Bold and bright lip colours are big this season – from the classic bold red lip to punchy corals and hot pinks, the statement lip is back. But since this trend hails from the warmer shores of the Northern Hemisphere, we’re faced with a problem here as winter well and truly settles in.
Yes – that’s dry, flaky, chapped lips. Not ideal for smooth lippy application, and not ideal in general. But never fear – there are things you can do to keep those lips luscious this winter, to ensure you can rock that bright red pout!
First things first. As hard as it is to resist, stop licking your lips. Lips do not have many oil glands, so tend to be on the drier side. The saliva dries out your lips and worsens cracking.
Second. Exfoliate your lips – this is an imperative step to allow lip balms to absorb and nourish your lips. There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can invest in a lip exfoliant, to gently get rid of dead skin cells. Do not use a facial exfoliator, rather one especially formulated for the lips. Try The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ or The Body Shop’s Lip Scuff. Or apply a small amount of sugar to a very soft, damp wash cloth and gently buff away any dry skin.
Beauty Bible contributor and makeup artist, Stephanie Coulter, suggests another great method, one we recommend before applying bright lip colour. Steph suggests: ‘apply a thick layer of lip balm while you are doing your makeup and hair. Buff this off gently with a cotton bud; this will exfoliate off the dry skin. Repeat if necessary, but always be gentle. DO NOT scrub lips with a toothbrush, this is far too abrasive.’ Check out more of Steph’s tips for hot lips at her blog
here.
Next up – make sure you have a quality lip balm on hand at all times. Reapply whenever your lips feel dry. I love Dermalogica’s Climate Control Lip Balm ($15), as it is specially formulated to heal damaged and chapped skin, and to protect against cold climates and harsh wind. Another tried and tested favourite (and my preferred balm of choice) is Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream. I do rave about this wonder cream a lot, but it really is just that. It’s also a great choice for winter, as not only does it nourish, it also protects.
Just like your face, your lips need sun protection too. If you’re outside, choose a lipstick or balm with built in broad spectrum SPF protection. I love Jane Iredale Lip Drink Lip Balm SPF 15. Clarins has also just released the Rouge Hydra Nude Smoothing Cream Lipstick, a lipstick with SPF16 protection.
Finally, an important tip. Just as you must always remove your makeup at night, ensure you remove all traces of your lipstick too. Excess product can really dry out your skin.
Dove Foaming Makeup Remover is my pick for easy makeup removal.
There you have it – follow these steps and you’ll have soft, kissable lips in no time!
- Natalie Cosgrove
