A Good everyday lip care routine can keep your lips healthy and looking their best. Because the skin on our lips is a lot thinner, they are more sensitive and delicate. We should totally be giving them some good TLC every day.  And it's really easy, too.

So, how should you be taking care of your lips every day? What does a good lip care routine look like? Red Apple Lipstick is answering these questions. We are sharing the best lip care tips with all of you, for a healthy and perfect pucker. 

An Everyday Lip Care Routine Creates Soft & Healthy Lips 

So, what should you be doing daily to keep your lips well taken care of? You more than likely are already taking some of the steps to do so. The main things you want to focus on are moisturizing lips, protecting lips, nourishing, and hydrating lips. 

Moisturize with Quality Lip Balm 

Because the skin on your lips is thinner and does not have oil glands like the rest of the skin on our bodies, lips tend to easily dry out causing very dry lips or even dry chapped lips. To prevent this from happening and maintain healthy soft lips, the lips need to be moisturized. 

Just as you apply moisturizer to your face every day, you want to use lip moisturizer every day too. Finish your morning skincare routine by moisturizing your lips with a good lip balm that is both moisturizing and nourishing for the lips' sensitive skin. 

Rallye Balm is the best lip balm to do just that. It is a hydrating lip balm that also preps and primes the lips for any lip color product such as lipstick or lip gloss. Speaking of lip makeup, make sure that whatever you use is also a moisturizing product. 

Keep Lips Protected from the Sun 

The lips receive a lot of sun exposure when outside, and we all know how the sun's rays can be to the skin. Lips need sun protection just like the rest of our skin so make sure to apply SPF on them. The Rallye Balm provides some sun protection, containing an SPF of 8. 

However, if you will be out in the sun for a prolonged period, a board-certified dermatologist would recommend a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Alternatively, you can also use the sunscreen you use on your face. Make sure to carry lip balm containing SPF with you so you can reapply about every 2 hours.  Watching out for the sun should be a part of your everyday lip care.

Stay Hydrated and Drink Plenty of Water 

Besides moisturizing the skin on the surface, you also want to hydrate it from within. To maintain hydrated lips and help further prevent dry flaking skin on your lips, you want to be drinking plenty of water every day. 

Water intake is very important when it comes to skincare and lip care. When our bodies are well hydrated, so is our skin which helps prevent dry skin and dry lips. 

If you are the type that normally doesn't drink enough water, give yourself a goal of picking up your water intake. Use large containers of waters with happy marks on the outside. You will notice a difference right away, but after 7 days of drinking way more water, your lips will really be in excellent condition. This definitely belongs in your everyday lip care routine.

Maintain a Healthy & Balanced Diet 

Just like water intake, a nutritious healthy diet that is well-balanced is crucial for healthy skin and healthy lips. A diet lacking essential vitamins and nutrients will affect the lips, resulting in more dead skin cells which means dry flaky skin. 

Avoid Touching & Licking Your Lips 

Try not to touch your lips often. Why? Well, simply because lips don't have any kind of protective barrier and are directly affected by anything including our fingers touching it. Touching the lips as little as possible will help maintain their surface intact. 

Licking your lips is also a no-no. We may think that by licking them we are helping to "moisturize" or "hydrate" them, but it's quite the opposite.  If you have this habit, break it as part of your new daily lip care routine.

The saliva's enzymes are too harsh for the lips' delicate skin. It dries it out once the saliva evaporates from the surface. So, whenever you get the urge to lick your lips, apply your moisturizing balm instead. 

Keep Your Lips Clean 

Just like your face needs to breathe, so do your lips. This is why you should also be cleaning your lips at the end of the day, removing all lip makeup if wearing any.  This is a big part of caring for your lips daily.

Skin heals best overnight which is why it's so important to cleanse and nourish it before going to bed. This would include your lips as well. Proper lip cleansing is necessary for healing dry lips. 

How To Properly Cleanse Lips:

Soak a cotton pad with your favorite gentle cleanser and wipe, or gently rub in circles, across the lips to cleanse. Rinse with water and follow with plenty of lip moisturizer. 

Hydrate the Lips Overnight 

Before going to bed you want to make sure your lips are well moisturized and hydrated. You can do this by simply applying a good, quality lip balm. Other ways to do so are doing an overnight treatment such as applying a lip mask that you can leave on and/or sleeping with a humidifier. 

