You did it again: you left the house without your lip balm and now your lips are dry AF. While you thought you learned from your past mistakes, this annual crisis has happened once again. But between protecting your skin with cold-weather skincare hacks and curing your dry hair woes, the thought of having to add *another* self-care routine is overwhelming. That’s where we come in to help. We searched the internet to find the best ways to heal and maintain your precious pout without the extra work. Whether you need some lip therapy or just want to prep your pout for that NYE kiss, here are all eight dry-lip hacks, below.
1. ILIAÂ Lip Exfoliator ($26): One of the best ways to get your lips feeling like new is by exfoliating them on a weekly basis. This trick will get rid of dead skin and help moisturizers penetrate the lips to keep them soft. Purchase an on-the-go lip exfoliator like this ILIA one, which is made with organic ingredients and tiny grains of volcanic stone.
2. Don’t Lick Your Lips: While you think licking your lips will moisten your pout, it actually does the opposite. The saliva from your tongue strips away the moisture from your lips, making them extremely dry. Saliva contains enzymes which help breaks down food, and when the saliva evaporates from your lips, it can make them dry and crack, especially if you repeat this habit over and over again.
3. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Intensive Lip Balm ($20): Another great way to make your lips feel soft AF is by using beeswax. Occlusive agents (AKA beeswax and shea butter) keep water from evaporating off of your lips. They lock the moisture in place, which helps lips avoid a dry spell.
4. Drink Lots of Water: As you probably already know, drinking water will hydrate your body from the inside out. So if you really want your lips to look alive, you should drink a lot of this liquid, especially during the dry winter months when the cold air zaps the moisture from your skin and lips.
5. Don’t Eat Spicy or Salty Foods: Sorry, folks. But if you want to prevent your lips from cracking, you probably should stay away from spicy and salty foods. The problem is they can irritate your lips and allow them to become inflamed. Instead, try to eat foods that will help bring moisture back into your body, like fruits and vegetables.
6. Urban Outfitters Icon Scarf ($32): To give your lips that extra protection, cover them up with a swoon-worthy scarf. This chic accessory will prevent the cold wind from drying out your lips, all while make you look cute during the holiday season.
7. Honeywell Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier ($40): Work on your lips while you sleep by placing a humidifier in your room. This little machine of awesomeness will bring moisture back into your room and into your skin. And when you wake up, you’ll notice how supple your skin will look and how hydrated it will feel. Yes, you just #wokeuplikethis after all.
8. e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick ($3): Your lipstick game won’t look the best if your lips are dry and cracked. Opt for a moisturizing lipstick that will not only give your lips life but also make them look fab-u-lous. This one, in particular, is made with shea and vitamins A, C and E. Plus, it’s not bad for the price.
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It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.