that can dry and dehydrate the skin. As the cold and flu season approaches, runny noses and coughing also have a big impact on the condition of skin around your mouth and nose.
Chapped blistered lips can be painful (and unsightly) but with a little TLC can be fixed and healed in a few days. If you’re looking for a quick fix - then look no further. Contrary to popular belief, balms with a high petroleum jelly content can actually have a negative effect on chapped lips, so we’d recommend you always opt for a formula enriched with natural waxes and oils (with the exception of eucalyptus, camphor and menthol which can actually dry and irritate sore lips – but don’t worry Bali Balm is totally free of these).
For severely chapped blistered lips that are cracked and very dry, we’d recommend slathering on a generous application of your chosen balm several times a day, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Try to include this as part of your day and night regimes.
This will help seal in moisture, allowing the lips to heal.
If you’re lips are at the early stage of chapping, we’d recommend a super light buffing with our delicious Pineapple Lip Scrub. The vegan formula is packed with gentle, exfoliating sugar crystals, plus a smoothing, botanical blend of hydrating coconut oil and fruit extracts – this helps remove the rough, dead skin and primes a perfect base for our nourishing balms. It’s a sure-fire quick fix for crusty lips – you’ll be smooth, supple and moisturised in no time.
So, if you haven’t read any of the above, and looking for a quick fix, here are our top 5 tips to keep your pout on point this season.
1. Exfoliate
A gentle buff with a specialist lip exfoliator Iike our Pineapple Lip Scrub can help remove rough, dead and dry skin on crusty lips, helping lips to regenerate and creating a smooth base to apply one of our balms. In cases of severe chapped and blistered lips – we would avoid this exfoliation stage and immediately apply the balm.
2. Avoid licking your lips too often
We know this might seem obvious (and also goes against your natural instincts – but trust us). Chapped lips cause us to lick our lips more often – as it feels soothing - especially when you’ve had a cold. When lips are sore and dry, it’s a force of habit to keep them feeling hydrated, but this is counter-productive as saliva can actually cause them to dry out even more quickly. Less is more.
3. Apply Bali Balm several times a day
Natural and beeswax-free, our botanically nourishing skin-loving balms are the easiest and quickest way to get your lips looking their best. Apply several times a day, especially in the morning and before bed – and your lips will be ship-shape in no time.
4. Add an SPF
While the coconut oil in our formulas is thought to be a natural SPF, we recommend that you use a sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) along with our balms when going out, regardless of the season out. This can act as an additional protective layer that helps avoid dryness and pigmentation.
5. Stay hydrated
We know EVERYONE says this, but it really is key to keeping your skin at its best. You may not feel as thirsty during the winter, but ensure your water levels are continually topped up to keep your skin hydrated from within. Supplements like vitamins A & C can also help with the effect of reduced sunlight.
If you’re lucky enough to be travelling to sunnier climes during the winter months, then make sure you have a couple of balms in your beauty kit. The change in temperatures, along with drying air conditioning on the plane can exaggerate the symptoms of chapped lips. Staying hydrated on the flights whilst regularly applying a lip balm will ensure you (and your lips) arrive, smoothly and safely!