Temperatures are dropping and the air is getting dry. You know what else is getting dry? That kisser of yours! We talk a lot about winter skin, but it's time to talk about winter lips!

The skin on our lips is delicate, protected by only 3-5 cell layers (Jean Coutu). The skin on the rest of our body is approximately three times thicker than that, meaning we need to be three times more careful to protect our lips from the elements if we don’t want to have uncomfortable chapping, cracking, and peeling.

Here are a few ways to take care of that pretty little pout even when the winds are whipping and the snow is falling!1

1. Drink plenty of water

When you’re dehydrated, you start to lose water from your skin and lips to keep your more important organs working the way they should. In the summer months, it’s easy to want to reach for a cold glass of water to hydrate, but it can be harder to remember (or want to do) when you’re probably already feeling cold and wet from the winter weather. But, staying hydrated can help your lips stay nice and smooth and should be the first thing you try when you start to notice that you’re getting dry lips.

2. Stay away from petroleum-based lip products… and while you’re at it, avoid the ones with perfumes, dyes, and artificial preservatives, too.

It sounds crazy, but your Carmex, Blistex, and other conventional chapsticks are actually giving you dry lips. Petroleum is a derivative of oil refinement, and while it does create a sort of seal on your lips to keep moisture from escaping, it also doesn’t let moisture in. So, most of your drugstore lip products are only getting half the job done!When it comes to making our own lip products at Southern Magnolia Minerals, we use ingredients like jojoba seed oil, Meadowfoam and Kukui Nut Oil to condition lips and keep them from drying out. We skip all the unnecessary ingredients and just give you pure, healthy moisture.

3. Try not to lick your lips

It may feel like you’re helping your dry lips in the moment, but licking your lips dries them out more. Your saliva evaporates quickly and takes any remaining moisture along with it, unfortunately.

4. Cover your lips when you go out into the cold

If you’re in really harsh conditions, covering your lips with your scarf or coat when you’re out facing the elements can help keep them in better shape. The wind is one of the worst offenders when it comes to dry lips!

5. Use a lip scrub a few times per week.

You know how you exfoliate your skin every few days to keep it smooth? Your lips need the same thing. And just like your skin, when you exfoliate your lips, the treatments you use on them will absorb better. Bonus: lip scrubs feel amazing when you use them, especially when you’ve been dealing with lots of peeling and dryness.

Our lip scrub is packed full of nourishing ingredients and gets rid of dry lips in a pinch. The best part? It also makes them plumper, fuller, and gives them a nice, refreshing tingle when you use it!

You can find our limited release winter lip scrub here.

Do you have any odd tips and tricks for keeping your lips nice and moisturized during the winter months? If so, let us know in the comments!