How to Hydrate Lips Like a Skincare Pro

Education

Lip care is an essential part of our skincare routine, and one that is all too often overlooked. While a regular retinue of moisturizers, facial serums and exfoliators are a daily part of our facial care, the skin on our lips is just as deserving of attention — if not more so. The reason? This surface is actually more delicate and thin than anywhere else on our bodies because it doesn’t produce the natural oils that keep the rest of our skin moisturized and supple. This means our lips are more susceptible to dryness and vulnerable to environmental stressors, making regular hydration key.

To understand how our lips are different to the skin elsewhere on our face and how to care for them, we turned to dermatologist Dr. Paula E. Bourelly for some expert insight and advice. “A healthy lip has a dry surface called the vermillion, which is the outside surface area of the lip visible with a closed mouth; and a wet surface, known as the mucosal surface which is the soft, moist side of the lip,” explains Dr Bourelly. “When people complain of chapped lips, they are referring to a tight, dry, peeling and sometimes cracking of the outer part of the lip.”

“Less is more and fewer chemicals are always better.”

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DRY LIPS?

There is a multitude of factors that can contribute to dry lips such as arid or cold weather, sun exposure, frequent lip licking and common irritants — think ingredients in your toothpaste, sunscreen or lipstick. In order to avoid inadvertently drying out your lips, Dr Bourelly suggests you start by reviewing your current product lineup and the specific ingredients within it that may be causing irritation and dryness.

“As is the case with most skincare recommendations, one wants to look for products that have a short list of ingredients,” says Dr Bourelly. “The more preservatives, coloring agents and ingredients designed to plump lips or prolong staying power of color, the greater chance the consumer will react poorly. All-day lipsticks [for example] can be drying, and if you find that you must use special products to remove the color at the end of the day, that might be creating problems, too. Less is more and fewer chemicals are always better.”

Once you’ve eliminated the causes of lip dryness, the solution to smoother lips is always rehydration. “Proper cell function relies on a well-hydrated cell,” Dr Bourelly explains. “Without that, the cell cannot serve as a reliable barrier. When the barrier is lost, the lips are more vulnerable to irritation and damage from outside agents.” While staying hydrated is one of the most important steps that you can take for lip health to ensure moisture is boosted from within, using a lip treatment formulated with targeted ingredients is also crucial to properly moisturizing lips from the inside out.

“Lip skin, like all skin, serves as a barrier to outside elements.”

WHAT ARE THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR HYDRATED LIPS?

Lip care starts with lip health, so while a good lip moisturizing treatment should be packed with nourishing oils and protective ingredients to keep your lips soft and supple, actives that support skin health are also important. “Lip skin, like all skin, serves as a barrier to outside elements. Anything that potentially compromises or destroys that barrier can lead to local reactions to the lip surface and increase absorption of topical products into one’s system,” says Dr Bourelly. “This can lead to increased sensitivity, irritation and compromise the integrity of the lip surface.”

Free from fragrances and fillers, the new Rose Inc. Lip Treatment Hydrating Balm combines ingredients that both restore and support the skin barrier with deeply hydrating ingredients to boost moisture levels in the lips for longer. The rich formula cushions lips in replenishing actives that melt into skin and can be used any time throughout the day to refresh and treat lips, or even as a powerful overnight mask.

Key ingredients include a probiotic complex with beneficial bacteria that work to promote a healthy microbiome and improve barrier function for more resilient skin; rosehip fruit extract, which is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants to protect, nourish and moisturize; and Squalane, a plant-derived emollient that mimics the skin's natural lipids to provide deep, long-lasting hydration, soothe, calm and protect the skin barrier.

By incorporating a regular lip care routine into your skin care protocol and maintaining moisture levels in the lips, you’ll not only find yourself needing to reach for your lip balm less throughout the day, but also preventing the recurrence of dry lips.

"A consistent lip care routine that focuses on hydration is essential for maintaining healthy, soft and supple lips."

HOW TO PROPERLY HYDRATE LIPS

Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and so a consistent lip care routine that focuses on hydration is essential for maintaining healthy, soft and supple lips. According to Dr. Bourelly, “Lip care for healthy, normal lips focuses on lubrication to offset dryness from normal wear and tear, and cosmetic products.” Reapplication, therefore, is the not-so-secret secret to keeping lips in their best shape.

In the morning, after cleansing, apply a generous amount of a hydrating lip treatment and reapply throughout the day as needed. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to lick your lips and avoid picking or biting, as this will only lead to further dryness and discomfort. If you feel the need to add some moisture back onto your lips, reach for your treatment instead.

For an added boost, exfoliate your lips once a week to keep them smooth and soft. Use a lip scrub to very gently buff away any dry or rough patches, then follow up with a hydrating lip treatment to keep your lips nourished and protected. Sloughing off dead and dry skin will not only promote skin cell turnover revealing fresher, smoother skin, but also allow your lips to absorb any treatment you’re applying more effectively.

At night, creating an occlusive layer on your lips is essential to help lock in moisture and promote healing. After cleansing, apply the Rose Inc. Lip Treatment Hydrating Balm as an overnight mask, allowing the targeted ingredients to work as you sleep.