7 All-Natural Ways To Soothe Dry, Chapped Lips

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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.

coconut oil photo
Photo by mealmakeovermoms

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.

almond photo
Photo by I_Nneska

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.

shea butter photo
Photo by gtknj

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.

beeswax photo
Photo by wildxplorer

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.

water glass photo
Photo by kstepanoff

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.

aloe vera photo
Photo by Matt Biddulph

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.

honey photo
Photo by Siona Karen
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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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