Pucker up with home remedies for soft and smooth lips

Our lips are often exposed to sun, wind and other irritants, but luckily for us there are a number of easy, natural home remedies to keep your kisser soft.

The thinnest skin on your entire body is on your lips — in fact, they have just three layers of cells compared to the 16 layers on most of your face. Since your lips have neither sweat nor oil glands, they dry out easily and need lots of TLC to keep them soft.

• Carefully massage your lips with a soft toothbrush every morning. You can even add a little honey to the toothbrush to make your lips softer.
• The active ingredients of papaya will also render your lips soft. Make a balm by pureeing 1/4 of a papaya. Apply generously to your lips and the surrounding skin. Rinse with warm water after 10 minutes and apply regular lip balm.
• Make a moisturizing lip balm by melting 25 millilitres (two tablespoons) of wheat germ oil, 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of beeswax and 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of honey in a double boiler. Add three drops of peppermint oil and two drops of chamomile. Stir until thick, then let cool.
• For an everyday balm, melt 100 millilitres (3 1/2 ounces) of olive oil and 25 grams (3/4 ounces) of beeswax in a double boiler; let cool to lukewarm. Mix in seven millilitres (1 1/2 teaspoons) of honey, 20 drops of chamomile tincture and five millilitres (one teaspoon) tincture of propolis. Stir until cool and store in a cool place.
• A simple, weekly exfoliating lip scrub consisting of five millilitres (one teaspoon) of sugar and a little olive oil will remove flaky skin and promote circulation.
• Always protect your lips from ultraviolet rays by using lip balm with a built-in sun protection factor.
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep the sensitive skin of your lips tender and smooth.
• Avoid licking your lips in cold weather — the combination of wet and cold robs your lips of even more moisture, rendering them dry and rough.

• You can smooth chapped lips by applying some cocoa butter or carrot juice several times a day, or by placing slices of cucumber on them.
• Alternatively, mix five millilitres (one teaspoom) each of yogurt and honey, and apply to your lips. Wait 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
• To make a warm compress, mix equal amounts of thyme, willow bark and chamomile. Pour a cup of boiling water over five millilitres (one teaspoon) of the mixture, steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Dip a soft, sterile cloth into the warm liquid and apply to your lips for 20 minutes.

You will need:

• 25 ml (2 tbsp) coconut oil
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) almond oil
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) beeswax
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) cocoa butter
• 1 pinch pearl-lustre pigment (optional)
• 1–2 drops red food colouring

What to do:

Melt the oils, wax and cocoa butter together in a double boiler and stir. Stir in the pearl-lustre pigment and the food colouring. Put into a small container to cool.