Grooming Editor

Mankind’s Guide to Looking After Your Lips

Don’t just pay lip service to your smackers, keep them in tip top condition with these simple steps. If you’re looking for a chapped lips remedy, or on the hunt for a low-key lip balm for men that isn’t scented with strawberries, you’ll find a great selection at Mankind. Our guide to looking after your lips will ensure that you’ll be kissable in no time.

Moisturise

With no oil glands and no outer protective stratum corneum to protect them, it’s little wonder lips end up chapped when it’s cold, windy or dry. Licking, meanwhile, only makes matters worse by speeding up the natural evaporation process. To cure chapped lips and keep them smooth, hydrated (and yes, kissable), gently remove any flakes of dry skin with a soft, wet toothbrush. Then, seal in moisture with a lip balm for men like Aesop Rosehip Seed Lip Cream. Keep with you and re-apply as necessary. And don’t worry about over-use, it’s a myth that lip balms make your lips even drier.

Protect

Lips don’t have any melanin, the pigment that protects our skin from UV rays, so they are particularly vulnerable to sun damage and skin cancer. That’s why it’s crucial to protect them in the hot summer months or if you’re skiing. Try Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm for men which has a built-in SPF 25 sunscreen and a subtle lemon flavour. And don’t worry if the balm goes beyond the lip line – you’ll be adding a little extra protection to the skin around the lips which is prone to wrinkles – especially if you’re a smoker or spend a lot of time outdoors.

Plump

Women have been wise to the benefits of a little lip-plumping for years but men can benefit from it too. If you need a little incentive consider this: according to research by University of Louisville, lip size is the key to sexual attraction, with good sized smackers being seen as the most attractive by women. So if you don’t fancy implants (and ending up with a trout pout) try the Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion for Lips which contains amino acids to help the lip tissue hold more moisture and appear a little thicker whilst also boosting micro-circulation.

Prevent

Nothing ruins your appearance or scares a partner off faster than a huge, lip-tingling cold sore. Caused by the herpes Simplex 1 virus, cold sores are often triggered by sun and stress (both of which suppress the immune system) but innocent-sounding tings like crusty French bread can also bring them on since it leaves tiny cuts on the lips which the virus loves. It’s not all doom and gloom though. Cold sores might be a pain but they can be treated and, to an extent, avoided. Treat with Zovirax cream (available from chemists) as soon as you feel the slightest tingle, protect lips all-year round with a lip balm containing an sunscreen and steer clear of foods containing an amino acid called argenine which is known to trigger cold sores in some people. It’s found in foods like peanuts, soybeans, chocolate, oats and wholewheat. Since the virus likes nothing better than a weakened immune system, eating well, getting plenty of sleep and reducing your stress levels can help too, as can ensuring you get plenty of immune system-boosting Vitamin C – pick up the MyVitamins Essential Vitamin C if you need an extra boost!