When your kissable pucker becomes covered in flaky skin, it’s time to add some moisture to those lips. Chapped lips are caused by a variety of factors, including wind, sun, medications and dry air. But the good news is that you don’t have to lather your lips in ChapStick one hundred times a day to make them smooth. If you want to go the natural route, make some changes to your lip-care routine and use products that don’t contain any chemicals.
Stop licking your lips. It might be habitual to swipe your tongue across your dry-feeling lips, but once the saliva evaporates, your lips become drier than they were to begin with.
Load up on liquids. Keeping your skin hydrated starts with hydrating your body, so drink plenty of water throughout the day. If the air inside your house is dry, use a humidifier to add some extra moisture.
Smooth a dab of olive oil, coconut oil, canola oil, vitamin E, almond oil or cocoa butter on your lips to help heal the dry skin. Apply this form of moisturizer to your lips especially before going out into dry or cold weather.
Mix 1/2 a teaspoon of coconut oil and 1/2 a teaspoon of brown or white sugar into a bowl. Stir it up with a spoon. Scoop out the scrub and rub it gently over your chapped lips for a minute or two using small, circular motions. Rinse your lips with warm water, pat them dry with a towel and moisturize immediately. You can also exfoliate your lips as you’re brushing your teeth by rubbing the toothbrush over your lips to slough off the dry skin.
Tip
If you want to use store-bought lip balms, choose products that contain hydrating ingredients like beeswax, shea or cocoa butter, petrolatum and dimethicone. Avoid products that contain alcohol, flavors or fragrances, which can be more drying.
References
Writer Bio
Kimbry Parker has been writing since 1998 and has published content on various websites. Parker has experience writing on a variety of topics such as health, parenting, home improvement and decorating. She is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in organizational communication.