Effective lip care: two things to remember

More than almost any other skin on our bodies, the lips need hydration and sun protection. It’s not rocket science, but I’m always amazed how often we overlook it.

I think it’s because many people don’t appreciate the difference between facial skin and that of the lips. Facial skin typically has up to 16 layers, but with only three to five layers our lips are much more delicate. And did you know lips have no oil or sweat glands? That means if they dehydrate, the lost moisture is not naturally replaced.

There are natural proteins, called glycosaminoglycans, which work to hold in the moisture, but as we age, the natural production of these proteins lessens. This is why chapped and cracked lips can become a problem. But there are more serious health concerns that can affect these expressive assets. Cancer of the lip can be caused by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, and our lips are often more exposed to the sun than we realise, even in winter. Wearing a hat plus using a lotion or balm that contains sunscreen reduces this risk but the level of protection depends on how well and how often you apply the treatment – and how long you spend in the sun. Of course, sun protection is not always essential if you’re spending a lot of time indoors, but that’s when air-conditioning and indoor heating can still have damaging, drying effects.

This is why we offer two evolu Lip Treatments, with SPF15 sunscreen and without.

I’m rather proud of these two formulas: our smallest products, and also among our most popular. Our evolu Healing Lip Treatment has quite a history, being one of the first skincare products I ever created, in my own kitchen, years before I founded evolu. The formula remains almost entirely unchanged. It balances hydration and protection, using pure extracts of Rosemary and Thyme, but is also has repairing abilities, thanks to the natural and proven anti-microbial action of New Zealand Manuka Honey.

As a result it makes an excellent salve for damaged lips, and is especially good as a treatment for cold sores. Many of our customers report results bordering on the miraculous. Even better, this gentle balm is loved for being not too sticky or too liquid, soaking in so easily it’s ideal for applying under lipstick.

But our Lip Treatment is notable for another reason, too. The original version gave us one of the most gratifying, and freakishly odd, publicity moments we’ve ever had at evolu.

Many of our customers first encountered the product when it was provided as an inflight amenity to Air New Zealand customers, and we were working on developing business in the USA, in a partnership with a local agent. One day, out of the blue, we received a fax from the agent, and on that fax was a photo. You can see the content of that photo here, and we can vouch that is genuine.

It turns out that the agent was playing Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary edition one evening at a friend’s house in LA. Out of all the questions that could have been asked, this was the one that was posed: Q: What Pacific locale’s national airline gives passengers gift bags with Evolu lip balm made with manuka honey?  A: New Zealand’s.

Obscure? Crazy?  Yes, we thought so too! But even more amazingly, the agent, of course, just happened to know the answer!

We were stunned to discover this weird coincidence – but we now have copies of the actual card, and Trivial Pursuit’s kind permission to reproduce them – as proof. A small incident, but it had a big impact on us, and we really did feel that worldwide fame was within our grasp. Of course, it does take a lot longer, and a lot more work, than that…