Just like the eyes, our lips also enhance the attractiveness of our face. Due to pollution and due to rampant use of harsh cosmetics, lips tend to turn dark and lose their natural beauty over time. And we are forced to depend on cosmetics even more. Its what you can call a chicken and egg story! It goes on forever and the end is never close. But what if you could find a few ways to break that cycle? Doesn’t that sound good?
To regain their natural color and beauty, here are some tips for beautiful lips which will help you regain the soft, luscious and kissable lips look.
1: Use Lipsticks Sparingly
Lipsticks are basically a mixture of wax, pigments, fragrance, oils and alcohol. And different kinds of wax, oils and pigments are used in combination to get the desired product. Chemicals as much individually are not the best option when it comes to prolonged contact with the body but when being we need to take additional care for the result may not suit us! Use lipsticks only when you need them the most. They contain chemicals, which are not good for your lips. Make sure you use Lipsticks with Shea butter, Vitamin E, jojoba oil etc that moisturize your lips. Go for a tinted lip balm instead of a lipstick for regular use, and brands like Nivea and Maybelline have some real good ones.
2: Keep Lips Hydrated
Water constitutes about 50% to 60% of our body approximately. It is but obvious then that maintaining the required percentage is but essential or the effects will show on your skin too. Your lips being the least naturally equipped for self preservation, they are the first to show the effects. To retaining the natural color of lips, it is essential to maintain hydration levels by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to retain the natural moisture of your lips, especially during winters when we often tend to drink less water, and dehydration is noticed. Also, add high water-content to your diet like fruits such as cucumber, watermelon, orange, grapefruit and lemon.
3: Avoid Licking or Biting your Lips + Moisturize
Saliva tends to further dry out the moisture on your rather than add to them.Dermatologists hence advise us not to lick the lips to keep them wet because in the process you are further drying them out and this can lead to darkening of the lips. Even the habit of biting lips should be avoided as there is the risk of damaging them, instead keep a moisturizing lip balm handy for application as it protects and conditions your lips.
Licking your lips and lip balm is an idiosyncrasy that a lot of people suffer from. This is a reaction to nervousness or stress. This might calm your nerves at that moment but the long term damage it does to your lips is quite harsh. It leaves them dry, chapped and even bleeding at time. The best way to avoid this is to first stop using flavored lip balms and secondly to make a conscious effort to adopt other means of relieving stress.
4: Use Lip Products with SPF
Exposure to the harsh sun rays can cause darkening of the lips. UV rays have the same damaging effect on your lips as it does on the skin. Always use lip products that contain SPF to protect your lips when you need to spend time outside during daytime. Many of the well-known brands are selling lipsticks, glosses and lip balms (both tinted and non-tinted) with sun protection.
5: Exfoliate at least once a week
Skin cells undergo a constant process of replacing the dead layer of cells on the outside with a fresh layer of cells. This is the process that keeps are skin soft and supple. But when this layer isn’t completely shed, then your skin looks dead and dull. The same things also happens with your lips.
Use a natural lip scrub at least once every week to remove dead cells and dry skin from your lips. You can mix olive oil and sugar and use this for exfoliation. Once you rinse off, apply healing lip butter or your favorite lip moisturizer. Surprisingly this one of the most favored of the beautiful lips tips.