You can do a simple yet nourishing overnight lip mask with a mixture of equal amounts of honey (which also has anti-inflammatory properties) and coconut oil. Apply to the lips before going to bed and wash it off in the morning. You can do this every night or just a few nights during the week. 

If you live in a dry climate, it is a good idea to sleep with a humidifier in your room. Dry air can dry out the lips. Using a humidifier will help keep your lips hydrated at night because it will help add moisture to the air. 

Other Helpful Tips for the Care of Your Lips 

Here are some additional lip care tips you should also follow for healthy lips. 

Exfoliate the Lips Once a Week 

Exfoliate your lips using a gentle lip exfoliator once a week to help remove dead skin cells so lips stay soft and smooth. You use either a lip scrub or the Exfoliate Stick. 

Besides giving you soft and smooth lips, exfoliation can also help promote blood circulation and even help with lip discoloration. 

Massage the Lips 

Another great way to promote blood circulation, while also moisturizing, is by massaging the lips with nourishing oils. Having good circulation will help ensure that the lips get the nutrients they need to stay healthy. 

Using an oil such as almond oil, coconut oil, or even Vitamin E oil, simply massage the lips for a few minutes. You can do this every day or just a few times a week. This is easy caring for lips daily.

Check Ingredient Lists & Make Sure You're Using the Right Lip Product 

The lip products you use should always be moisturizing and nourishing. Whether it's lip balms, tinted lip balm, lipstick, lip gloss, or lip stain, always check what ingredients are in them. 

Look for those containing more gentle, clean, safe, and even natural ingredients that will benefit your lips.

Examples of ingredients to look for: 

• Vitamin-E
• Natural Butters- such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and mango butter. 
• Nourishing Oils- castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and even vitamin E oil. 
• Beeswax 
• Hyaluronic acid 
• Ceramides 
• Glycerin 

Avoid ingredients such as: 

• Fragrances/Perfumes- synthetic and essential oils 
• Camphor 
• Lanolin 
• Menthol 
• Alcohol 
• Flavorings- such as cinnamon, citrus, and peppermint oil. 
• Phenol/Phenyl 
• Petrolatum
• Mineral Oils
• FDC Blue 1 and Blue Lake

Always Carry Lip Balm with You 

Make it a habit to always carry lip balm on you so that you can moisturize the lips whenever you need to. Other lip balms you could choose to carry with you would be a tinted lip balm or lip balm with SPF. 

Just remember, the best lip balms are those that are moisturizing and not irritating. Look for those that contain and don't contain the ingredients listed above. 

Do Not Pick at Dry Cracked Lips or Chapped Lips 

If you are experiencing chapped lips or cracked lips, avoid picking at them. Do not try to remove any damaged and/or peeling skin, doing so will just cause more damage and irritation. 

Instead, use a gentle lip scrub to gently buff away any peeling and dry flaking skin. Then don't forget to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. 

Protect Your Lips from the Elements 

Environmental elements such as dry air (cold and hot), wind, and of course the sun's rays can cause havoc on the lips. You should always protect them from any of these.  

Besides moisturizing, there are other steps you can take. For example, if you are outside and it's windy or there is dry air blowing, shield your lips by covering them with a piece of clothing or a scarf. And of course, as already mentioned, apply SPF to them. 

Following a good lip care routine and these lip care tips and suggestions will result in your lips being their healthiest. You will enjoy lips that are bright, soft, smooth, well moisturized, and hydrated lips. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What should we apply on lips daily? 

The lips need moisture and protection every day. You should be applying lip balm, that is both hydrating and moisturizing, every day to moisturize the lips.  

The lips also need to be protected from sun exposure. Make sure to always apply SPF to the lips along with lip balm. Some lip balms will even have SPF in them. 

Is it ok to use lip balm everyday? 

Yes, if you are using the right one. A good lip balm is both moisturizing and nourishing for the lips. It should be full of safe, super moisturizing, natural, and clean ingredients such as shea butter and castor oil. 

Is Vaseline good for your lips? 

The short answer is no. Vaseline or petroleum jelly is a thick ointment that is meant to create a barrier that keeps air out and locks in moisture. It does not actually provide moisture to the lips. So, it's best to use a moisturizing balm instead. 

What is best for cracked lips? 

A good lip care routine that is deeply hydrating and moisturizing along with gentle exfoliation using a lip scrub. Follow the tips found in this article to help heal and soothe lips that are cracked and dry.