It's cold season once again. We Filipinos don't experience autumn or winter but we definitely have a cold season we reserve for the -ber months and we usually exclaim out loud that the cold breeze is an indicator that Christmas is coming. That is probably why when the -ber months starts (which is September) people are already decorating their houses for the holidays. :D
But with cold weather comes dry skin. It seems like our sebum production has taken to hibernation and what we're left with is skin that lacks moisture. Our lips are no exception. The blasts of cold winds leave our lips chapped, cracked, and sometimes bleeding.
So how to combat this? I'll share with you 3 steps I take to prevent my lips from chapping.
Stop Licking.
First off, stop licking your lips. It is a common habit for chapped lips sufferers to constantly lick lips when they get dry, but this is only going to worsen the situation because the enzymes in our saliva break down the natural barrier of our lips. Control the urge to lick your lips when you feel they're dry. Instead, drink a glass of water to bring back moisture and hydrate you from the inside.
Moisturize.
Aside from drinking ample amount of fluids to hydrate yourself, another way to moisturize the lips is by applying lip balm. Not only will they add moisture, they also create a barrier between your lips and the cold winds. Some lip balms also have SPF to protect your lips from the sun.
Exfoliate.
You should never forget to exfoliate the lips. By exfoliating lips regularly (once or twice a week will suffice), the dry dead skin at the outermost layer is slough away to make way for the supple and healthy layer beneath. There are different ways you can exfoliate lips. One way is by scrubbing lips using an old toothbrush or a wet washcloth while in the shower. Another is by using lip scrubs that you can either buy at a store or make at home.
By following these 3 steps, you are guaranteed to have a radiant pain-free smile this coming holidays. :)
