What Are Lips, Anyway?
…It’s the kind of question that can keep you up at night. And the more you think about it, the less you feel you know. If your conclusion after minutes of pondering is, ‘Yeah, lips are…kinda weird!’ you’re not alone. Sure we use them every day, but how much do we really know about this unique body part that exists, well, right under our nose?
If you’re about to lose sleep over what, exactly, lips are, never fear. We—your organic small-batch beauty experts—are here for all of your lip-related questions, even the existential ones. That’s why we’ve dedicated an entire blog post to discovering and defining our lips, and of course to celebrating them for the natural wonders that they are.
They also allow us to communicate. Think of how many times you’ve silently indicated to a friend that something’s suspicious simply by slightly curling your upper lip. Or the times you've been able to discern a child is fighting back tears by noticing their lower lip quiver. Even our deep, intense moments of concentration are dramatized through our lips, as we purse them together or bite them. If eyes are the windows to the soul, lips are a wide-open set of double doors.
Of course we’d be remiss not to acknowledge everyone’s very favorite lip-centric pastime. Yep, we’re talking about k-i-s-s-i-n-g. Whether it’s a quick early morning peck on the cheek or a long smooching session on a romantic late night stroll, your mouth is called your ‘kisser’ for good reason. And really, what better use or higher calling could there be?!
Truly, these gems help us navigate the world in a myriad of ways. Without them, we couldn’t smile, frown or do half the things we do on a daily basis. And yet, there is an air of mystery that surrounds them, owed to their uniqueness within the human body. They are decidedly different from even the skin directly surrounding them, leading us back to our original question: what are lips, anyway?
In our experience, it’s the surface of lips that gives rise to most of the questions we have about them. We’ll answer our top three.
Why are my lips pink?
Lips’ thin-skinned nature is what gives rise to several of their features including their ruddy, pinkish hue. Their epidermal surface has on average just four cellular layers, as opposed to the skin on the rest of our face, which has four times as many. With blood vessels so close to their surface, lips project a flushed appearance ranging from bronzed to rosy, depending on one’s complexion.
What are all these lines on my lips?
Even when moisturized to their fullest, lips tend to have a distinctly creased appearance. What most don’t know is that these lines are not haphazard and changeable but like a fingerprint, are believed to be imprinted from birth and unique to each individual. The analysis of lip prints is called cheiloscopy, stemming from the Greek words 'cheilos' (lip) and 'skopéō' (to look at/to examine).
Have you ever examined your lip print? Most commonly they are comprised of vertical grooves extending fully or partially across both the superior and anterior lips. For some, these vertical lines fork out like the ends of twigs on a tree branch. Some lips have more of a crosshatch pattern, making a miniature checkerboard across each lip. Whatever type your lip print is, it’s singular and one-of-a-kind—just like you!
Why are my lips constantly drying out?
It’s true: lips require moisturization much more often than the rest of our skin. This is because unlike the skin on nearly every other surface of our body, our lips do not contain oil glands. Without sebaceous glands, lips lack a source of sebum production; hence, the reason your lips can chap in what feels like a matter of minutes.
Even those not prone to dry skin will inevitably struggle with withered lips because there is simply no intrinsic method of oil production to keep them supple. And as soon as environmental forces are factored in (arid climates or dry, cold winter air), protecting our precious lips from the elements is even more imperative.
Our Luxury Lip Balm is a great place to start.
It’s ideal for use in the morning, noon and night, glides on effortlessly and comes in two different applications. Your lips will feel softer, smoother and more sumptuous than they ever have. This balm is so effective, with so many beautifying benefits—it truly is the staple of our lip line. We can’t say enough good things about it, but we’d rather let our customers do the talking:
❁ AMAZING …[M]y lips are always moist and there is no more dry & cracking lip skin!! —Leslie
❁ This stuff seriously works…I wake up to the smoothest, softest lips! —Viola
❁ Love! Super moisturizing, feels silky smooth, and the smell…is delicious. —Martha
❁ The best lip balm I have ever used…leaves [my lips] noticeably more hydrated and plump throughout the day. —Amanda
❁ Perfect! Nothing to irritate my lips, only nourish them. —Kelley
Ready to take your lips to the next level? If so—and especially if you find yourself dealing with chronically dry lips—treat yourself to four essentials that cover all your lip care needs. Conveniently bundled for you, the Lip Care Bundle includes our delectable lip balm along with three innovatively formulated products so luxe your lips will think you’ve taken a permanent spa day. Read more about them in our Ultimate Lip Care Guide, where we describe exactly how our signature four-step HENNE Method will work for you.
Thank you for coming with us on this journey of discovery. Please be in touch to let us know your story of lip transformation. Here’s to the best lips of your life!
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Sources:
Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lips - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/features/lips-the-forgotten-oral-tissue/
Lip print patterns: Similarities among the parents and their children - PMC (nih.gov)
If you’re about to lose sleep over what, exactly, lips are, never fear. We—your organic small-batch beauty experts—are here for all of your lip-related questions, even the existential ones. That’s why we’ve dedicated an entire blog post to discovering and defining our lips, and of course to celebrating them for the natural wonders that they are.
