Kissable lips for Valentine's Day

It comes as no surprise that this San Diego weather has taken a toll on a lot of San Diegans skin. Recent weather has varied from cold and rainy in the last month to the most recent weather that has been sunny, dry, and windy. This extreme change has caused humidity to drop which can do major damage to your lips. Take for instance today, when the daytime high is estimated to be at 76 degrees, sunny and dry, and the nighttime low is estimated to be at a fairly chilly 49 degrees (at least for us San Diegans!) with wind gusts going at 25 MPH. For this reason, it is important to keep your skin, particularly your lip area very hydrated. Especially considering a very romantic holiday is right around the corner…

1. Remember to stay hydrated. Carry a bottle of water (not soda or juice!) with you at work, school, or when running errands because the first thing you’ll do when thirsty is suck on your lips. I know it’s tempting, but don’t do it!
2. Apply (and reapply) chapstick or a lip balm. There are a ton of products to choose from on the market, but one of my favorites is the Carmex Original Formula. The Carmex Original Formula has been around since 1937 and there is little room for debate as to why that is. This lip product was originally intended for cold sores and contains the ingredients Camphor to alleviate pain, Menthol which kills germs and relieves discomfort, and Phenol which gently numbs sore lips and removes old and dead skin. You can find more information on this and other products at www.mycarmex.com.
3. Wear a scarf! Now the weather here in San Diego may not be as extreme as in the East coast, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your face and lips from the wind and cold. Wearing a scarf at night is not only a cute accent to any outfit, but also a lip saver. There are a variety of scarves that can be found at www.forever21.com or by simply stopping in to your local Forever 21. Stores are located at Fashion Valley, Westfield UTC, and Horton Plaza.
4. Brush your lips. Yes, you read that right. Now, this may sound bizarre but brushing your lips with warm water at night before going to bed is a great and simple way to exfoliate. Just as you might exfoliate your face at night, you can do the same for your lips. I suggest buying a soft bristle tooth brush (Don’t use an old toothbrush for obvious sanitary reasons!) and brushing your lips softly right before bed.
5. Slather on a nice coat of Vaseline. As mentioned in a previous article, Top 5 ‘old faithful’ beauty products, Vaseline is a great lip protectant but it can sometimes be too thick to use during the day. If you find this is the case for you, wait until bed time to apply a generous amount of Vaseline to your lips.
6. Use a hydrating lipstick or lip gloss. After all this work, the worst thing you could do on Valentine’s Day is apply a coat of lipstick or lip gloss that is not hydrating enough, sticks to your lips like chalk, and dries out your lips after a couple of hours.

Try Cover Girl’s Continuous Color Lipstick ($5.49 @ www.drugstore.com) which is packed with Vitamin E and Vitamin A. My favorites are PowerPink (an iridescent pink that is blue based) and Natural Frost (a vibrant peach color).

If you’re a sucker for lip gloss, try out Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss in Sandy ($18). It’s a lip plumper that doesn’t sting (What a concept!), but leaves lips feeling full, hydrated, and carries a light vanilla scent. You can find this product at your local Sephora store or by visiting www.sephora.com.

If you're going for a more natural look, try C.O Bigelow's Ultra Mentha Lip Shine ($7.50). This lip gloss is extra hydrating and  infused with spearmint for a cooling sensation on your lips, and long lasting fresh breath. You can find this product at  Bath & Body Works or by visiting www.bathandbodyworks.com.

Good luck, ladies! Believe me, your lips (and that special someone) will thank you for keeping your lips extra kissable this year.