Do I need a lip serum? Can’t I just use lip balm?
You likely do need a lip serum, because our lips get worked hard. Quite apart from all the movement they go through when we’re talking and smiling, eating and drinking, we are always rubbing our lips together, licking them, and wetting them with all the things we’re drinking, many of which are hot beverages.
All of this means the surface skin on the lip is constantly being eroded; and as a result, it is easy for the lip skin to become dry. Your lips contain few oil glands, so they don’t just recondition themselves automatically like, say, your nose (which is well supplied with oil glands) does. So using a lip serum to restore your lips makes a lot of sense.
You can use lip balm, but it’s not a great solution. Most lip balms are based on waxes and emollients, ingredients that smooth over the surface of the lip and stop moisture from within the skin tissues escaping into the air. That works, but it doesn’t do anything to improve the health or function of the lip tissues. Worse, it creates a dependency on the balm. Worse still, many lip balms contain ingredients which irritate the lips. For example, peppermint oil, menthol, and camphor give lip products a ‘fresh’ feel but also make your lips sting a bit. That might plump up the lips fractionally, but irritated swelling really isn’t good for the lip tissue.
How does hyaluronic acid benefit lip health?
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, drawing moisture from the air into your skin. This helps your lips stay hydrated, making them plumper and smoother and protecting the barrier function of their skin. The extra hydration also makes your lips look better.
What role do peptides play in lip care?
Peptides can help rejuvenate your skin by stimulating the production of collagen, the protein that forms the scaffolding of your skin; by speeding up the processes of lip repair and regeneration; by improving the texture and hydration of your lips; and by strengthening the barrier function of the lip skin.
Can ceramides improve the lip skin barrier?
Yes, ceramides — lipid (fat) molecules — can strengthen the skin barrier of the lips, and many lip-care products include ceramides. Ceramides help to lock moisture into your lips, preventing them from getting dry and chapped. Ceramides also help protect your delicate lip skin against damage from the cold, from dry air, and from pollutants.