Love Your Lips

Expert tips for a soft, smooth kisser

- SHANNEN ZITZ

Dry, chapped lips getting you down? When it comes to skincare, lips are often overlooked. But they shouldn't be-after all, "Lips have skin too!" says Rebecca Marcus M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Maei MD. "All too often we tend to forget that this skin also requires care and maintenance, especially hydration, sun protection, and periodic gentle exfoliation."

Unlike the skin on the rest of our bodies, the skin on our lips is much thinner, making it even more prone to dehydration and damage if left unprotected. This skin also lacks hair follicles and sweat glands, and it has only a small number of oil glands, explains Camille HowardVerovic, D.O., F.A.A.D., at Active Dermatology New York. Fortunately, focusing on proper lip care can help banish uncomfortably dry lips for good.

While a little lip maintenance goes a long way, for many applying lip balm and calling it a day is not enough. Here are our expert-approved tips for lips that look and feel their healthiest.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIP BALM

Nourishing your lips with a well-formulated lip balm is the most important step in taking care of them. A hydrating fragrance-free balm containing SPF is a must-have, explains Dr. Marcus.