The 8th Natural Wonder of the World
First, let’s start with what we do know: lips are delicate, sensuous, expressive and undeniably beautiful. They play a crucial role in our lives from the moment we’re born. Lips are what newborns use to suckle from day one and continue to play a role in every meal we eat throughout our lifetime.They also allow us to communicate. Think of how many times you’ve silently indicated to a friend that something’s suspicious simply by slightly curling your upper lip. Or the times you've been able to discern a child is fighting back tears by noticing their lower lip quiver. Even our deep, intense moments of concentration are dramatized through our lips, as we purse them together or bite them. If eyes are the windows to the soul, lips are a wide-open set of double doors.
Of course we’d be remiss not to acknowledge everyone’s very favorite lip-centric pastime. Yep, we’re talking about k-i-s-s-i-n-g. Whether it’s a quick early morning peck on the cheek or a long smooching session on a romantic late night stroll, your mouth is called your ‘kisser’ for good reason. And really, what better use or higher calling could there be?!
Truly, these gems help us navigate the world in a myriad of ways. Without them, we couldn’t smile, frown or do half the things we do on a daily basis. And yet, there is an air of mystery that surrounds them, owed to their uniqueness within the human body. They are decidedly different from even the skin directly surrounding them, leading us back to our original question: what are lips, anyway?
Let’s Get Technical
Human lips are a prominent and vital appendage, known for being pliable and hypersensitive. Animated by a complex integration of facial muscles (namely the orbicularis oris) and padded with a layer of subcutaneous fat, lips are much more than meets the eye. The plethora of nerve endings in them qualify our lips as a tactile organ, highly responsive to sensory input. To confirm this, simply run your fingertip across the end of your nose, and then across the plane of your lips. The difference is palpable! Outlined by the vermillion border and marked by a single, central divot on the superior lip called the Cupid’s bow (knew that one, didn’t you?), lips have a distinct shape yet still vary from person to person.In our experience, it’s the surface of lips that gives rise to most of the questions we have about them. We’ll answer our top three.
Why are my lips pink?
Lips’ thin-skinned nature is what gives rise to several of their features including their ruddy, pinkish hue. Their epidermal surface has on average just four cellular layers, as opposed to the skin on the rest of our face, which has four times as many. With blood vessels so close to their surface, lips project a flushed appearance ranging from bronzed to rosy, depending on one’s complexion.
What are all these lines on my lips?
Even when moisturized to their fullest, lips tend to have a distinctly creased appearance. What most don’t know is that these lines are not haphazard and changeable but like a fingerprint, are believed to be imprinted from birth and unique to each individual. The analysis of lip prints is called cheiloscopy, stemming from the Greek words 'cheilos' (lip) and 'skopéō' (to look at/to examine).
Have you ever examined your lip print? Most commonly they are comprised of vertical grooves extending fully or partially across both the superior and anterior lips. For some, these vertical lines fork out like the ends of twigs on a tree branch. Some lips have more of a crosshatch pattern, making a miniature checkerboard across each lip. Whatever type your lip print is, it’s singular and one-of-a-kind—just like you!
Why are my lips constantly drying out?
It’s true: lips require moisturization much more often than the rest of our skin. This is because unlike the skin on nearly every other surface of our body, our lips do not contain oil glands. Without sebaceous glands, lips lack a source of sebum production; hence, the reason your lips can chap in what feels like a matter of minutes.
Even those not prone to dry skin will inevitably struggle with withered lips because there is simply no intrinsic method of oil production to keep them supple. And as soon as environmental forces are factored in (arid climates or dry, cold winter air), protecting our precious lips from the elements is even more imperative.
Lip Service
After such a sincere homage to this overworked yet underappreciated body part, you may be wondering how to thank your lips for all that they do. Since we’re dedicated to keeping your lips looking, feeling and kissing their best, allow us to make a suggestion…invest in the gift of your lips.Our Luxury Lip Balm is a great place to start.
It’s ideal for use in the morning, noon and night, glides on effortlessly and comes in two different applications. Your lips will feel softer, smoother and more sumptuous than they ever have. This balm is so effective, with so many beautifying benefits—it truly is the staple of our lip line. We can’t say enough good things about it, but we’d rather let our customers do the talking:
❁ AMAZING …[M]y lips are always moist and there is no more dry & cracking lip skin!! —Leslie
❁ This stuff seriously works…I wake up to the smoothest, softest lips! —Viola
❁ Love! Super moisturizing, feels silky smooth, and the smell…is delicious. —Martha
❁ The best lip balm I have ever used…leaves [my lips] noticeably more hydrated and plump throughout the day. —Amanda
❁ Perfect! Nothing to irritate my lips, only nourish them. —Kelley
Ready to take your lips to the next level? If so—and especially if you find yourself dealing with chronically dry lips—treat yourself to four essentials that cover all your lip care needs. Conveniently bundled for you, the Lip Care Bundle includes our delectable lip balm along with three innovatively formulated products so luxe your lips will think you’ve taken a permanent spa day. Read more about them in our Ultimate Lip Care Guide, where we describe exactly how our signature four-step HENNE Method will work for you.
Thank you for coming with us on this journey of discovery. Please be in touch to let us know your story of lip transformation. Here’s to the best lips of your life!
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Sources:
Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lips - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/features/lips-the-forgotten-oral-tissue/
Lip print patterns: Similarities among the parents and their children - PMC (nih.gov)
