To have nourished and hydrated lipsit is important to take care of them regularly and adopt a care routine appropriate.

Use a lip balm quality with moisturizing ingredients is one of the best care we can give them, although not the only one.

Here we will tell you why it is so important to give your lips extra care if we want to keep them hydrated, we will give you the best tips to keep your lips healthy and beautiful and we will offer you a simple lip balm recipe so you can make your own homemade lip cocoa, which you can make in the form of a stick or bar, or put in a jar, depending on your preference.

We will also give you the recipe, also very easy, for a lip scrub, because, as you will see, exfoliating your lips once a week is another basic care to keep your lips healthy and beautiful.

Why is the skin on the lips different?

The skin of the lips is different to the skin of rest of the body in several aspects, since it is a transition layer between the skin of the face and the mucosa of the mouth.

• It’s a skin thinner and more delicatewhich lacks sweat and sebaceous glands.
• It has greater vascularization and is highly sensitive to touch.
• It also has very little melanin, which makes it more susceptible to damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

For all this, Lips require special care to maintain their health and appearance.

The lack of sweat glands and thin skin make them prone to dryness and dehydrationso it is important to regularly apply some lip balm or lip moisturizer to keep them hydrated and protect them from the elements. You can also try making your own lip cocoa, as we tell you below.

At the same time, it is crucial to protect your lips from the sun by using lip products with SPF if you are going to be exposed to UV radiation.

Decalogue to keep lips hydrated and beautiful

Adopt as much as possible of this list of good habits of care will help you keep your lips beautiful. As you will see, it is not enough to just take care of them outsidethat is to say, keep the epithelium hydrated and protected from the adversities of the weather such as cold wind or summer sun, the skin must also be nourished from within.

1. Drink enough water: Staying well hydrated is essential for having healthy lips. Drinking water regularly will help maintain hydration throughout your body, including your lips.
2. Avoid licking your lips: Although it may seem like a quick way to moisten your lips, actually licking them can worsen dryness. Saliva contains digestive enzymes that can dry out the skin on your lips.
3. Use a lip balm: Apply a quality lip balm with moisturizing ingredients, such as the lip balm that we suggest making in this article or a quality balm based on coconut oil, peanut oil, shea and cocoa butter, jojoba oil or vitamin E. Apply it regularly during the dayespecially after eating or drinking.
4. Exfoliate your lips: Exfoliating your lips once a week will remove dead skin and help lip balms be more effective, especially in extreme climates. Later in this article you will also find a homemade scrub recipe that is very easy to make.
5. Protect your lips from the sun: The lips also burn in the sun since it is a special skin, halfway between the skin and the mucosa that does not have the same protections as these. It is important to apply a lip balm with SPF when you are outdoors for a long time.
6. Avoid lip products with irritating ingredients: Some lipsticks contain ingredients that can dry out the skin on your lips or cause irritation. Read labels and avoid products that contain strong alcohols, artificial fragrances and dyes. Do not buy lipsticks of dubious quality or imported from countries with few health controls.
7. Humidify your environment: To prevent dry lips, maintaining an adequate level of humidity in your home or workplace is not usually common, so carrying a balm in your pocket is best.
8. Don’t bite or tear the skin off your lips.: This can cause injury and worsen dryness. Instead, use a lip balm to relieve discomfort.
9. Eat a balanced diet: A diet rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, can contribute to the health of your lips.
10. Consult a health professional: If your lips are extremely dry, chapped, or if you experience any persistent sores, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist to rule out any underlying condition or infection.

Homemade lip cocoa to hydrate and nourish lips

You can make your own lip balm with easy to find ingredients that you will combine with cocoa butter, the base of your homemade cocoa.

Here we give you a recipe for a balm that can be used every day or when your lips feel dry. It is vegan and extremely protective thanks to the active ingredients of cocoa butter.

Ingredients:

• 5 teaspoons of cocoa butter or 5 pastry tablets
• 2 teaspoons of coconut oil preferably or extra virgin olive oil
• 2 drops of peppermint essential oil (optional)
• 3 jars for lip balms or sticks

Preparation:

1. Melt all the ingredients in a double boiler and stir.
2. Remove from the bath and let it cool a little without waiting for it to solidify. Add peppermint essential oil if desired and stir.
3. Pour the oil into the jars or stick containers and let it cool.

Do not leave the lip cocoa in a hot place or a place where the sun shines, because it will melt. It lasts up to a year.

Apply it on your lips regularly and, above all, after eating or drinking if you tend to have dry lips.

How to Make a Sugar and Honey Lip Scrub

In addition to regularly using your lip cocoa to hydrate and nourish the skin, exfoliating your lips once a week will help you clean them and, very importantly, help your lips absorb the lip balm better and make it more effective.

Apply this scrub once every 15 days or a week while your lips are dry until your skin is healthy and hydrated again.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon icing or powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon thyme honey or any other you have (optional)
• 1 lip balm jar

Preparation and CONSERVATION:

1. In a small bowl, mix and stir all the ingredients.
2. Rub a small portion of this cream on your lips to exfoliate dead cells.
3. Rinse and apply an oily lip balm.

You can save this scrub in the refrigerator for 1 month preferably in a small jar or pot for balms.