Hi everyone, Liz here (+1 662 830 8246, info@nakedactives.com)

Your lips are likely to become chapped during the winter when it’s dry and cold outside or during the summer when exposed to extreme heat or wind.

Unlike the skin on the rest of your body, lips don’t have sebaceous glands. These microscopic glands open into hair follicles. They’re responsible for producing the oil that keeps skin soft and moisturized. While you might instinctively lick your lips to keep them moisturized, doing so actually leads to more dryness and can also cause yeast to build up on the lips. This may lead to a painful inflammation at the corners of the lips.

The key to healthy lips is using a moisturizing product every day. Using a Hydrating Cleanser can also help alleviate the issue and the discomfort associated with it.

Most commercial lip balms fail to actually fix chapped lips as they contain irritants, allergens and occlusive that can make the problem of chapped lips for many people even worse.

So what's the best treatment for chapped lips? Try a product that contains an emollient or active that can actually heal your lips and keep them looking great.

Emollients are softening, hydrating ingredients that absorb well into the skin, where they fill in cracks and prevent hydration loss.

The best emollients are natural oils and butters. Its best to use them in their pure form, rather than in combination with other ingredients. Since the lip area is very sensitive, it's better to use as few ingredients as possible and products with just basic active ingredients in order to minimize the risk of irritation or an allergic reaction.

Below are some of the top emollients and actives that are best for treating and protecting your dry, chapped lips that can be found in active ingredients such as:

• Squalane oil
• Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• EGF and Collagen Serum
• Medical lanolin
• Shea butter

Squalane Oil

Even though it's not technically sold as a lip treatment, squalane is one of the best new discoveries not just for the face, but also for dry lips. Squalane oil works as a natural lip balm that helps to promote healthy and supple lips and keeps them soft and plump.

Squalane is the saturated form of squalene, an oil naturally produced by the human body that keeps our skin moisturized and protected. It's also is ideal for healing dry skin because it has a finer texture than other oils, meaning it penetrates incredibly well into the skin.  

Squalane is very stable, so it will last a long time and is non-irritating. You can read more about squalane's many benefits in my blog about its benefits  here.  

Naked Actives Squalane oil  has the ability to protect your skin from several environmental factors. It protects your skin from harmful UV rays, and this is the reason why you will find this ingredient in many broad spectrum sun blocks. Aside from this, it does not increase the sun sensitivity of your skin. It also helps in treating sun spots and age spots. Since it provides some protection from UV rays( although it does not have a certification for an SPF), it helps in protecting your skin from free radicals as well. Also, it helps in neutralizing the free radicals and reduces the chances of premature aging. Thus, when squalane oil is used on the skin and lips, it helps repair the damage and makes your skin and lips healthy looking. It is best to use squalane oil underneath an appropriate lip sunscreen protection product and has an SPF factor of at least 30.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Want to know the ingredient responsible for filling in lines and wrinkles in those costly dermatological treatments? Yes, it’s hyaluronic acid. Because hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, its use in cosmetic treatments to result in plump skin that is hydrated and healthy looking. Patting a couple of drops of Naked Actives Hyaluronic Acid Serum directly onto clean lips can offer benefits in seconds, either as a hydrating mask or a primer before applying lip products to dry, chapped lips.

EGF and Collagen Serum

Naked Actives EGF Skin Renewal Serum is formulated with Bio-Identical Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and collagen. The EGF serum has been clinically proven to improve skin barrier function and firmness, leaving your skin healthy and hydrated. Naked Actives EGF and Collagen Serum also provides the lips with antioxidants, nutrients and proteins to improve the skins overall texture and appearance.

So How Can Collagen Application Help Your Chapped Lips?

Collagen is the most prevalent protein naturally found on your skin and lips. It serves as a primary connective tissue while also helping your skin look youthful. Naked Actives  EGF with Collagen Serum will help facilitate and encourage more collagen production so your lips maintain the look and feel of youthful. Try it by gently applying small amount on your lips and be sure that you do not swallow any just as you should with any serum. Follow this amazing serum with your favorite lip balm or product with an SPF protection.

Medical Lanolin

Lanolin is a wax found on the wool of sheep that has a similar molecular structure to human sebum, making it one of the most powerful moisturizers available to us.

Lanolin can be a potential allergen but if you're NOT allergic, its emollient and semi-occlusive properties make it a fantastic ingredient for healing dry, chapped lips. The texture is a thick salve that makes your lips feel instantly moisturized and protected from dry air.

There are also different grades of lanolin, and a medical-grade lanolin is much less likely to cause an issue. Do your research and look for companies that do use medical grade lanolin, which is colorless and odorless, and has all the harmful elements filtered out. 

Shea butter. 

This is another stable fat with excellent moisturizing properties. Extracted from the fat of the African shea tree, it remains solid at room temperature, which can be more convenient for a lip balm if you're on the go.

Being a butter, shea tends to be thicker than the other ingredients, and depending on the type, may form more of a protective seal on top of the lips. So it has both emollient and occlusive properties. Waxier shea butters will not leave your lips glossy or oily. Its best to use this type of shea underneath lipsticks because it won't interfere with the finish, creates a barrier from irritants, and offsets dryness.

The key is to find one with a good texture, as lower quality shea butter can be way too hard and crumbly, making it impossible to spread.

Overview

Your lips don’t have the sebaceous oil glands found elsewhere on your skin. This sets them up for dryness and chapping, especially in cold, extremely hot, or windy weather.

A regular lip care routine can help keep your lips soft and smooth. Look for emollients and active ingredients that hydrate and restore your lips and are best for treating and protecting your dry, chapped lips. Apply your chosen oils and actives anytime your lips feel dry and when you are exposed to extreme seasonal and environmental conditions.

Naked Actives Squalane oil, EGF Skin Renewal Serum and  Hyaluronic Acid Serum are some great products based on the best  active ingredients to try and will keep your lips at their best for all those kisses for the loved ones!

Kisses to all!