Why lip care routine is as important as skin regime

New Delhi: The breeze that hits us in the face like a gentle morning wish is also teeming with pollutants, carcinogens, and elements that can cause our skin to break out in acne and inflammation, among other issues. Thus, the skincare routine is an important step toward healthy skin and has been receiving its due attention for some time now. We have different skin types that distinguish us from others, just as we have different personalities, and the routine to having clear and supple skin thus becomes subjective – depending on the skin-type requirement. However, there is one area of our skin care routine that is frequently overlooked: lip care.

Sensitivity level

The skin on our lips is 100 times more sensitive than the skin on our fingertips, with over a million nerves terminating there. Furthermore, our lips lack a protective membrane, making them vulnerable and increasing our responsibility to nourish and condition them properly as we incorporate a lip-care regimen into our daily lives. Because of our lip-insensitive schedules, we can end up causing more harm than good if we do not care for our lips properly, causing them to dry and wrinkle.

Yield-a-shield

The lips must be resistant to all activities such as eating, drinking, talking, breathing, or other intimate encounters; however, because the skin on the lips is more delicate than normal skin, they must be protected at all times. Lips are prone to excessive peeling, cracking, splitting, chapping, cold sores, ulcers, and other conditions such as extreme cold or the dry/hot sun, which make them endure the climate. As a result, hydration is critical in maintaining wrinkle-free, smooth lips. Furthermore, because they never get a break from exposure, it is even more important to care for them as one would care for fragile newborns.The aim should be to keep them moist, clean and supple.

The way ahead

When looking for ways to have healthy, hydrated, and bright lips, keep in mind that breathing dries out the lips quickly, so keeping them hydrated is essential. Ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and plant oils can be extremely beneficial, but only in concentrations that differ from those used in skincare. It is also important to be cautious about which ingredients and products to avoid, as there are many acidic products that cause more harm than good. Drinking plenty of water is essential for keeping them hydrated on the inside.

But acing the lip-game requires one to follow a regime that will help keep them plumpy, soft and supple. On the whole, lips need cleansing, hydration, exfoliation, protection and occasional resurfacing.

Stepping-up

Some steps you can take to protect your lips throughout the day,

The first step is to exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub, which gently removes dead skin cells while leaving your lips smooth and soft. It also aids in the removal of excessive tanning and pigmentation.

Following that, nourish them with the right ingredients, such as enriched oils that help to enhance the natural colour of the lips by removing lip creases and tanning. The process, when combined with the required level of SPF, such as SPF-15, provides the lips with maximum protection against sun damage.

The final step is to look for a lip serum that naturally moisturises the lips and can be followed by fruit-based balms for conditioning, such as a beetroot lip-care balm, which rejuvenates the lips and brings them back to life regardless of external factors.

Having a defined lip care routine allows us to go to the battlefield prepared as we conquer the war against the climate and atmosphere, as well as other external elements attempting to damage our skin, and emerge triumphant with our scrubs, serums, and SPF-integrated balms on our side – or, in this case, our lips!