There’s a reason why a lip balm manufacturer develops and produces different lip balms—to cater to the varying needs of consumers. As expectations evolve, formulations follow suit: increasingly, in response to the demand for hybrid products with skincare actives, the formulas on offer include moisturizing and hydrating ingredients designed to address winter-related lip dryness. Something about the cold weather and dry winter air ruins a perfectly good pair of lips.
What about winter that causes dry lips?
Dehydration
- The cold temperature, strong winds, and low humidity all combine to suck out water from your skin, causing dryness. It causes more damage to the lips as it induces a local inflammatory response.
- Hot air from central heating causes a similar reaction. If you keep moving in and out of the cold, the constant temperature changes will further aggravate dehydrated lips.
- The blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the skin shrink due to the cold. This makes it harder for the much-needed supply to reach your skin, making it drier and less elastic.
Windburn
Your lip’s outermost skin layer is vulnerable to the winter wind, causing it to dry up and eventually shed.
- Winter wind weakens the skin’s ability to protect your lips from sun damage.
- Windburn can manifest as swelling, redness, tenderness, pain, and, in some cases, blisters.
- Windburn and sunburn share the same symptoms because snow and ice reflect harmful UV rays, increasing exposure.
Licking Lips
Even when you think this act offers temporary relief, avoid it at all costs.
- Licking can increase dryness on your lips. If you’re out and exposed to the wind and cold weather, the drying effect worsens.
- Licking causes the saliva to evaporate quickly, which is why your lips feel twice as dry as before you licked them.
How to Prevent Winter Dry Lips
Practice Proactive Prevention
- Stay hydrated so that there’s enough water to go around your body and reach your lips.
- Use lip balm and regularly reapply to ensure your lips are well-protected throughout the day, especially when you’re outside.
- Resist the urge to lick your lips, and break the habit if you have one.
Choose the Right Lip Balm
For winter makeup to work, using the right products matters. These include a lip balm with the right ingredients.
- For winter lip care, choose lip balms with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients.
- Shea Butter sits on top of ingredients when it comes to moisturizing capabilities. It’s loaded with the necessary vitamins for skin repair and rich in emollient texture that strengthens the lip’s skin barrier.
- If there were a contest for water content, hyaluronic acid would be the champion. It not only attracts moisture but also retains it.
- Ceramides found in lip balms increase the ceramides that naturally occur in the skin. It rebuilds and boosts your lip’s defense system.
- Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties protect lips from the harsh effects of winter. It prevents and heals UV-caused damage.
- Beeswax adds a protective layer over your lips, keeping environmental elements from drying and irritating them.
Using lip balms should be a regular habit, though you may need to reapply frequently during winter. With the ease of use of most lip balms, protecting your lips against dehydration, windburn, and the effects of lip licking is simple.
Looking for a private label partner to create the perfect lip products? MPlus Cosmetics is a trusted manufacturer of lip gloss, lip balm, and lipstick.