How to avoid chapped lips: 5 tips to plump lips

Chapped lips may just be the bane of our existence. They make it almost impossible to wear our favorite lipstick without looking like some scaly creature from the bottom of some black lagoon. To make our lips plump and soft, the skin on the lips needs the same attention and care as the skin on the face, if not more. Here are five tips on how help soften and moisturize lips:  

To drink a lot of water

Make sure you drink enough water to keep your body, skin and lips hydrated. Lips can show signs of dehydration with a chapped, cracked pout, so don't give up H2O for your lips.

Moisturize Often

Drinking water is a great way to keep your skin hydrated, but to keep it from drying out, you'll need to keep it moisturized. Reach for lips moisturizing lip balms, ointments and oils- and repeat often. We love Kiehl's #1 Lip Balm. This balm contains ingredients such as vitamin E and wheat germ oil that soothe dry skin and even prevent moisture loss.    

Exfoliate once a week

Already reap the benefits of body exfoliation and face? It's time to extend the benefits of exfoliation to your lips. Gentle exfoliation can help rid your lips of dry skin cells, resulting in smoother, healthier lips. Try using a homemade sugar scrub. or reach out to Lip scuffs The Body Shopthat simultaneously exfoliates and hydrates with a blend of crushed fig pit and macadamia nut oil. 

Protect your lips with SPF

You are probably tired of hearing that you should use sunscreen every day, but you should. And you should apply SPF on your lips, same. To make remembering SPF a little easier, look for a lip balm with SPF, such as Vitamin E lip care stick from The Body Shop - so you can moisturize and protect at the same time.  

Break bad habits

We know old habits are hard to break, but smacking, licking, or biting your lips can hurt rather than help your chapped lips situation. It's time to recognize these bad habits and get rid of them!