As we near the colder months of the year, you might have to pay closer attention to areas on your body more prone to dryness.
The combination of cold winter air and dry indoor air can leave your skin feeling dry and chapped – particularly on your lips.
Considering the steps many people will go to in order to achieve flawless skin, it’s surprising that lip care isn’t always top of the agenda.
Your lips are often one of the first things people will notice about you when you speak, so it makes sense that we take extra care of them when they need a little support.
Lip care should become part of your wider skincare routine, rather than waiting for the signs of dry skin to appear. Supporting your skin year-round with dedicated lip care will help to keep the skin supple, hydrated, and ready for the colder months.
The Role of Vitamin E in Lip Hydration and Repair
When it comes to lip care, there is really only one ingredient you need to worry about: vitamin E. This vitamin is not produced in the body and must be obtained through external sources, primarily diet.
Vitamin E offers multiple proven benefits, as it has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties.
It helps to protect the skin’s moisture barrier so that the skin can hold on to moisture much more effectively. Harsh winter weather can impact your skin barrier.
One of the main ways your skin ages is through exposure to UV light. This causes cellular damage that releases free radicals which damage healthy cells.
The best way to combat this damage is by regularly applying products that offer anti-oxidant benefits, alongside a healthy diet.
UV light can impact your skin in winter just as much as in summer. In fact, you’re more likely to forget to wear protection all year round, which can lead to dryness and premature ageing.
Applying a lip balm rich in vitamin E and skin-supportive ingredients is one of the best ways to protect your lips all year round.
Improving hydration can also help to provide a subtle plumping effect and support collagen and elastin production, which can help to prevent lip thinning.
Why Natural Lip Balms Work Better Than Synthetic Alternatives
When it comes to choosing the right lip balm, you’ll often have a choice between natural ingredients and synthetic ingredients.
You can probably already guess which approach we would favour, but let’s explore this in more detail.
Natural lip balms often contain a base made from a blend of nourishing oils, waxes and plant-based butters. These ingredients have been used throughout human history to provide nourishing hydration.
The earliest evidence of humans using lip balm dates back to 40 B.C. The Egyptians would use a blend of bees wax, olive oil and animal fat to protect their lips from the harsh weather conditions and soothe dry lips.
Fast forward to today, and people are more likely to reach for a mass-produced and petroleum-based product to soothe dry lips.
The problem with synthetic ingredients is that they can trap you in a cycle of having to continue applying the product in order for your lips to feel soft and hydrated.
Synthetic lip balms might also include drying ingredients like camphor. This provides a soothing sensation when you apply it, but it’s very harsh and drying on the lips.
The result? You have to continue applying the product to feel any sense of relief.
Instead of getting caught in this cycle, we would recommend a better approach. Rather than using synthetic ingredients that dry out your lips, you can reach for natural-ingredients that will support the skin’s natural barrier function. This could even include ingredients like hemp, which can be very effective for dry skin.
Choosing natural products will also ensure the product is vegan, cruelty-free and environmentally responsible.
Introducing MotherSage Lip Balm: Small but Mighty
If you’re looking for a portable solution to dry lips that you can use every day, you need the MotherSage Lip Balm in your life.
This deliciously creamy lip balm glides on with ease, delivering an instant hit of hydration. It then gets to work, delivering support on a cellular level, to help bolster your moisture barrier and protect against environmental damage.
It’s suitable for daily use, and can be applied multiple times throughout the day without worrying about over-use.
With some synthetic products, there is a risk of excessive exposure to the ingredients could have the reverse intended effect, but this isn’t an issue for the MotherSage Lip Balm.
This is one of those unique products that transcends groups, so it’s just as likely to be seen in a beauty influencers makeup bag as an outdoor enthusiast’s backpack.
It contains a carefully curated blend of ingredients, including a base of shea butter and jojoba oil.
Combining a light (jojoba oil) and heavy (shea butter) lipid in this way helps to increase the efficacy of the product. The light oil absorbs quickly to support the lower dermis, while the shea butter sits on the surface for longer, helping to support the moisture barrier.
It also contains squalane, which is an emollient and anti-inflammatory. It helps to restore the moisture barrier and protect the skin. This is paired with the miracle skin care ingredient, vitamin E. This combination delivers anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and moisturising benefits where you need it the most.
Perhaps the best part of this all-natural lip balm is the ease of application. The compact pot goes a long way and is perfectly portable, so you can pop one in your handbag, keep one in the car, and keep one on your desk so you’re never far from a hit of hydration.
Please note: Since this is an all-natural lip balm made from oils and natural butters, you’ll need to keep it in a cool environment. There is a chance it will soften in a hot car or when left in direct sunlight.
You can still use it - just be wary of spilling it - and the balm will solidify again when you move it to a cooler environment.
Who Should Use It?
Not sure if this balm is right for your needs? We recommend this for anyone who is looking for general or specialist support when it comes to lip health. A few examples include:
- Outdoors enthusiasts – you spend your weekends on a hiking trail, on a mountain bike or getting to grips with a stand up paddleboard. You’re too busy enjoying the scenery to worry about your skin, but you feel the neglect at the end of the day. You need something compact you can pop in your coat pocket and apply when you remember it.
- Office workers – at work, you’re exposed to air conditioning, and at home it’s your central heating. Both will have a drying effect on your skin, causing damage to the moisture barrier. To counter this, you need a home lip balm and a desk lip balm that you can apply to keep your pout happy.
- Outdoor workers – if your work doesn’t keep you tied to a desk, you might be outside and exposed to the elements. Alongside a good daily SPF, you should also have a good lip balm in your work bag to make sure your lips don’t suffer from the effects of harsh weather.
- Skincare addicts – you’ve tried it all, now it’s time to discover the last lip balm you’ll ever need. You’re looking for something deeply hydrating that will provide the perfect base for makeup application. You also need something that makes your lips look their best, even on a no-makeup day. You’ve just found your lip care secret weapon.
- Natural skincare enthusiasts – you care about the environmental impact of the products that you choose, and your lip balm is no exception. Petrochemicals aren’t going to make the cut when it comes to your lip care, so you’re looking for something natural, organic, cruelty-free, vegan and sustainable.
How to Use It Effectively
This multi-use product will quickly become a firm favourite. It’s highly effective as an everyday lip balm, so you can apply a swipe any time that your lips feel dry or cracked.
You can also apply this as a pre-treatment before applying lipstick. Apply it with your skincare to give it time to get to work. It’s also the perfect product to apply following a lip stain, as it provides a subtle shine without looking greasy.
It’s also amazing as an overnight treatment. Applying a thicker layer before bed following a natural lip scrub will help you to wake up with super soft and hydrated lips.
There’s no risk of over-application when it comes to our vitamin E lip balm – you really can’t have enough hydration.
Final Thoughts: Lip Care that’s Natural, Effective and Elegant
If you’re looking for a lip balm that is natural, vegan, sustainable and effective, you need the MotherSage Lip Balm in your life.
This is the ideal introduction to natural skincare that could help you to break free from potentially damaging synthetic ingredients to focus on natural compounds that care for your skin.
Natural skincare is more than a buzzword. It’s paving the way for a more holistic approach to beauty that prioritises what the skin really needs. It also allows you to make consumer choices that won’t harm animals or the planet.
If you’re struggling with dry lips, or if you know someone who might benefit from a little moisturising support this winter, why not explore our Natural Skincare Collection, including the ultra-hydrating MotherSage Lip Balm.