How to get healthy lips

Why licking your lips is bad for them Discover the best ways to keep your lips feeling healthy and why it’s vital to choose a lip balm that doesn’t contain sweetener.

The problem with licking your lips

It can be very tempting to lick your lips, especially when you’re wearing a tasty lip balm, but here’s why it’s a bad idea.

Lip balm doesn’t need sweetener to smell wonderful!

Some of the first things you’ll notice about NIVEA lip balms and lip butters are their silky textures and sweet scents. It’s this that makes applying them such a sensorial experience. No sweetener is needed for this, just indulgent formulas and caring ingredients.

Why do NIVEA add no sweeteners to their formulas?

Many people think that adding sweetener to lip products will increase their appeal by making them taste sweet. In fact, sweeteners can be very damaging for the lips.

People that wear lip balms containing sweeteners are far more likely to lick their lips throughout the day. This, in turn, causes lips to become dry and chapped. Although having a lip balm that tastes as delicious as it smells is a nice idea, in reality it isn’t the best way to get healthy lips.

The Labello Care & Flavour range contains a range of indulgent lip products with rich aromas like NIVEA Black Berry Shine – but they do not cause you to lick your lips excessively.

Why is it bad to lick your lips?

Licking your lips might feel great at the time and your lips might feel moist temporarily, but in reality this habit is drying them out more.

When you lick your lips, you’re coating them in saliva. Not only does it evaporate very quickly to leave lips drier than before, your saliva is also full of enzymes that are too harsh for the delicate lip skin. These enzymes can remain on the lips and cause them to feel dry and uncomfortable.

But there’s no need to put up with chapped lips. By using a soothing lip butter that’s free of sweeteners like NIVEA Strawberry Shine, your lip-licking habit will be nothing but a distant memory.

Don’t let lip-licking become a habit!

It’s easy for licking your lips to become a vicious cycle, because when they feel dry after being licked it’s so tempting to lick them again to re-moisten them. The more persistent this becomes, the drier and more uncomfortable your lips will feel.

Ways to avoid licking your lips

Make sure you’re hydrated – dehydration can cause you to lick your lips more regularly
Try to de-stress – stress may be triggering your lip-licking habit
Do something to distract yourself – this will help you to keep your mind on something else
Put on some lipstick – the thought of smudging it should act as an incentive
Avoid breathing with an open mouth – this can further dry lips out

Great ways to get healthy lips

Smooth and healthy lips are vital for a radiant smile – learn how to keep your pout perfect!

What products should I be using?

One of the best ways to ensure your lips are kept healthy-looking is by regularly applying moisturising lip balms and lip butters.

The Labello Care & Flavour range is designed with the health of your lips in mind and has a product to suit every need. NIVEA Peach Shine delights the lips with a lovely peach aroma, a glossy shine and long-lasting moisture. Like the other products in this range, it contains no sweeteners, so won’t leave you with the urge to lick your lips.

If you’d rather a richer texture, NIVEA Derma-Repair-Lip-Care has natural oils, which pampers lips and relieves any dryness for healthy-looking lips that are well cared for.

The secret to smooth lips: Drinking enough water

Keeping your body hydrated by drinking enough water will have an effect on the health of your lips too and leave them feeling smoother and healthier. This is especially important during the winter months when the cold weather tends to rob the skin of its moisture.

Quick tips for keeping lips healthy

Avoid having very hot showers, as this can dry out your lips
Protect your lips in cold conditions by covering them with a scarf
Use a humidifier to help keep the air around you moist
Wear a lip balm with sunscreen like NIVEA Lip Sun Protect to protect the lips against UV rays, which may dry them out further
Gently exfoliate lips using a toothbrush or flannel to get rid of dead skin

Don’t forget the importance of diet

Healthy lips are dependent on good sources of vitamins and minerals. Sticking to a nutritious diet rich in fruit, vegetables and avoiding fatty junk foods will help your lips look more healthy and natural.

Keep smiling!

Apply NIVEA lip balms regularly to keep lips smooth and healthy-looking and you’ll have no excuse not to let that smile shine through. Smiling is proven to give you an instant confidence boost and make you feel great – so don’t be afraid to show off that pout!