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Let’s face it: We’ve all suffered from dry, chapped lips before. And while there is a plethora of lip products that promise to give lips a healthy appearance, it can get confusing as to which product – balm, oil, serum or mask, would work best. And how do we achieve an effective lip care routine? WHAT MAKES THE SKIN ON THE LIPS DIFFERENT? “The skin on the lips can be up to five times thinner than the skin on our face, which gives the lips its pink colour due to the more obvious blood flow near the surface,” shared Dr Tan Ying Zhou, medical director of Mizu Aesthetic Clinic.

In addition, it lacks the same depth of layers as the skin on the rest of our face, making it “more susceptible to dryness, chapping and sensitivity”, added Dr Angeline Yong, consultant dermatologist and medical director of Angeline Yong Dermatology. But that’s not all. The skin is also missing sweat glands and hair follicles, and has a reduced melanin content.



All these factors further contribute to our lips’ vulnerability. Sweat glands help regulate moisture levels and its absence result in lips getting dry easily while less melanin makes our lips more prone to sun damage and increases the risk of developing sunburn and/or lip discoloration, explained Dr Yong. And just like the rest of our body, the skin on the lips ages the same way, just faster and sooner, said Dr Tan.

“As we age, the skin structure (collagen), muscles and fat around the lips diminish, causing the lips to become thi.

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