Lip care made easy

Hello, my dear friends,

Autumn is here and that, of course, means winter is just around the corner.  We start preparing by buying new cosy clothes and warm blankets but there are parts of our body we cannot cover in cashmere so they need extra special care during the colder months of the year. One of these body parts I want to talk about today is our lips.

Soft, hydrated, baby pink and healthy lips are a true asset but winter can mess things up. Lips can easily become dehydrated and chapped. However, I have a few tips for easy, healthy and homemade lip care that will let your lips appear naturally beautiful, even at this time of year.

Dry, chapped lips are common when the cold creeps in as we consume less water,  increase the intake of hot beverages and lack certain vitamins such as vitamin D. The reason lips dry out so easily, more than our face, for example, is that the skin on our lips is devoid of oil glands.  Therefore, they need a little extra help to stay smooth.

My go-to solution for dry, chapped lips is Ghee, clarified Indian butter, which is a bit like coconut balm. Growing up in India with a paediatrician mum, I have always been exposed to home remedies and still prefer them over other products. Natural and simple options are always the best choice to my mind.  When using Ghee I would advise to repeatedly apply it at least 3-5 times per, massaging the lips and leaving a thin layer of it on the lips overnight. This acts as a natural protection for lips. Long-term this will leave you with soft pink supple lips even in winter. Another common complaint I have heard from my clients (and not just in winter) is lip pigmentations and abnormal tone of lips.

One of the most common reasons for dull and dark lips is smoking. Another common reason is regular use of cosmetics and lipsticks, particularly use of low-quality products.  Especially those containing parabens can result in dark and pigmented lips. For dark pigmented and tanned lips, try almond oil. Apply almond oil to your lips before bedtime as this helps to lighten lips, and reduces discoloration. You can also make your own scrub at home with lemon juice and honey.  Use the scrub once a week. All you need is 4-5 drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1-2 drops of honey and a pinch of pink salt, mix well and gently scrub it onto your lips for about a minute, leave it for another one minute and wash off gently. After this treatment, apply some coconut oil for soft and well-nourished lips.

My most important tip is, as always, make sure you drink enough water to keep your lips supple and well hydrated from within after all being healthy on the inside will successfully reflect on the outside.

Take care and lets us welcome this cold winter with our very own warmth!

Dr. Vidhi Patel