Chapped Lips: Mistakes to Avoid.

If your lips start to feel slightly tight, you might be tempted to run them under hot water for immediate soothing relief. Unfortunately, this action is misleading because at this temperature, water dissolves the lipid cement of the skin barrier, which serves to protect the skin from various aggressions. As with the rest of your face, favor the use of lukewarm to cool water and opt for gentle products during the makeup removal process.

Using one's own saliva to alleviate a sensation of dryness typically provides only short-term relief. Why? Because as saliva dries, it "retains" a small amount of water from the skin cells, thereby creating a dehydration effect. But another factor to consider is enzymes, which aid digestion during the chewing process. These enzymes are aggressive and are not meant to be on your lips, causing some cracking at the corners when they settle. To avoid frequently moistening your lips, there's only one solution: hydrate! Once the balm does its job by soothing your tightness and providing the right amount of nourishment, there's no need to use your saliva.