Winter Lip Care: Say Goodbye to Dry, Chapped Lips
Winter in Calgary can be brutal on your lips. The combination of cold, dry air and harsh indoor heating can leave your lips feeling chapped, cracked, and uncomfortable. But don't let dry lips ruin your winter! PHI Medical Aesthetics is here to provide expert tips and treatments to help you achieve and maintain soft, smooth, and kissable lips all season long.
What causes dry lips?
Ever wonder why your lips seem to suffer the most during the winter? Your lips are unique. Unlike the rest of your skin, they lack oil glands, making them naturally more prone to dryness — and the harsh winter conditions in Calgary don't exactly help.
Here's a breakdown of the culprits:
Dehydration: Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. This, combined with the dehydrating effects of indoor heating, can seriously deplete your lips' moisture levels.
Windburn: Calgary's infamous wind can further dry out and irritate your lips, leading to chapping and cracking.
Sun damage: Don't forget the sunscreen! Even in winter, UV rays can damage your lips, contributing to dryness, fine lines, and premature aging.
Licking your lips: While it might feel temporarily relieving, licking your lips actually worsens dryness. Saliva evaporates quickly, leaving your lips even drier than before.
The good news? With a bit of TLC and the right lip care routine, you can combat these winter woes and keep your lips healthy and hydrated all winter long.
How to Heal Dry Lips
Want to keep your lips looking and feeling their best? Here's your essential lip care guide:
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: First and foremost, drinking plenty of water is essential for overall skin health, including your lips. Dehydration can worsen dryness, so keep that water bottle handy! Add a slice of lemon or cucumber to your water for a refreshing twist. Not only does it taste great, but it also encourages you to drink more throughout the day. We love to mix our water with Inner Wellth Greens for an additional nutritional boost.
Gentle exfoliation: Just like the rest of your skin, your lips benefit from exfoliation. Gently slough away dry, flaky skin with a lip scrub once or twice a week. This helps lip balm penetrate better and keeps your lips smooth for flawless lipstick application (if that's your thing!). For a DIY lip scrub, mix a teaspoon of brown sugar with a few drops of honey and olive oil. Gently massage the mixture onto your lips, then rinse off with warm water.
Choose a hydrating lip balm: A good lip balm is your best friend in winter. Look for one with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, or natural oils (coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil are great choices). Avoid balms with artificial fragrances or flavors, as these can be drying. Keep a lip balm (like the Routine Lip Balm) in your pocket, at your desk, by your bed — basically, everywhere! This ensures you can reapply frequently throughout the day, especially before heading out into the cold.
Don’t forget nighttime lip care: During the night, your skin goes into repair mode, so applying a thick layer of lip mask or balm before bed can help nourish and heal your lips while you sleep. Look for lip masks with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin E, which are especially effective for long-lasting moisture. We love SkinCeuticals Anti-Oxidant Lip Repair.
Break the licking habit: Licking your lips might seem like a quick fix for dryness, but it actually makes things worse. Saliva evaporates quickly, further dehydrating your lips. Reach for your lip balm instead!
What’s the best treatment for dry lips?
While a solid at-home lip care routine is essential, sometimes your lips need a little extra help. At PHI Medical Aesthetics in Calgary, we offer advanced lip treatments to restore hydration, add volume, and give you the perfect pout.
Lip Fillers
If you've noticed your lips losing volume or definition, lip fillers might be the solution you're looking for. Lip fillers not only plump up your lips but also improve their texture and create a more youthful appearance.
At PHI, we use high-quality fillers like Juvederm and Restylane to achieve natural-looking results that complement your facial features. Whether you want subtle enhancement or a more dramatic look, we offer customized lip filler treatments tailored to your goals.
Skinvive
Skinvive is another excellent treatment for lip enhancement, especially during Calgary's harsh winters. This hyaluronic acid-based injectable delivers deep hydration to your lips, restoring moisture levels and improving elasticity. The result? Softer, more supple lips that feel fantastic!
Benefits of Professional Lip Treatments
Long-lasting hydration: Unlike lip balms that provide temporary relief, treatments like Skinvive offer deeper and longer-lasting hydration.
Enhanced lip volume and definition: Lip fillers can create a fuller, more defined pout that complements your facial features.
Improved lip texture: Both lip fillers and Skinvive can improve the texture of your lips, smoothing out fine lines and creating a more youthful appearance.
Ready to take your lips to the next level? Explore our lip filler and Skinvive treatment options, or book a consultation to discuss your lip goals with our expert injectors.
The Bottom Line
With the right lip care routine and a little help from PHI Medical Aesthetics, you can say goodbye to dry, chapped lips and hello to a healthy, hydrated pout all winter long. Whether you're committed to an at-home regimen or ready to explore professional lip treatments in Calgary, we're here to help you achieve your lip goals.
Ready to take the next step?
For DIY lip care: Explore our curated collection of lip balms, scrubs, and masks in our online store.
For professional lip treatments: Book a consultation today to discuss your lip enhancement goals with our expert injectors.
At PHI, we're not just about aesthetics; we're about helping you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. Because when you feel good, you look good!