Often with cold months come chapped lips, and nothing is worse than lathering on chapstick only to find that your lips are still cracked and dry.
Unlike other parts of the skin, your lips don’t contain oil glands, making them more susceptible to drying out. There’s not a lot of moisture during cold weather, and this lack of humidity can cause your lips to become chapped.
Although chapstick can be a quick fix, it doesn’t actually moisturize your skin; it instead creates a water-tight barrier that prevents your internal moisture from evaporating. Certain lip balms also contain ingredients that may soothe your lips temporarily, but that will eventually dry them out.
To avoid these issues, and to properly moisturize your lips, you can use natural ingredients that can sooth lips immediately, but also keep them hydrated in the long run. If your lips need a little lovin’, try these seven natural ways to soothe chapped lips.
1. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is not only soothing for chapped lips, but it provides a barrier to keep moisture in, preventing additional chapping. It’s not too greasy, and provides your lips with a subtle shine.
2. Almond Oil
Rub a little almond oil on your lips for instant relief. It is loaded with vitamin E, making it extremely hydrating and moisturizing. Just make sure you opt for sweet almond oil, which is safe to ingest internally.
3. Shea Butter
Shea butter has natural hydrating and moisturizing properties, and due to its thickness, makes a great protective layer for lips. Shea butter contains the healing nutrients vitamin A and vitamin E, which also fight inflammation.
4. Beeswax
Beeswax works much like petroleum jelly to seal your skin and prevent your lips from drying out, except it doesn’t contain cancer-causing chemicals and comes naturally from bees. It can also sooth irritated skin with its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
5. Water
It’s likely you’re consuming less water in the winter than in the summer, and this lack of hydration can dry out lips. Drinking more water can help hydrate your lips from the inside, but avoid licking your lips from the outside, which can make chapped lips worse.
6. Aloe Vera
You probably know that aloe vera is great for sunburns, but it can heal chapped lips too. Aloe vera contains polysaccharides that increase the production of collagen and new skin, and along with its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, it helps bind moisture into the skin.
7. Honey
Honey has been an ancient remedy for chapped lips, and for good reason. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties, and it restores moisture and hydrates your lips.
