• Blog
      sublime skin
      Discover
      Hydramemory skin-adaptive hydration
      new hydramemory
      Discover
      BODY STRATEGIST
      Discover
      SUN SOUL
      Discover
      SUBLIME SKIN
      Discover
      new hydramemory
      Discover
      Find the closest SPA to you
      Spa locator
      Discover face treatments
      Discover
      OUR VILLAGE AND SCIENTIFIC GARDEN
      Discover
      Hydramemory Lip Balm

      Published on May 19, 2025  |10 min read

      Are Lips Skin? The Anatomy of The Lips

      By Eve Merinville | Corporate RD Excellence & SC RD and Innovation Director

      Eve Merinville

      [ comfort zone ] Corporate RD Excellence & SC RD and Innovation Director

      Read More

      IN THIS ARTICLE:

      Yes, lips are skin—just a very special kind. Their unique structure makes them essential for communication, eating, and expression, but also more prone to dryness and aging. Unlike other skin, lips have no sweat or oil glands, very thin protective layers, and fewer melanocytes, making them vulnerable to sun, wind, and dehydration. Because lips can’t self-regulate like other skin, they require specific, targeted care with moisturizers, balms, and protective products to stay healthy, plump, and smooth. Observing your lips can even offer clues about your overall health! 

      Lips are more than just an aesthetic detail of our bodies—they are crucial for communication, nutrition, and giving our face its distinctive shape. They are also one of the most delicate areas of the body and require special attention. Find out why lips are so important and how you can best care for them every day. 

      Understanding the Anatomy of Lips

      The lips are fundamental in contributing to the harmony of our face and helping define our identity, but what is their real structure? From an anatomical point of view, the lips are composed of the upper and lower vermilion, which are in turn made up of different layers of tissue: cutaneous, muscular, and mucous.


      The lips define the mouth opening and are characterized by a darker reddish coloring than the skin covering the rest of the body. This particular coloration is due to the reduced thickness of the skin on the lips and the proximity of blood vessels.


      The skin of the lips is made up of stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis. However, the stratum corneum here is made up of only 3-6 layers of cells, far less than the 15-16 layers found on the skin of the face. The lips have much thinner skin than the rest of the face and are defined by their smooth, shiny surface, which results from the absence of hair follicles and the presence of a thick inner mucosal layer. 

      Why Is Lip Skin Different?

      Lips are one of the most fascinating and sensitive parts of our body. But have you ever wondered why they tend to dry out so easily, or why they are so reactive to cold and wind? The answer lies in their structure. The main aspects that make them such a special region of our body are: 

      • The absence of sweat glands: Lips do not sweat, which may seem like an advantage, but it is not.
      • The absence of sebaceous glands: Sebaceous glands produce sebum, a natural substance that keeps the skin soft and moisturized. Because lips don’t have them, they have no natural defense against dehydration.
      • Very thin skin: There are far fewer cell layers in the lips than in other areas of the body, making them much more sensitive.
      • The reduced presence of melanocytes: These cells produce melanin, which protects against UV radiation. With fewer melanocytes, the lips are lighter and more vulnerable to the sun. 

      Due to their structure, the lips cannot retain moisture as well as the skin on the rest of the body can. This makes them more prone to dryness, cracking, and dehydration, especially in adverse weather conditions. Despite their fragility, lips are fundamental: they help us to speak, eat, and express emotions, while also making an important contribution to the beauty of the face. In short, they deserve special care and tailor-made products. 

      Uniqueness of Your Lips

      When we think of something that can distinguish us from every other person in the world, the first thing that often comes to mind is our fingerprints. Interestingly, our lips are as unique as our fingerprints—no two lip prints are exactly alike. Every person’s lip print is characterized by lines, folds, and shapes that are never identically repeated on any other individual.  

      Lips are also one of the most sensitive areas of the body, just like our fingertips. This sensitivity is due to the presence of a large number of nerve endings, capable of processing tactile, pressure, and thermal stimuli. These specific sensitivities are essential for us to regulate our body temperature and, adding a touch of romance, to better appreciate each kiss. 

      What Makes Lip Skin Different to The Rest of The Body?

      The skin that lines our body possesses all the elements to be able to regenerate, repair, and moisturize itself. Support from the outside remains essential, but the capacity for adaptation that the majority of our skin has within itself is superior to that of our lips. Being devoid of sebaceous and sweat glands, lips cannot produce sebum and sweat, so they can’t adapt to particular climatic conditions, such as wind, dry air, or cold climates.  Instead, these conditions induce almost instantaneous dryness and dehydration.

      Discover more about the difference between dry and dehydrated skin here

      The skin covering the lips is significantly thinner than the skin on the rest of the body, making it more prone to dryness and compromising the overall integrity and function of the tissue. This is why lips need special care. A dedicated care routine with specific products and effective moisturizers is essential to keep lips healthy, soft, and beautiful every day. 

      How Does Aging Affect Lip Skin?

      Unfortunately, even our lips are not immune to the inexorable passage of time. As we age, they become thinner due to the loss of collagen and elastin. These protein structures are the basis of the integrity of the entire skin tissue. In the lips, these proteins are crucial for maintaining fullness and vitality.  

