Lip care is having a moment: Is it too much?

Hailey Bieber recently dropped pictures in a bikini wearing a belly chain, which is custom made to hold her peptide lip tint, making lip care aspirational to a whole new level. Who would have thought that a product we bought at pharmacy stores or local beauty centres a few years back would be upgraded to a luxury level, calling for dedicated belly chains and crochet cases? Today, skincare and beauty enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with the numerous kinds of lip care products available.

What makes us spend lavishly on these dainty products costing between `700 - 3,000 is the way they are marketed through aesthetic packaging, celebrities and social media. However, whether or not we need these products for the optimal health of our lips is a question that remains unanswered.

Why the obsession with lip care

The popularity of lip care products is largely driven by the clean girl aesthetic. Fuelling this are celebrities and beauty influencers hyping up lip care products.

Divita Kanoria, a wellness expert, says, “When celebrities showcase glossy, hydrated lips as part of their signature looks, it shapes the users’ expectations and habits instantly.” She also points out, “Celebrities and influencers may start the trend, but it’s the repetition of content that creates the obsession.

When a celebrity-founded beauty or skincare brand launches a product, and thousands of content creators post about it, it tempts us to try the product.”

Is a separate lip care routine needed?

Lips are more vulnerable and require targeted care that focuses on barrier support, hydration, and sun protection. Dr Manisha Mareddy, a dermatologist, says, “The skin on our lips is thinner, lacks oil glands, and doesn’t have the protective melanin or barrier function as the rest of our facial skin does. Our basic moisturisers and SPF are often not formulated for the unique needs of the lip skin. Lip-specific products are designed with smaller molecules or occlusives (ingredients that create a protective barrier on the skin’s surface to lock in moisture) that better suit the delicate lip area.

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Products to include in your routine

Lip balms

Use hydrating lip balms. During the day, apply a balm with SPF 30+ and occlusive barrier support to protect from UV damage. At night, use a thicker overnight lip mask with ceramides, squalane, or vitamin E

Exfoliating scrubs

Lip exfoliation should be done gently and typically once a week. If lips are already smooth and healthy, avoid exfoliating. For flakiness or buildup, use a gentle scrub. Always follow with a hydrating balm to restore moisture

Peptide serums

They support hydration and firmness by promoting collagen synthesis. These are supportive treatments and shouldn’t replace SPF and hydration(As suggested by Dr Trishna Gupte and Dr Manisha Mareddy)

Don’t overdo it

Many people follow an extensive lip care routine, which involves lip LED masks, lip toners, oils, plumpers, etc.,

which your lips don’t necessarily require. Further, with a saturated market for lip care products, it can get difficult to pick the right product. Dr Mareddy suggests buying products with ingredients like SPF 30+ zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, squalane, lanolin, vitamin E, petrolatum or beeswax (for occlusion), niacinamide or licorice root (for pigmentation concerns). She adds, “Avoid products having fragrance and flavouring agents, menthol, camphor, phenol, eucalyptus, peppermint oil and drying alcohols.

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