5 Easy Things To Prevent Dry Cracked Lips This Summer

1. Hydrate From The Inside Out

With the hot weather here, there is no better way to avoid dry skin or cracked lips then staying hydrated. The Mayo Clinic recommends that woman drink 11.5 glasses of water per day and men 15.5! That’s a lot of water, but keep in mind that fruits like watermelon and vegetables like spinach are 100% water by weight and count towards your daily hydration goals. You might be thinking “how do I know if I’m drinking enough water?” Your fluid intake is probably good if you rarely feel thirsty and your urine is a light yellow color or colorless.

2. Ditch The Chemicals

 It’s so important to review all of the ingredients in your cosmetics especially now a days as companies move to swap out natural ingredients for cheeper chemical compounds. Some cheeper chemicals in cosmetics have been proven to cause cancer as well as being endocrine disruptors. Below are a few chemicals to look out for: 

• Methylparabe-  is added to lipstick because it is an antifungal and a preservative. Methylparaben is rapidly absorbed through the skin and intestinal tract. It has been restricted in most of Europe because of the possible links to cancer risk. It is also  believed to possibly alter the endocrine system and to be toxic in other ways. 
• Poyparaben - is added as a preservative to lipsticks to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold. It keeps the oily part of the lipstick from becoming rancid.  There is evidence that it is an endocrine disruptor and that it is an allergen for some people.
• Retinyl Palmitate - is used as a synthetic preservative. It’s a synthetic form of vitamin A, and some studies have shown that it may be harmful to pregnant women. It is easily absorbed by the skin. Once absorbed, it turns first into retinol and then into retinoic acid. When exposed to ultraviolet light, retinol compounds break down and produce toxic radicals that can damage DNA and cause genetic mutations, which are a precursor to cancer.

3. Protect Your Lips From The Sun

I use a sunscreen to protect my lips and face from the sun, but some ingredients found in SPF products can be a little scary. No one wants to get sunburnt, and we all know how harmful the sun can be, but some people are considering limiting how often they expose themselves to these chemicals. Apply sunscreen to your lips when applying to the rest of your face and body. Or if you use a SPF lip balm limit using it to when your spending time outdoors not as an everyday go to balm. This will help limit you're exposure to these chemicals. Below are some chemicals that are commonly found in sunscreens and SPF products that you may want to avoid.

• Octinoxate One of the most common ingredients found in sunscreens with SPF, it’s readily absorbed by our skin. Some studies have shown the chemical's effects on estrogen can be harmful and may actually cause premature aging, as it produces menacing free radicals that can damage skin and cells.
• Homosalate This UV-absorbing sunscreen ingredient helps the sunscreen to penetrate your skin. Once the ingredient has been absorbed, homosalate accumulates in our bodies faster than we can get rid of it, becomes toxic and disrupts our hormones.
• Octocrylene When this chemical is exposed to UV light, it absorbs the rays and produces oxygen radicals that can damage cells and cause mutations. It is readily absorbed by your skin and may accumulate within your body in measurable amounts. Plus, it can be toxic to the environment.
• Retinyl Palmitate – (See Above)
• Poyparaben – (See Above)

4. Skip The Menthol

Toss the lip balms made with menthol or the ones loaded with chemicals. Those ingredients draw moisture from your lips, which just makes chapping worse! This is commonly called the rebound effect. It’s when you apply a lip balm and then a short time later you need to re-apply. Another good rule is if you can’t pronounce the first 4 ingredients of your balm, then you don’t want to be putting it on your lips. Plus, you don’t want to be licking your lips and ingesting those ingredients all day. Look for balms that contain organic ingredients like Castor Seed Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, and Organic Jojoba Seed Oil.

5. Hydrate Your Lips Overnight

Lip balms work best the longer you can leave them on your lips, but life can get in the way of that. If you’re a coffee drinker like I am you have a mug in your hand all morning, but with every eye opening sip you’re removing lip balm and the healing moisture it provides. At night you won’t be running into these lip balm removing practices. Having a good all natural lip balm on your night stand is a must especially in the hot dry summer months. Applying before bed will give the balm time to penetrate your lips and heal them. If you’re in the market for a new all-natural lip balm LA LA LIPS by LA LA LEAF is worth checking out. It won Best In Show -Indy Beauty Expo- Best Lip Care and is formulated with only the best all natural ingredients like: Castor Seed Oil, Yellow Wax, Organic Shea Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil. Use Code: SUMMER for 15% OFF your first order.