      The progressive reduction of blood flow to the lips also contributes to increased dullness and lessened volume. Because the lips contain fewer melanocytes than other parts of the body, they are especially vulnerable to sun exposure and environmental factors, which can lead to dryness and accelerate the skin’s aging process. Proper sun protection, daily moisturizing, and stimulation of cell turnover are fundamental strategies for slowing down the natural aging process of our lips while helping maintain their fullness and vitality. 

      Key Facts About Lip Skin

      Though small in size, the lips are incredibly complex and far more delicate than they may appear. They are not just a tool of expression and charm—lips tell us about our health!  

      1) Lips Change Color According to Emotion

      Did you know that your lips change color according to your emotions? Every emotion, such as embarrassment, excitement, or love, is accompanied by significant changes in the blood flow within our body that can make our lips appear redder and brighter or paler and duller. So beware, lips never lie!  

      2) They Give Clues About Overall Your Health

      Observing the state of our lips can give us valuable clues about the health of our entire mouth and even the rest of our body. Chapped, dry, or cracked lips can be more than just a nuisance—they’re often an early warning sign of vitamin deficiencies, especially B vitamins or folic acid. Left unaddressed, these deficiencies can interfere with the health and function of multiple body systems.   

      3) The Vermillion Border and Cupid’s Bow

      We should also consider the particular anatomy of the lips. The Vermillion Border is that visible, reddish line that separates the skin of the face from the actual lips. Its bright red color, indicated precisely by the term Vermillion, comes from the very thin skin and the intense vascularisation underneath it.   


      Then we have the Cupid's Bow—the double curve of the upper lip—named for it’s resemblance to the bow of the Roman god of love, symbolizing romance and affection! Lips not only allow us to talk or kiss, but they also reflect how we feel, and the quality of our health, telling us more than we can imagine.   

      Woman's hand with moisturizer

      The Role of Lip Care Products - Are They Necessary?

      Due to their thin, delicate skin, lips have unique needs compared to the rest of the face. Incorporating targeted lip care products—such as scrubs, balms, and nourishing masks—into your daily beauty routine is essential for maintaining the beauty and vitality of your lips.


      Moisturizing treatments with hyaluronic acid or peptides help to preserve their volume and tone while enhancing facial harmony. Good hydration not only protects against external stressors, but also makes the lips smoother and firmer. This, in turn, improves lipstick application and hold, with less smudging and imperfections.  

      Lip Care Recommendations From Comfort Zone

      Comfort Zone is committed to developing products that embody the perfect combination of true effectiveness and environmental sustainability. Our products are all developed according to our Conscious Skin Science approach, which guarantees skincare that performs optimally both for our skin and the planet we live on.


      The Hydramemory lip care line has been developed according to these principles to enable deep hydration and repair of our lips, giving them a healthy, plumped appearance. The line consists of 3 products: 

      • Plumping Lip Balm: A fluid balm that moisturizes and soothes the lips with our Prickly Pear oleocomplex, characterized by a high concentration of polyphenols and fatty acids to help reconstitute the skin barrier, combined with hyaluronic acid spheres for a plumped appearance.
      • Hydra-Boost Lip Mask: An intensive mask that gives the lips deep, long-lasting hydration with powerful moisturizing action and osmotic ingredients like macro hyaluronic acid, betaine, and glycogen.
      • Exfoliating Lip Scrub: Enriched with jojoba microspheres and silica particles to improve texture and vitality by accelerating cellular turnover at the basis of tissue regeneration. 

      DISCOVER OUR NEW LIP CARE ROUTINE

      Your lips deserve the same thoughtful care you give the rest of your skin—if not more. With their delicate structure and vital role in expression, hydration, and beauty, they require targeted support to stay soft, smooth, and healthy. The Plumping Lip Balm delivers up to 8 hours of long-lasting hydration*, while the Hydra-boost Lip Mask provides over 20% increased hydration in just 20 minutes*, helping restore overall lip balance and vitality. Treat your lips to the care they deserve—shop the Hydramemory collection today and experience the comfort of truly conscious skincare. 

      *Efficacy Test conducted by an independent laboratory, instrumental evaluation, 20 people, 1 application. 

      Hydramemory products

      YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

      gem pages image
      DRY VS DEHYDRATED SKIN: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

      Validated by Maria Giulia Simonazzi | Updated on May 8, 2025

      Restore your skin's hydration balance with Comfort Zone's dry skin solutions. Our serums, creams use nature's best ingredients for a healthy complexion. 

      gem pages image
      REGENERATIVE SKINCARE: SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
      Validated by Eve Mérinville  | Updated on April 22, 2024
      Discover how regenerative skincare supports your skin and the planet.

      gem pages image

      PROFESSIONAL BODY SKIN CARE ROUTINE FOR SOFT, FIRM, AND TONED SKIN

      Validated by Eve Mérinville | Updated on April 10, 2025
      Learn expert tips for hydration, exfoliation, and nourishment—because your skin deserves the best! 

      Subscribe to our newsletter