Changing seasons call for a transition in your skin care routine and the lips being delicate skin need special care. Winter weather can be particularly harsh on the skin covering our lips due to being among the most sensitive layers and thinnest skin on our body. The thin stratum corneum, outer part of the skin makes lips more susceptible to climate extremes.

 

Lip anatomy:

 

The skin on our lips has just three to five cellular layers, compared to typical facial skin which has sixteen layers. The lips also lack oil and sweat glands found in other parts of the skin, they are 100 times more sensitive than our fingertips and have a million nerve endings making them one of the most sensitive body parts.

 

Why does your skin change when the weather does?

 

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter all come with associated weather patterns. Each has its own temperature and humidity range, and these fluctuations affect your skin.

The winter weather brings cold temperatures coupled with low humidity, strong winds robbing your skin of moisture. Our skin’s natural barrier does a great job at keeping moisture in and irritants out, but harsh winds and cold temperatures can strip vital water from the skin, weakening the barrier. Our skin cells are designed to react yet harsh environments provoke a local inflammatory response in the lips often resulting in cell damage.

Central heating when hot air moves in, the moisture in our skin ups and leaves and can further aggravate the skin. The sudden temperature fluctuations coming in from cold weather to indoor central heating is an additional aggravator further depleting the skin of moisture and potentially causing further reactions in the skin.

When the temperature plummets so too does humidity resulting in dry air that draws moisture away from the skin, stripping away up to 25% of our skin’s moisture.

Also, in cold weather our blood vessels, responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen to our skin, shrinks, thus making it drier, less elastic, and prone to injuries and irritation.

 

Effects: Dehydrated skin is manifested by:

 

• Sensitivity and itchy skin
• Increased dryness and flakiness
• Red, irritated, tight skin
• Chapped and cracked lips which can cause bleeding
• Discomfort
• Dryness can lead to a build up of excess dry skin likely to clog your pores

 

Chapped lips are common in winter because of the cold air and centrally heated air which contains less water and therefore is less humid. Keratin which forms the top layers of the skin, loses its flexibility and the lips become sore, cracked, and scaly.

 

What can we do?

 

When the temperature drops and humidity falls, your skin cries out for hydration.

The cardinal rule of winter lip care is to keep your skin as hydrated as possible so apply:

 

1. A moisturising lip balm that contains an SPF generously and frequently throughout the day boosting hydration. Also do not forget keeping your lips hydrated throughout the night recommend applying lip balm before going to bed.

2. Avoid licking your lips although this seems like an easy way to make your lips appear less dry. Once the saliva dries, it takes away moisture form your skin leaving them drier than before. If you feel the urge to lick your lips reach for a lip balm instead.

3. Avoid biting or picking at your lips, this could be due to a habit more difficult to stop yet if it is due to dry/flaky skin present from dryness, the picking can cause an abrasion further damaging the lip and causing more dryness. Keep a lip balm handy and keep applying.

4. Lightly exfoliate your lips once a week using a mild, gentle exfoliator to get rid of dead, dry skin yet make sure afterwards you apply lip hydrator to cover the exfoliated area for healing to occur.

5. Stay hydrated keeping your whole body hydrated by drinking plenty of water can help keep your lips from chapping and getting overly dry in the winter. Make sure to drink water throughout the day.

6. Sunscreen for your lips choose lip balms that incorporate SPF as they block the radiation from harming your delicate lip skin. If your lips are already dry, cracked then exposing them to sun may cause further damage such as pigmentation and cold sore outbreaks.

7. Avoid excessive chemicals in your products that can be a cause of dryness or has the potential for an allergic reaction. Lip balms likely to make the lips drier include ingredients such as camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, salicylic acid, cinnamic aldehyde and peppermint.

8. Use a humidifier if you are struggling with dry air consider setting up a humidifier to add much needed moisture back into the dry winter air.

