Winter Lip Care: Natural Remedies

Are you experiencing dry, chapped, red lips? Although this can occur for many different reasons, during any season of the year, winter’s colder temperatures and drier air is especially hard on the delicate areas of the face. The skin on the lips is very different from the rest of your face as it is much thinner, more sensitive and vulnerable. Aside from extreme weather conditions, factors such as nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, smoking, allergies and excessive lip licking can also lead to dry, flaky, cracked lips.

Keep your lips healthy this winter by:

• Drinking at least 8 cups of filtered water per day – hydration keeps the skin soft and supple. Aside from dryness, you can also experience fine lines and wrinkles, increased hunger and cravings, and even fatigue when you are dehydrated. We recommend drinking half your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water a day as a baseline, then increasing by 1 to 2 cups per 30 minutes of exercise or cup of coffee.

If you are a coffee drinker, we recommend switching to our USDA certified organic, mycotoxin-free (aka mold-free) and low acid ground coffee. This stomach-friendly blend is packed with antioxidants that help protect, heal and nourish the skin.

• Eating a skin healthy diet –  the lips do not have oil glands to lubricate them; their only source of moisture is the saliva which is also one of the top contributing factors to chapping. High water content, antioxidant-rich foods help nourish the skin and protect against free radical damage caused by environmental factors such as pollution and weather changes. Omega-3s and other essential fatty acids also play a critical role in your skin’s natural barrier as they are both anti-inflammatory and lubricating. Referred to as “essential”, these fatty acids cannot be made by your body alone, they must be obtained from dietary sources such as wild-caught salmon, walnuts and flax seeds.

In our Kitchen Market, we sell individually-packaged, wild-caught Alaskan salmon – each filet provides an impressive 1,200mg of skin soothing omega-3 fats! Plus, our Superfood Smoothies, Signature Salads, Seasonal Soups and Broths are loaded with protective antioxidants, detoxifying fiber, and skin firming, toning and strengthening proteins.

• Using a humidifier – cold, dry air—characteristic of the winter months—can easily lead to chapped, cracked and dry lips. Humidifiers help decrease dryness by forcing moisture into the environment and hydrating the air. The increased moisture and humidity alleviates dry skin, eyes and throat while opening the nasal passageways, relieving sinus congestion, and preventing nose bleeds that are often associated with dry conditions, allergies, or asthma.

• Applying natural lip products – although lip balms offer immediate relief, many top brands contain harsh, chemical-laden ingredients—mineral oil, petroleum and artificial waxes—that interfere with the skin’s natural lubrication process and perpetuate dryness.

Instead, look for products containing natural, healing ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E, aloe vera and soothing essential oils such as rose and lavender. We sell a hydrating, petroleum-free lip balm in our Gift Boutique that goes on velvety smooth and comes in a convenient travel pouch that easily attaches to your key chain for soft lips on-the-go!

Although having dry, chapped lips is common in the winter, you can easily minimize the severity of this condition with very simple measures. Nourish and lubricate from the inside out by eating a diet rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Control the moisture in your environment with a humidifier. Finally, be selective about the products you use and opt for only natural, chemical-free and healing lip balms. If you are interested in purchasing a lip balm, wild-caught fish or any of the antioxidant-rich foods we sell in our Kitchen Market, call 630.You.Well (968.9355) or stop in Monday-Friday 9am to 6pm.