How to Get Soft Lips

How to Get Soft Lips

Step 1: Lock in Moisture

"The skin on your lips is thin and contains less natural pigment, so it's more susceptible to sun damage and dryness," says Rein Welch, M.D., a dermatoligist and Denver Dermatology Consulatants. Keep that smacker supple by locking in mosture as soon as you step out of the shower. Take a warm, moist washcloth and press it against your mouth for a full minute to saturate lops before the next step, exfoliation.

Step 2: Gently Exfoliate

Once a week, squeeze a pea-sized amount of lip balm (Like Blistex Lip Ointment, $2, at drugstores) into your hand and combine it with equal amounts of granulated sugar, With a clean finger, scrub the mix onto your lips, using a circular motion, for one minute. "The sugar is therapeutic and removes the cracking," says Charles Zugerman M.D., associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. For a Premade fix, try Green by Nature Lip Scrub in Mint Green Tea ($4, greenbynaturebeauty.com).

Step 3: Boost Moisture

To amp up hydration and lock in moisture at night, apply a lip salve containing shea butter or petroleum jelly, Such as EOS Lip Balm SmoothSphere ($3, evolutionofsmooth.com) or Urban Rituelle Lip Balm ($8, b-glowing.com) "these heavy emollients createa watertight seal on the lips' surface, protection against moisture loss," Welch says.

Step 4: Apply Protection

The sun can fry your lips, especially if you wear light-attracting glosses. Experts suggest swiping on a balm with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. One to try: Softlips Lip Protectant/Sunscreen SPF 20 ($4 for two, drugstore.com). "Wearing adequate sun protection gaurds against cancer causing UVB rays," Zugerman says. It also slows collagen loss and the development of vertical wrinkles and prevents scaliness.

Step 5: Smooth on Color

Since you're already wearing a barrier lip balm, you can use any lipstick you like. If your lipstick has a sunscreen (try Neutrogena Cosmetices MoistureShine Lipstick SPF 20, $10, drugstore.com), Zugerman says, you can skip Step 4 if you want. To make your color last, follow up by pressing a tissure over your lips and patting on translucent powder. A tiny amount of powder will filter through the tissure, sealing in the color.

Article From Womens Health Magazine