Darkened, chapped lips can lead to a bad first impression by making you look unclean and unhealthy. The causes of lip darkening ranges from the body's absorption of toxic ingredients to the lack of proper lip care.
If you have naturally dark lips, then this post is not for you **wink**.

As easy as it is to blame lip products for the 'gradual' darkening of your lips, you should know that lots of other things such as; smoking, consumption of tea & coffee, exposure to sunlight and dehydration can also contribute to the darkening of your lips. I've listed a couple of things that can cause your natural lip colour to change below;

Lip Products: It's true that some lip products can cause darkening but its most likely due to using products from disreputable companies or products that are already expired (If you've been using your lip products for more than two years, its time to throw them away). Except you are allergic to your lip product, it is unlikely that your favourite lipstick or lip pencil will cause a gradual darkening or change in your lip colour but to be on a safe side, it'll be better to switch to lip products made with natural ingredients in very sheer or transparent shades or stop using lip products for a few weeks and see if there'll be any improvement.

Hyper-pigmentation: The sun rays harm all parts of our body including the lips. We spend so much time protecting our skin from the sun's harmful rays and forget our lips completely. Our lips can also burn (hyperpigmentation), in fact they are very sensitive to UV rays, especially with constant exposure to the sun. Applying a lip balm with SPF 15 will do the trick and will keep your lips smooth and chap-free.

Dehydration: Not drinking enough water and constant licking of the lips can cause dehydration. As much as dehydration affects the body and skin, it also affects the lips by drying it out which causes darkening after a while. We obviously need water to survive but we aren't drinking enough. The recommended 2-3 litres of water should be taken throughout the day to keep us hydrated and healthy and our lips moisturised.

Smoking: This is one cause of lip darkening that a lot of us know about. Apart from a long list of problems linked with smoking, having dark lips and teeth is a major reason we should even quit since its physical. Its also known to cause damaging effects to the skin such as drying it out, forming wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth also.

Caffeine & Hot Stuff: Some of us can't ignore that craving & aroma of freshly brewed coffee, while some can't stop chewing ice or taking hot tea even when the sun is really hot. The same way caffeine can stain the teeth, it can also make the lips darker depending on how much you consume. Caffeine can get you through the day but can also give your lips a darker pigment with time. You can counter this effect by drinking water with your coffee or tea or try cutting back a cup or two daily.

Allergens: Allergens in skin care products can contribute to blackened lips. These allergic reactions are caused by dyes or fragrances in your lip sticks and lip glosses. These reactions can only be prevented by terminating the use of the product.


Now that we know some of the things that cause blackening of the lips, we should also know some precautions/measure to help prevent/resolve lip discolouration.


Exfoliate Your Lips: This helps remove dead skin cells from your lips, simply by using a wet baby toothbrush to scrub your lips gently to avoid hurting your delicate lips. Apply a thin coat of lip balm once you're done scrubbing, so your lips don't dry out. You can also make a yummy lip scrub by mixing sugar and honey and applying on your lips for about 5 minutes. Honey is a natural antioxidant that helps protect lips from damage and sugar will remove rough lip skin. There are also a lot of cosmetic brands that produce a wide variety of lip scrubs which you can choose from.

Makeup Cover: With the help of concealer, you can cover up any form or shade of dark lips
So don't be worried that you won't be able to wear all your favourite colours of lipstick just because your lips are turning dark.

Natural Remedy: A mixture of lime, honey and glycerine applied regularly could help lighten dark lips. Just apply it everyday for a few weeks or until you see positive effects.
* Lemon juice is also known for its skin lightening abilities. So you can make a paste of equal parts of lemon juice, flour, yoghurt and honey and rub it on your lips. Leave the paste on your lips for half an hour then wash off. You can continue this process for 2 weeks.

Keep your lips Moisturised: This keeps your lips healthy and makes them appear lighter by not drying them out. You can also try natural lip softeners such as butter or vaseline to help condition your lips. Apply either of them on your lips at night and as needed during the day to help protect your lips from darkening.

Its important we take care of our lips because as much as the eyes define the face, the lips add flavour to it..............

You all can always visit my blog www.perfectmelange..com for more beauty/makeup tips. Thanks

~Perfect Melange~

Is this supposed to be a medical condition? I've had dark lips like forever.

It's not a medical condition really, its just something that evolves after prolonged use of bad lip products or some of the other cause i listed above. Its natural for some people (they are born with dark lips), in this case you don't have to be bothered about working on making it but you can try to maintain its presence state.

Afam4eva: Is this supposed to be a medical condition? I've had dark lips like forever.

Afam4eva: Is this supposed to be a medical condition? I've had dark lips like forever.

What have you been eating?

Nice one!!! Wat is †ђξ remedy 4 red lip?? Any solution?? Plssssss I need 2 know!

Before meets After

Some people don't have dark lips, they have BLACK lips. I wonder if their "before" can ever meet their "after".

For black lips, you might need a gallon of honey, a drum of glycerin and a basket of lime.

lool, i kinda like it on one of my friends

Woh about Lip Service ?

Just stop smoking that thing....

wit prayer and fasting ur lips can change 2 watever colour u want..#pastor djdola said so

I love black lips, l like to kiss it!

Lastpage!

Stop smoking

Dark lips is the first thing to know a guy that's smoking bush(igbo),and cigarette.
But some do have it ordinarily but there's no how u won't identify the ordinary ones and the smoking ones.
Ladies own are usually caused by the kind of lip stick they uses.

If you smoke 2 much gbana, ur lips gradually become dark from toxicity of the blood

.

My lips are black & am proud of 'em.
#TEAMBLACKLIPS#

Thanks. Let me see what i can do for my dark lips!

Mine is like it's painted with pink flower's juice.

Perfect Blend: It's not a medical condition really, its just something that evolves after prolonged use of bad lip products or some of the other cause i listed above. Its natural for some people (they are born with dark lips), in this case you don't have to be bothered about working on making it but you can try to maintain its presence state.

Thank you for your contribution to the thread.

I have dark lips even though I don't smoke or drink or use body cream. I've started to look for a remedy till my niece was born with very dark lips. then i knew it is genetic.

Wish I could change it though, I have a friend who insists till date that I smoke hemp.

May be you smoke too much indian hemp and cosume too much raw enthanol as it seen in most of your post in the forum.

Afam4eva: Is this supposed to be a medical condition? I've had dark lips like forever.

@op..y u no put fumbact-A.u lip go pink pass rose....

So..how is this different from bleaching your skin??

We seem to choose what to criticize...sad

Alyricist★Laura:



Lmao yohh i was about to rush and like this comment till i seen the 9 dudes in the photo

i was so hoping you were a woman. LmL

Black Lips on Women are Fuqqinggg Fine..

Luv Kissing Mamiis with THicckk Black Lips.

dude how can u think am a woman when my gender is clearly stated here.

Kissing is another remedy...

Where can I get glycerin?

Please what about purple lips? (from pink to black to purple due to excessive smoking of WEED)

Marine*etyon:
Mine is like it's painted with pink flower's juice.

u wish........

[size=18pt]all the e-gbo smokers in the house identify yourselvs [/size]

utenwuson: Nice one!!! Wat is †ђξ remedy 4 red lip?? Any solution?? Plssssss I need 2 know!

lmao! We're in the same boat. Pink lips van be so embarrassing especially when people start staring at your lips during convos.