Easy and essential lip care tips for men

Hormones play a major role in the texture of our skin. That's what makes a woman's skin different from a man's. Hence, both genders need different skincare routines. Be it face, hair, or body, there are various products available in the market to achieve beautiful skin. But, it so happens that men end up neglecting an important aspect of their skincare routine -- lip care. It is essential that lips too are given the preferred amount of TLC to keep them healthy and soft. Here's an easy guide that men can follow for lip care.

Change your habits

Stop licking your lips: It's tempting to lick lips when they are dehydrated, but that makes them drier. Saliva contains digestive enzymes, which make lips vulnerable to dry air and chapping. 

Stop picking and peeling your lips: Dry and chapped can start to peel and eventually bleed if they aren't treated on time. If picked persistently, it may eventually cause pigmentation, scars and spots.

Lip care tips

Exfoliate: Unlike the skin on your body which is thicker, the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive. Use gentle, non-granulated scrubs to remove dead skin without causing micro-tears and abrasions. 

Hydrate: It is essential to moisturise and keep your lips hydrated. Choose a lip balm that does not contain wax and parabens and is enriched with butters and serums. Not only do they keep lips moisturised for longer, but also fasten the healing process. 

Protect from UV rays: Our skin contains a pigment called melanin, which protects the skin from UV rays. Your skin produces more melanin when exposed to excess sunlight. Long-term exposure might cause solar cheilitis and make lips dry and cracked. Use a lip balm with minimum 15-30 SPF to safeguard from harmful UV damage. 

Night routine: Use a lip hydrant or lip balm to soften the lips at night. The moisture barrier prevents water loss at night which results in soft and supple lips in the morning. Apply lip masks and serums that enriched with antioxidants and ceramides.

(Shivam Chakrala is Founder and CEO, SkinnCells)