We often tend to neglect our lips when it comes to facial skin care, except of course for the off collagen injection for those in pursuit of the perfect pout, and yet our mouth and lips are so vitally important for an array of reasons, including enabling us to make various facial expressions, speaking and lots not forget kissing! Learn these valuable tips for the perfect summer lip care!
Without proper care, lips can age faster than other areas of our skin. Think of your lips as a sponge, when exposed to moisture, they absorb the water and plump up, and when dehydrated, they dry out and shrink. Because our lips are always exposed, they’re prone to dehydration.
One of the major culprits of premature aging around the mouth is due to smoking. Smokers are also more likely to develop lines around the mouth because of the use of the perioral muscles to hold the cigarette. Smoking increases the hits of aging free radicals by about a million per inhalation. Generally, heavy smokers age 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts.
Our lips need more moisture and conditioning as we age. The cumulative damage to the lips and the skin resulting from years of overexposure to the sun, cold air and harsh weather take their toll. The negative effects of the environment frequently result in drying, chapping, cracking of the mouth and increase the risk of inflammation, infection and burning sensations. Greater care of your lips can reverse the signs of aging and trauma.
Using a lip care product with a sunscreen and effective moisturisers can help reduce the effects of two of the main contributors to an aged appearance; sun damage and moisture loss. Since the lips have little or no melanin, they have little or no protection form the damaging effects of UV rays; hence the lips can prematurely age as well as contract skin cancer.
Why do people get pigmentation just around their mouth?
This is often due to photosensitivity either from an internal condition or from something being applied to the skin which caused a reaction when exposed to sunlight. It often results from past exposure to photoactive chemicals found in certain medications supplements, or cosmetics. The symptoms resemble sunburn: redness, pain, burning or swelling. This may happen with even brief sun exposure soon after the application of a lipstick or other cosmetics. It’s important to discontinue use of the cosmetic or chemical triggering the reaction immediately. The application of a lip care product containing sun protection is highly recommended.
Can you exfoliate your lips?You can with caution and the use of very gentle such as rice bran powder. Never over exfoliate – once per week maximum. Never use a salicylic based exfoliant on the lips.
How do lip plumpers/primers work?
There is an array of ingredients used for this function. A common one is red chilli. They work by causing localised skin irritation whereby the lips become irritated and swell. It’s a good time to remind ourselves it has been proven when there is inflammation in a site of the skin, it can lead an increase in the ageing process.
Why do we get those blackheads around out lips?
They are usually caused by comedogenic lip products, the biggest culprits being the lipsticks that contain the red D & C coal tar dyes.
Good ingredients to look out for:
- Vitamin E
- Cocoa Seed Butter
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Palmitoyl Oligopoptide
- Arginine/ Lysine Polypeptide
- Avacado Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Wheat Germ Oil
- Shea Butter
Key ingredients to avoid:
- Artificial fragrance
- Isopropyl Esters (Muristate, Palitate, Lanolate and Linoleate)
- Myristyl Lactate
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Sesame Oil
- Lanolin Wax
- Red D&C dyes