Our lips are always at work. They help us eat, speak, effectively breathe, and emote. However, the skin on the lips is one of the most delicate on our bodies. This juxtaposition between frequency of use and delicacy of skin is precisely why lips can often feel dry, irritated, or cracked. A simple and daily lip care routine can help keep your lips healthy, vibrant, and in smile-worthy shape. From the most effective lip care tips to the best products, like an overnight lip mask, here is everything you need to know about keeping your lips supple.
Lip Care Tips
Great products are a brilliant way to nurture lips, but they’re only part of an effective lip care routine for dry lips. The other aspect is maintaining a healthy lip routine, much like you would with skin, including cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating. Here are a few suggestions to keep your pout in tip-top shape.
Cleanse
While double cleansing at night, don’t skip your lips. The nourishing cleansing oil and subsequent cleanse of your choice can help remove any lingering lip products from the day. But they can also soften the lip skin.
Exfoliate
Exfoliate…lips? Don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it. Try using one of the delicate exfoliants you use on your face on your lips, too. That can be as simple as a soft washcloth or your favorite face polish. There are also lip-specific exfoliants, which are specifically designed to delicately – yet effectively – eradicate any dry skin. Grab the exfoliant of your choice and apply thoughtful pressure, softly buffing in tiny circular motions around the lip area to loosen up any dryness. Softly wash the exfoliant off after 20 to 30 seconds of exfoliation.
Nourish
Using an essence on your face? Spread that love to your lips, too. The deeply hydrating and reparative powers of an essence are just as potent on the lips, too. Doing this consistently (or even just a few times a week) can help address overall dehydration and dullness. It also can temporarily give lips a beautiful plumped appearance. Just dab a bit on a cotton square (or even your finger) and tap it into the lips for 10 to 20 seconds.
Additionally, many hydrating serums can be used for the lips, too. However, mind the ingredients so they won’t irritate the sensitive skin and instead look for products with scientifically-proven hydrators, like hyaluronic acid and squalane. For example, The Serum Stick, which is made of 80 percent squalane, can be used on the lips for a dewy feeling anytime, and The Dewy Serum, which includes both hyaluronic acid and squalane, can be used morning and night on the lips for an extra dose of hydration.
Moisturize
Just as moisturizing is vitally important to skin, it’s just as crucial to the lips. Lip balms and masks are effective, but are designed for consistency. You can’t swipe on a lip balm once every other day and expect it to keep your pout juicy and hydrated all the time. Find a balm you enjoy using and always have it on hand, even if that means having a spare at the office, car, bag, etc. This will encourage you to reapply as often as needed. Make it a ritual, like, for example, after you brush your teeth, you apply a lip balm.
Best Lip Care Products
Some of our earliest product launches were in the lip category, a genre we’ve invested countless research into. We’ve perfected a handful of products that we deem as ‘game changers’ and we hope you agree.
Best Lip Balm
Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm
Feel free to massage on as often as you’d like because our Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm seals in moisture with camellia oil, renowned for centuries in Japan for its ability to curb dehydration. The formula is also packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help nourish and protect. Additionally, the balm gives lips a hint of shimmer with 23-karat gold flakes.
Best SPF-Boosted Lip Tint
The Kissu Lip Tint SPF 25
Want your lip product to do it all? Swipe on the Kissu Lip Tint SPF 25, which hydrates lips and seals in moisture with silk protein and botanical lanolin, protects the delicate skin from sun damage with SPF 25 coverage, and provides a buildable flush of color (available in three shades). What can’t this creamy, hydrating lip tint do?
Best Lip Mask
The Kissu Lip Mask
The myth, the legend, the Kissu Lip Mask. Forget everything you think you know about lip masks if you haven’t yet tried this unique iteration. The luscious, jelly texture (yet never sticky) melts into lips to plump, hydrate, smooth, and soften. Perfect for overnight use, but beautiful any time of day, the Kissu Lip Mask features moisture-sealing squalane, revitalizing Japanese peach, and hydrating camellia oil for a revelatory experience.
Best Lip Care Routine
Morning and night require two different types of products. In the a.m., seek out products that will provide your pout with SPF protection. For the evening, give lips some much-needed hydration in the form of a lip mask. Follow these lip care routine steps for a happy pout all year long.
Morning
Good morning! After washing your face and brushing your teeth, apply a lip balm. This will send moisture into the lips first thing in the morning, before you apply any makeup or expose your skin to drying natural elements. Our Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm is particularly effective in the a.m.
If you’d like to take things a step further, feel free to apply some of the techniques we’ve learned, including exfoliating and nourishing lips (with an essence and serum) while also subsequently using those steps on your skin, too. An added bonus? Exfoliating lips can help temporarily give them a flushed and plump appearance. Then apply your lip balm or mask.
If you’re a fan of lipsticks or lip tints, choose a formula that touts its hydrating qualities. Some formulas can actually steal moisture away from your skin and make dry lips worse. Or try a lip stain and then apply a balm or mask atop it for the best of both worlds.
All Day
Reapply your hydrating lip product throughout the day, especially after eating, which can naturally wipe any formula from the lips.
Evening
Good evening! Indulge in your lip care routine (including double cleansing and nourishing with an essence and serum), if you choose to participate. Then, hydrate with a lip mask for deeper hydration. Unlike balms, which can work quickly and fade quickly, a good mask delivers eight hours of continuous hydration. The Kissu Lip Mask was created for exactly this purpose, providing moisture all night long.
Winter Lip Care Routine
While dry lips can occur any time of year, they are particularly prevalent in the winter. In the face of dry winter conditions, the delicate skin on the lips may start to crack and chap. Fortunately, you can keep your lips healthy-looking and supple with a nurturing ritual, no matter the season. Harsh weather calls for extra-hydrating options, like swapping out a lip balm for a lip mask when lips are extra sensitive or dry. Additionally, stay on top of reapplication, aiming to apply a hydrating lip product every hour or two to coat lips in moisture. Or try one of the following proven lip techniques to stave off a dehydrated pout.
Lip Basting
You can also try a technique called ‘lip basting’, which became well known in the last years after dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss sang the method’s praises for her plump, hydrated lips. After exfoliating lips, she uses a rich ointment as a lip mask, applying a hefty dose so lips are coated in the treatment. She allows this to soak in for as long as possible, usually around 10 minutes as she applies her makeup routine in the morning. Then wipe the excess ointment off and admire your hydrated pout.
Lip Slugging
Or, just try lip slugging if the skin is cracked or irritated. This popular technique involves using a lip mask, like Tatcha’s Kissu Lip Mask. To truly slug lips, you’d then apply petroleum jelly over the lip mask to lock in hydration. However, the Kissu Lip Mask is so emollient and rich, it doesn’t require layering Vaseline over it. It’s a one-and-done product.
Whatever products you choose, we hope you treat your lips with extra gratitude and care, no matter the time of day or season. Put some love and focus into your routine, and you’ll feel the results. Plus your lips and their healthy appearance will be something worth smiling about!
