The winter weather may not be kind to your lips but you can be. Here’s how to kiss those dry, chapped lips goodbye…
Coconut oil
Is there anything this miracle oil can’t do? Not only has it become a go-to product in the kitchen as it’s packed with good fats and is cholesterol- and trans fat-free, but it is now part of many people’s beauty regimes too. Because coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), an unusual type of fat, it is easily absorbed by the skin and serves to soften and moisturise.
Apply coconut oil directly to dry lips or get creative and make your own nourishing lip balm. You can do this by combining one tablespoon grated beeswax, one tablespoon virgin coconut oil, a dash of raw honey and two vitamin E capsules. In a double boiler, melt down the beeswax, adding in the coconut oil and honey when the beeswax is about halfway melted. After it’s all blended together, stir in the contents of the vitamin E capsules. Pour into a small tub or tube and cool. Some people also swear by coconut oil to stop a cold sore in its tracks!
Mango butter
Aside from having softening properties, the fat in mango butter (which is extracted from the kernels of the mango tree) are both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, meaning one end is attracted to water and the other repels it. This translates to waterproof lips with plenty of locked-in moisture – perfect for habitual lip-lickers (a habit that actually dries lips out).
Honey
For the sweetest lips around, look no further than honey. Over and above being a great moisturiser, it’s also recognised for its antibacterial properties, meaning that it can help keep infections at bay and speed up healing. Make your own sugar and honey scrub by mixing two teaspoons of sugar with one teaspoon of honey. Apply to chapped lips and let it sit for a few minutes before gently rubbing to loosen the dead skin cells. Wash off with lukewarm water. You can also apply pure honey directly to your lips several times a day or make a paste with glycerine and honey to apply before bed. Delicious as it is, you’ll have to resist the temptation to lick it off though.
Water
Remember that keeping your kisser hydrated and happy starts from the inside – if you’re not giving your body enough water, dry lips are just one of the ways in which your body will be calling out for moisture. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, particularly if you are very active or spend the day cooped up keeping warm with air conditioners or heaters, as these can be very drying. And don’t forget a glass of water before bed: it’ll keep you hydrated through the night and help to flush toxins out of your body.