10 Ways to Prevent Chapped Lips!

Winter season is upon us, with it come very important makeup decisions. A cold front hitting your face is just as bad as getting burnt under a blazing sun. One of the things we struggle with the most around this time, are chapped lips. Lack of humidity in the air during the winter months is known to cause this. Here at BuyMeBeauty, we bring you 10 ways to keep your lips looking beautiful all year long. Including winter!

1. Whatever you do, don’t lick your lips!
The myth goes that if you lick your dry lips they will get some moisture and fix the problem, wrong! Your saliva has acids that help break down foods and this acids irritate your lips and dry them even more. Plus, continuously licking will remove any natural oils you have on your lips.

2. Get a humidifier.
A humidifier is a device that increases the moisture in the air and it is commonly used to treat sore throats, congestion, and skin dryness such as the lips'. Turn on your humidifier at night and notice the big difference the next day! They also help prevent viruses like the common cold. On top of that, some humidifiers come with fragrance in oils that perfume your house!

3. Say no to certain foods
Unfortunately, certain foods your lips come in contact with only make dryness worst. Stay away from spicy foods, salty foods and citrus fruits. Make a list of vegetables and non-citrus fruits and explore different blendable recipes. Drinking a green smoothie will help you restore your PH levels in no time!

4. Choose your toothpaste wisely!
Toothpaste with synthetic flavors can cause an allergic reaction that isn't easily perceived at first. Your lips can end up looking flaky. So just keep your choices on the natural side. Any toothpaste with flavors made from plants such as Aloe Vera or tea tree are a good choice!

5. Cucumber for the win!
If your lips succumbed to the winter and feel chapped and sore, trust the cucumber. Slice up a couple of thin pieces and leave them over your lips for about five minutes. It will rehydrates them and it feels refreshing. We've mentioned before in our facial masks blog that cucumber is definitely one of the most famous facial masks ever. After all, cucumbers are rich in many anti-oxidants and vitamins.

6. Lip balm vs Chapsticks
The key for your lips to survive a merciless winter is obviously to keep them moisturized at all times. Lip balms are a wax-like product that is mostly used to moisturize and soothe your dried, chapped lips. Usually, it contains beeswax or carnauba wax. It differs from product to product but they are mostly natural ingredients. Now, to use chapstick or lip balm? Well, there isn't much of a choice to make. Chapsticks and lip balms are essentially the same thing, chapstick is just a well-known brand of lip balm. Choose one that you like and rub it at all times!

7. If you have to go the lipstick route
Let's say it's date night and you must add some color to your lips; then make sure you choose lipsticks with vitamin e, macadamia oil and shea butter. All important ingredients to keep your lips protected, moisturized and constantly healing from any soreness or chapping.
Check out our lipstick section if you don't know where to start looking, here.

8. Mark 911-Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most important plants in medicinal treatments of the skin. Used as main ingredient for many many products but as a naturally made cream it really does work wonders. Rub on some on your lips, it will help relieve the pain of soreness and heal small cuts from pulling skin. Definitely a must have if you're lips feel burned and pained.

9. Petroleum jelly is Vaseline. Who would've thought?
Petroleum jelly, also known by the brand-name Vaseline, is the ultimate treatment for dry skin and painful reactions such a burns and cuts. Vaseline has been a medical ointment for years, widely popular to the point that petroleum jelly is just Vaseline now. Petroleum jelly is made out of white petroleum, paraffin wax and hydrocarbons.

10. Keep your lips exfoliated.
Getting rid of excess skin from your lips is essential to help speed up the healing process. You can use exfoliating products but a very interesting trick we like to constantly encourage you to practice, is the toothbrush trick. It is as simple as "brushing" away the dead skin with your brush, gently. It will leave the surface of your lips smooth and ready for new winter adventures.

Stay warm, enjoy the holidays and keep your lips moisturized!