Bye bye, dry lips

Print this articleReduce font sizeIncrease font size.By Ashwini Arun KumarTry these tricks to never have chapped lips againDo you often have dry, chapped lips regardless of the season that you can’t seem to get rid of no matter how much lip balm you treat it with? Then you have come to the right place. As people who have the same issues as you, we can tell you this much — the problem is that you aren’t exfoliating your lips enough. The internet is chock-full of videos showing you how to exfoliate your lips, but not following the right procedure can do more harm than good.“Our lip is a very delicate organ and unlike the skin in parts of the body, it has little to no stratum corneum (outermost protective barrier),” says Dr. Sneh Thadani, Dermatologist & Cosmetologist, Founder, Skin Soul Clinic. “When we exfoliate, we get rid of this layer which is known as dead skin. Because the lip doesn’t have this, one should be careful in exfoliation,” she adds, making it extremely important to know how to exfoliate lips in the right way. To help understand the process, we have broken it down systematically, so you don’t search “how to exfoliate your lips” every time you see flakes on them.What causes drying of lips?Many environmental factors are responsible for the drying and chapping of lips. According to Dr. Thadani, the most common reasons are dehydration, consuming extremely hot beverages which cause microscopic burns and even contribute to pigmentation or darkening of lips, using matte lipsticks, and not having dedicated lip-care routine. “Another major cause of dry lips is licking them often. It is called lip licker’s dermatitis and is the damage caused by the saliva from chronic licking,” she adds.Pro tip: To avoid chapping because of using matte lipsticks, always use a primer. It is also important to take any residual lipstick off before going to bed. Drinking enough water is a great way to ensure that your lips remain hydrated.How to exfoliate your lipsThere are many methods of lip exfoliation that people suggest are effective. Dr. Thadani broadly classifies the lip exfoliation methods into two main categories, physical (or mechanical) and chemical.Physical exfoliationPhysical exfoliation involves using scrubs or other tools to mechanically slough the flaky part of the skin. The two most used methods of physical exfoliation involve using lip scrubs and a toothbrush using soft bristles.Mechanical exfoliation using a toothbrush This is the easiest method of lip exfoliation that involves moving the brush in soft circular motions over the lips to get rid of the chapped skin. Before exfoliating, ensure your lips are clean. Remove any residual lipstick or lip gloss, wash your lips with warm water and gently pat them dry. Move a soft toothbrush gently over your lips in small circles but do not irritate or break the skin.Pat dry your lips again and apply a thin layer of lip balm or any lip moisturiser. Physical exfoliation using DIY lip scrubIngredients 3 tsp granulated sugar ½ tsp honey ½ tsp olive oil (or any oil of your choice)Method Mix the ingredients in a bowl to form a semi-runny to a thick paste. Take some of the DIY formulae on your fingers and apply it evenly across your lips. Using your fingers, scrub your lips in a circular motion for 2 or 3 minutes. Leave the paste on for a while and gently wipe it or wash it off. Moisturise your lips using a lip balm or any other hydrating product.Chemical exfoliationLike chemical peels for the face, exfoliation for lips, too, involves using chemical formulations. According to Dr. Thadani, mild AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) are best for gently exfoliating lips. Although it is a procedure that requires a visit to the doctor’s office, chemical peels have been proven to be gentler on the lips as they don’t involve the risk of breaking the skin as with mechanical exfoliation. It simply sloughs away the dead cells to reveal softer, fuller-looking, and brighter lips. Use a hydrating lip balm or lip oil for the upkeep of softer-looking lips between sessions.Since the skin on our lips has lesser layers, the peels used for the face or other parts of the body will be too harsh on the lips. However, a gentle peel can have instant results.Pro tip: Simply exfoliating your lips is not enough. It is important to have a good everyday lip-care routine. The best time to do this is before bed. Remove any makeup from your lips and apply hydrating overnight masks. Always use primers before applying lipsticks, especially if they are matte finish.How often to exfoliate lipsWhile exfoliating lips to keep them dead skin-free is encouraged, too much exfoliation can be detrimental for the skin. “There are several factors involved in determining how often you should exfoliate your lips, including weather and humidity conditions,” says Dr. Thadani. “It also depends on your general lip care routine, your use of makeup, and lifestyle conditions. But I suggest exfoliating your lips once or twice a month and gradually building up from there if you see no side effects.”Pro tip: Constantly licking our lips is one of the biggest contributors to drying lips. To avoid excessive chapping, it is important to curb this habit or become more mindful of it. GALLERIES View more photosMost Popular

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