5 Tips to Get Kissable Lips for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and February can be the coldest month of the year! Are your lips feeling dry and flaky? Then check out these 5 tips to get kissable lips for Valentine’s Day:

Hydrate, inside and out:

Drink plenty of water to hydrate from within, and use a lip balm with moisturizing emollients such as shea butter, coconut oil or even simpler ingredients like petrolatum (Vaseline) or lanolin (Aquaphor). Avoid wax-based lip balms that may actually create a vicious cycle of dryness and irritation (the more you use, the worse it may get) and go for something that will provide more slip and hydration to the lips. Apply often; your lips should never feel dry to the touch.

Exfoliate:

Once a week or so, use a gentle exfoliating scrub made for lips (body scrubs will be too harsh for the sensitive skin on the lips). Avoid over-exfoliating, so once a week should do it. I really like this lip scrub!

Protect:

Make sure your lip balm contains broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30-50.  This will ensure that your lips are protected from the UVA & UVB rays of the sun. We always think about protecting our face, but it so important to remember to protect your lips too!

Gentle Cleanse:

When you cleanse your face it is important to avoid strong cleansers such as acne cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid around the mouth if your lips feel irritated or dry, as these products may worsen the symptoms.

Moisturize:

Try to stick to lipsticks and glosses that are moisturizing; if you use matte lipsticks or lip stains, apply a thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor to the lips first to create a smooth canvas for makeup.

Special thanks to board-certified Dermatologist Dr. Toral Patel for these incredible tips! Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day everyone!

XOXO – Stuart