Kiss Dryness Goodbye: A Guide to Chapped Lip Remedies

Along with added layers of clothing and cold temperatures, an unwanted annoyance often accompanies the winter season: chapped lips. But there's hope for a pout that's been turned upside down by this condition. Thankfully, there are chapped lip remedies that will do the trick.

The best way to treat dry, chapped lips is to understand why it happens in the first place. The skin on our lips is extremely thin and frequently exposed to a variety of environments. The cold air of winter is often a culprit for dry lips, but exposure to the sun and excess moisture from licking them can result in chapping. Allergies to foods, dehydration and cosmetic products can also create dry lips prone to cracking and chapping.

Read on to find the best chapped lip remedies to prevent and treat those dry lips for good.

Drink More Water

According to the Cleveland Clinic, dehydration can be a leading cause of dry lips. Our bodies suffer when we don't drink enough water, and dry lips could be an indication that more hydration is needed. The general recommendation says that women should have 2.7 liters and men should have 3.7 liters of fluids each day. Keep in mind, this includes your fluid intake from food and other beverages, as well. Some people may require more or less based on individual factors like exercise, health conditions and environment.

You can also add hydration directly to your lips by using a hydrating lip balm or ointment, such as those containing vitamin E.

Exfoliate Gently

Though the skin on our lips is thin, it still benefits from gentle exfoliation. When we exfoliate, we remove dead skin cells and improve the appearance of our lips. The best way to exfoliate your pout is to use products that are gentle and hydrating.

One of the effective ways to rid lips of built-up skin cells — while also preventing them from further drying — is to use a combination of sugar with honey or olive oil. The sugar acts as an exfoliant to remove the dry skin, while the honey or olive oil works to moisturize the lip. A do-it-yourself lip mask is an easy way to care for your lips whenever they're feeling dry. You can also use over-the-counter products specifically formulated as lip exfoliants.

Use the Right Products

Our lips are sensitive, so it's important to use lip care products without ingredients that can further irritate or dry the area, like alcohol. Choose lip care products with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut or avocado oils, and vitamin E are all great options for maintaining healthy lips.

Cleveland Clinic recommends avoiding balms or ointments that contain waxes, camphor, menthol, eucalyptus or excessive fragrances or flavors. These can be extra drying to already irritated lips. And a note above all: If any balm, ointment or lipstick makes your lips unexpectedly tingle or sting, it's best to stop using that product.

Protect Against the Environment

Your lips are exposed to a vast array of environmental conditions, ranging from blistering sun to fierce wind to dramatic temperature changes. Don't forget to protect your lips the same way you do the rest of your body. A product with broad-spectrum SPF for your lips is necessary if you're going to spend time outdoors.

If you're outdoors in the wind or cold, cover your lips with a scarf. This will not only keep you warm, but it also adds a physical barrier of protection for your lips. You can also apply your favorite protective lip care products for a double barrier.

Go Natural

Natural ingredients and remedies can also have healing properties for dry or chapped lips. Honey and aloe vera are great moisturizers and have anti-inflammatory properties that can be very soothing for irritated skin. Consider using Vaseline lip therapy or a similar thick ointment to seal moisture into the lips.

And don't forget to plug in the humidifier! A humidifier can add moisture to dry air, keeping your lips perfectly kissable.

You don't have to suffer from dryness and irritation with these chapped lip remedies. With proper hydration, the right lip care products and extra protection from the environment, your lips can stay smooth and healthy all year round. And that will surely make you smile!

Clinically reviewed on December 12, 2023