LIPS, LIPS...HOORAY: The Importance of Lip Care

I don't believe that people truly understand the importance of lip care.  I will admit that even I have been careless about my lips up until recently.  I have always kept a lipstick or gloss on them, but never a moisturizer, or even better, I never exfoliated them.  Because the skin of the lips are very thin and do not contain oil glands, which produces natural oils in the skin, your lips become dehydrated and chapped rather quickly without the proper care.

My new obsession is exfoliating my lips!  The best part about this is that you don't have to spend a ridiculous amount of money!  Sure you can go out and buy a lip exfoliant.  I hear there are some great ones out there like BeautiControl Lip Apeel, Softlips PURE Organic Coconut and Sugar Exfoliating Lip Polish or The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ.  Some lip exfoliants can range up to $30 or more.  Why spend all that money when you can make your own at home???  My favorite DIY lip exfoliant...a Sugar Scrub.  You can find some recipes online for more DIY exfoliants such as a baking soda or coffee scrub, but the sugar one is my favorite (and it tastes pretty good too!). Below is how to make it at home:

All you need is:

• 1 tsp of Sugar (white or brown) - this acts as the abrasive
• 1 tsp of Honey - which contains antibacterial properties
• 1 tsp of Olive Oil - this provides moisture and protection

1) Combine the sugar honey and olive oil

2) Mix until it creates a thick paste

3) Over a sink, apply the lip scrub with your fingers, a q-tip or toothbrush

     (I like to use my fingers.  If you do the same MAKE SURE YOUR FINGERS ARE CLEAN!)

4) Once complete, gently wipe with a washcloth

5) Seal in the moisture with a lip moisturizer

AND YOU'RE DONE!!!  SOOOO EASY!!!

DO NOT do this everyday!  You can use a lip scrub once a week.  Doing this too much can make your lips crack and they can become very sensitive.  Store homemade lip scrubs in the refrigerator for one week (at home lip scrubs have a much shorter shelf life). 

In between your scrubs, be sure to use a lip moisturizer everyday! There are many products that you can use, both high end and low end.  Of course, you can go with the classic vaseline, which always works. You can also go with any lip product from Burt's Bees or E.O.S.  I have always loved C.O. Bigelow Rosebud Salve. I've always had trouble finding these in stores, but once in awhile I've come across them.  I think I found it at Bath and Body Works last time. This product smells okay (it's an aquired scent) and the best part is, it has multiple uses.  I mentioned in my Professional Manicure BLOG that you can use it on your cuticles.  You can also use it on your dry skin and it works wonders!!!  A high end lip moisturizer that I have fallen in love with is Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.  I happened to get two free samples when I ordered something from Sephora and it's FANTASTIC!!!  It's light weight, smells amazing and goes on soooo smooth!  Not only can you buy it in clear, but you can also choose from four tinted shades.  It's all natrual and has an SPF of 15.  The downside....the price.  I am not sure its worth $22.50, but when I run out of my samples, I may have to cave in and buy it! 

My lips, like most, get extremely chapped, especially in the winter.  Really taking care of them has made a huge difference.  Just as its important to take care of your skin, its always important to take care of your lips.

**I will be doing a blog before Summer begins about how to protect your skin from the sun!!! KEEP A LOOK OUT :-)