If you’ve been skipping on a lip treatment, it’s definitely time to start now. The skin on our puckers is 75 per cent thinner than regular skin. Lips also have fewer sebaceous glands, making them drier with a weaker protective barrier. Due to accelerated cell turnover, the skin on lips tends to lose water three times faster than regular skin. And if that’s not bad enough, they also contain three times less melanin than regular skin, making lips more sensitive to sun damage.
“With very little built-in protection, lips are uniquely vulnerable to both UV rays and environmental aggressors. Paying attention to lip care from an early age is key to keeping the lips looking youthful and supple,” explains Dr. Adam Geyer, Kiehl’s Consulting Dermatologist. “To protect, preserve and restore hydration and suppleness to lips, I recommend consistent use of sunscreen to reduce discolouration and diminish the rate of formation of lip lines, topical antioxidants to help slow the ageing process and hydrators to help prevent chapping and flaking.”
To help treat our fragile puckers, the American brand is launching the Butterstick Lip Treatment (we’re obsessed with the adorable name). The multi-benefit lip treatment collection is available in both clear and five sheer hues, and helps to hydrate and protect lips with a SPF25 formula. The two key ingredients in the lightweight balm are lemon butter and coconut oil. The former is rich in antioxidants and helps to protect against environmental attacks while leaving a citrusy scent, while the latter is composed of over 90 per cent saturated fatty acids to hydrate and soften for up to 12 hours.