9. Smoking can irritate lips as smoke emitted by tobacco can dry out lips, increasing the likelihood of them getting cracked. Exposing lips to aggressors like nicotine damages your blood vessels ultimately delaying the healing of the skin.

 

Advice reminders:

 

Always hydrate your lips at night apply lip balm, know the ingredients in your lip balm and use ingredients that maintains moisture and protects the lips such as shea butter, petrolatum, jojoba, beeswax, etc, avoid flavours, fragrances, and parabens. Utilising ingredients rich in fatty acids, like sunflower seed oil and coconut oil, ceramides which hydrate and improve barrier health while soothing and protecting lips. Use lip balm in the day that contain an SPF and keep the body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Apply lip balm before lipstick or lip gloss.

 

Remember:

 

Lips are delicate and have little control over their health due to many environmental factors that are constantly drying them out, they need extra care and protection. Soothe them keep them from chapping and make them feel their best by taking care of them.

 

Our Top Lip Care Recommendations 

 

iS Clinical | Lip Protect SPF 35 5g – £20.00

This antioxidant-rich treatment is more than just a lip balm, combining gentle all-physical transparent sunscreen actives with Vitamin E and Coconut Oil to help condition lips while Elderberry Extract and Linoleic Acid help defend from environmental aggressors.

• Hydrates smooths and softens.
• Supports skin barrier function.
• Good to use in winter to help with chapped lips

 

More information about this product can be found here – https://www.medifine.co.uk/product/is-clinical-lip-protect-spf-35-5g/

 

Forlle’d Hyalogy | Protective Cream For Lips – £98.00

This protective lip cream nourishes, moisturizes, protects and helps comfort, recover and enhance the beauty of delicate lip skin. It has a luxurious texture and contains key ingredient such as

• Hyaluronic acid
• Squalene
• Vitamin E
• Gingseng
• Thyme extracts.

 

More information about this product can be found here – https://www.medifine.co.uk/product/forlled-hyalogy-protective-cream-for-lips/

 

iS Clinical | Lip Polish 15g – £32.00

 

This lip polish has been specifically designed to offer gentle exfoliation to the lips. While gently exfoliating, this product conditions, hydrated and softens offering antioxidant benefits.

Key Ingredients are:

• Sucrose 67.4% – Natural sugar with hygroscopic properties aiding with attracting and retaining moisture. A natural exfoliator that is beneficial in blemish control and helps to restore balance of the skin’s natural oils.
• Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C) 3.5% – A lipid soluble analogue of L-Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that inhibits MMP enzymes, encouraging healthy collagen synthesis.
• Cocoa Butter 8.0% – Emollient antioxidant.

 

More information about this product can be found here – https://www.medifine.co.uk/product/is-clinical-lip-polish-15g/

 

CosMedix | LUMI Crystals – £30.00

Lumi Crystal is a luxe, age-defying lip hydrator infused with liquid crystal technology to deliver unprecedented hydration to the delicate lip area—plumping and softening the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated with a 90% pure liquid crystal base and a plumping peptide, this indulgent Liquid Crystal Lip Hydrator delivers a burst of hydration to dry, dull lips, sealing in long-lasting moisture with a high-shine finish.

 

More information about this product can be found here – https://www.medifine.co.uk/product/cosmedix-lumi-crystals/

 

Revision Skincare | YouthFull Lip Replenisher 9.4g – £58.00

 

This proprietary formula replenishes the appearance of youthful volume and contour. Potent antioxidants defend against environmental stressors. Hyaluronic Acid delivers immediate and intense hydration to help lips look fuller and more youthful. Get all the advanced benefits you expect from Revision Skincare® for a complete age-defying skincare regimen.

• Helps replenish the appearance of youthful lip volume and contour while enhancing lip definition
• An immediate moisture boost visibly plumps lips and smooths lines and wrinkles
• Long-lasting hydration calms and soothes dry, dehydrated lips

 

More information on this product can be found here – https://www.medifine.co.uk/product/revision-skincare-youthfull-lip-replenisher-9-4g/