Latina Beauty

You know, los labios do get drier and more chapped in the winter.  This happens because the air’s moisture levels plummet along with freezing temperatures so tiny fissures–that are very hard to heal–form on los labios.  To prevent this, use a waxy balm before exposing los labios to cold temperatures.  This waxy film will act as a barrier against the cold and lock moisture within los labios so they stay suave.  Also, as part of your nightly belleza routine use a damp towel to gently buff the lips and follow with a balm or a bit of eye cream.

If you are already suffering from chapped, cracked and flaky labios already, look for balms that are viscous instead of waxy so that it can penetrate in-between fissures.   For chronic chapping, look for treatments with ceramides, which help restore la piel’s barrier. You should also avoid lanolin, heavily scented or flavored balms and grainy scrubs or washcloths to exfoliate la piel.

Here are some ingredients that your balm should have if you’re looking to restore moisture:

• Petrolatum
• Shea Butter
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Dimethicone

To find the best lip-savers, I tried tons of lip treatments, which I received from public relations chicas as well as some that I bought on my own.  Here are the ones I liked the best.

*La Roche-Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream works wonders on severely dry and sensitized labios.  It contains shea butter and beeswax to heal and protect lips while restoring comfort.  What I liked about this cream is it’s nice balance between creamy and viscosity, which makes it easier for the formula to seep into cracks.  Originally created for Accutane users, this fragrance and preservative-free cream sells for $13.50.

*Glytone Nighttime Lip Treatment gently exfoliates and protects dry, cracked lips. Originally created for Accutane users, this treatment uses a combination of .4 percent salicylic acid and petrolatum to remove damaged cells, moisturize and protect lips while you sleep.  It’s sold at physicians stores nationwide and dermstore.com and sells for $12.

Weleda Everon Lip Balm relieves dry, chapped lips while leaving a protective layer that keeps moisture from evaporating while leaving behind a faint scent of vanilla and roses.  This long-lasting formula contains organic shea butter, beeswax and rose wax to protect and nourish los labios.  Apply to lips as often as necessary but especially before going outdoors–works great under lipstick as well. It sells for $5 and you can find it at fine health food stores, Whole Foods and here.

* Product provided by brand’s PR chica.