Lip care is an equally integral part of your skin care and self care routine. It is often neglected or ignored in our daily CTM regime. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you learn more about your lip care. 

Exfoliate- Buffing away that chapped, flaky lips, with a gentle exfoliator, restores and revives the softness and smoothness of your lips. A good lip scrubs is the dream product one can own, in your vanity case , as it not only makes your lips feel as soft as a baby’s, but it also makes it appear baby soft. Did you know your lips can tan too?? Exfoliating your lips with a good scrub works like a charm to lighten dark lips. That doesn’t mean you get over zealous, with that scrub! Exfoliating everyday may come with its own set of problems. Using a scrub 2-3 times a week will keep your lips supple and even looking. 

 


Tips to exfoliate- 

• Make sure your lips are clean and make up free. 

• Pat them dry with a soft towel. 

• Scrub your lips in a circular motion with gentle but firm movements. 

• Rinse well and use a lip balm to keep them hydrated. 

 


Water ‘em- Dermatologists have been harping on and on, over the benefits of water, for skin care. Our humble H2O is also key in keeping our lips soft and hydrated looking. Low intake of water is also an important factor in dry, chapped looking lips. Keeping our bottle of aqua handy, and sipping from it regularly is a great way to keep our lips looking plump and beautiful.

 


Lip balm- Sunburn, hot or cold weather, dehydration, licking your lips often, Vitamin deficiency, dryness are a few reasons for dry lips. The skin on our lips is extremely thin and delicate. Using a lip balm acts like a shield on your lips, providing extra protection against external environmental factors. It also helps by locking in the moisture and preventing dryness. Lip balms usually contain ingredients like Shea Butter, Lanolin or Petroleum Jelly which provide instant moisturization to the lips. 

 


Healthy diet- Your lips speak volumes, literally and figuratively. They tell a story, about body’s hydration levels without uttering a word, as they are the first ones to show the signs of dehydration. Did you know, to keep your lips hydrated, supple and soft they are a number of superfoods one can add to your diet. 

• Vitamin A helps our lips retain moisture and it also helps repair damage. By including food items like Carrots, Spinach, Eggs, Milk, Broccoli, Papaya etc. your lips will continue to remain silky smooth. 

• Vitamin C boosts our immune system, it also helps in restoring the natural beauty of our lips lost, due to environmental damage. For example Citrus fruits, Bell pepper, Kiwi, Tomatoes, Strawberries etc. 

• Vitamin E helps act like an antioxidant, which helps keep the skin on our lips smooth. For example Green leafy vegetables, Vegetable oil, Nuts and fortified cereals. 

• Adding Zinc to your diet helps your lips remain hydrated and moisturized. Include food items like Whole grains, Dairy products, Nuts, Crab, Oysters, Beans etc. 

 


Prevent Sun Exposure- The skin on our lips are extremely thin and delicate, making it more vulnerable to sunburn. Excess exposure to the harmful UVA and UVB rays can cause our lips to develop solar cheilitis, making our lips dry, discolored and cracked. It can also cause blisters, ulcers and painful sores on our lips. Applying a soothing Aloe Vera gel may not be favorable to everyone. Using a topical ointment, which is available OTC (over the counter) can be helpful in the circumstance. But as we always say, prevention is better than the cure. Try using a lip balm with a minimum of SPF 30. Reapply at frequent intervals, as eating and drinking may erase it. 

 


Avoid licking your lips- We coat our lips in our saliva when we lick our lips. It evaporates quickly, making our lips even more drier than before. Our saliva is full of digestive enzymes, like maltase and amylase, which thin down the skin of our already delicate skin making it more prone to environmental stressors. 

 


Fragrance free- One must always opt for fragrance free and flavor free lip products. Be it lip balm, lip sticks, exfoliators or lip gloss, harsh chemicals are a prime reason for skin irritation and dehydration. Avoid using products which contain eucalyptus, menthol, phenol, salicylic acid, propyl gallate, camphor lanolin etc. 

 


Avoid Smoking- Smokers lip is an actual term and hard hitting fact, one can’t escape from. It causes severe discoloration, hyperpigmentation or as we know it as, darkening of lips and gums, making them look unpleasant. Reducing your smokes and tobacco is a necessity, it is not only hazardous to your overall health, but it also dehydrates your skin and lips. Discoloration can also be reduced by exfoliating on a regular basis and keeping yourself hydrated. 

 


We are extremely mindful in taking care of our diet, as our body is our temple. Why don’t we apply the same thing for our lips. More even, because we not only apply it on the outside, we will eventually ingest some too. Jovees lip care range boasts of a variety of lip balms, and lip care products, and when you use Jovees you know you are in safe hands. It’s products are made using nature’s finest herbs! No harmful and harsh chemicals just herbal goodness. Only the best for your skin. 

Stay glossy, stay bossy!