Here’s a quick fact: Skin on your lips is just about 5 layers thick, unlike the skin on the rest of your body which can be upto 16 layers thick. This explains why your lips are prone to flaking; let’s not forget the way it cracks and bleeds— and even the priciest lipstick in your stash can’t seem to keep up its promise of a smooth, soft pout.
The good news is that all of this unsightly drama can be avoided by actually listening to what your lips has to say. So, let’s begin by decoding the reasons for dry lips.
Chapped Lips’ Causes
Cracked or chapped lips is usually a result of dehydration. A dehydrated pout could also be triggered by weather, allergies, nutrient deficiencies and certain habits, such as lip licking (using saliva to hydrate your lip’s skin). Here are a few reasons for dry lips to help identify what’s responsible for your dry pucker.
- Most of us tend to bite and lick our lips when anxious which only makes them dryer. If you are one of them, try resisting this habit. (We know, easy said than done). Here’s a tip: The next time you feel the urge to bite or lick your lips, choose to sip a glass of water instead and keep yourself hydrated. Surely serves as a win-win!
- The culprit for your dehydrated pout could be a drying ingredient in one of your lip products. Check the ingredients’ list for Eucalyptus, Menthol, Camphor, Cinnamon and Peppermint flavors and added synthetic fragrances. Try avoiding lip products that contain any of these.
- Is your face scrub doubling up as a lip scrub? The formulation of your face scrub could end up breaking down the barrier needed to lock in moisture in your lips. This means a loss of moisture leading to dry lips. A wise move would be investing in a mild scrub specifically formulated for exfoliating lips.
- Certain medications can have dehydration as a side effect. These include certain antibiotics and even topical acne medications that contain Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide as the main ingredients. So, ensure you supplement these medications with a better lip care routine to avoid flaky lips.
Home Remedies For Dry Lips
Here is a list of home remedies for dry lips to make chapped pouts a history.
1. Rose Petals
Step 1: Soak a handful of Rose Petals in a bowl of Milk for 2 hours.
Step 2: Gently mash the petals till it forms a paste.
Step 3: Apply this paste on your lips and leave it on for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off with cold water.
2. Aloe Vera
Step 1: Using a spoon, scoop out the gel from an Aloe Vera leaf into a bowl.
Step 2: Refrigerate the gel for at least 2 hours.
Step 3: Apply the cool gel on your lips and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off with water.
3. Cocoa Butter
Step 1: In a bowl take a pea-sized amount of Cocoa Butter. Peanut Butter would also work just fine.
Step 2: Add 1 drop of Coconut Oil and mix well.
Step 3: Apply this paste on your lips and leave it overnight.
Step 4: In the morning, wash off with water.
4. Brown Sugar
Step 1: In a bowl, take 2 tablespoons of Brown Sugar.
Step 2: Add 2 drops of Olive Oil and 1 tablespoon of Honey in the bowl. Mix well to form a paste.
Step 3: Gently massage this paste on your lips in circular motions.
Step 4: Wash off with lukewarm water.
5. Vanilla Extract
Step 1: In a bowl put 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract and 2 tablespoons of Jojoba Oil.
Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of Sugar that will work as an exfoliator. Mix it well.
Step 3: Massage this paste on your lips and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Wash it off with water.
6. Petroleum Jelly and Honey
Step 1: Dip a cotton ball in a bowl of Honey and apply a layer of it on your lips.
Step 2: Follow it up with a layer of Petroleum Jelly.
Step 3: Allow it to stay on your lips for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Wipe it off with a damp tissue.
7. Coconut Oil
Step 1: In a bowl, add 2 drops of Coconut Oil.
Step 2: Now add 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil and stir well.
Step 3: Apply this blend of oils on your lips and leave it on for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off any residual oil with water.
8. Lemon Juice
Step 1: Squeeze half a Lemon into a bowl.
Step 2: Add 2 drops of Honey in the bowl and mix well.
Step 3: Spread this mixture all over your lips and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off with water and finish with a moisturizing lip balm.
Products For Dry Lips
We have rounded up a list of products that work at treating lips in need of some serious TLC.
1. Ikkai by Lotus Herbals Organic Pink Me Again Lip Sleeping Mask
Products that work overnight while you snooze are truly miraculous. Butter up your lips with the Ikkai Pink Me Again Lip Sleeping Mask. Its creamy texture glides onto your lips and helps repair dry, pigmented lips by making them soft, supple, and pink again. This nourishing lip care can be used as a lip balm in the day and as an overnight lip mask too. Its non-greasy formula stays put all night, and it has a mild bubblegum scent too!
2. Vaadi Herbals Complete Lip Care Combo
Bursting with the goodness of Vitamin E to keep your lips sun-protected, these three pocket-sized lip balms are godsent for dry lips. With natural strawberry, orange or blueberry extracts, these lip balms are souped with rich essential butters like shea and almond oil to lock moisture. Oh and psst… trust Vaadi Herbals to keep their products 100% chemical-free for that luscious, au natural pout.
3. Juicy Chemistry Damask Rose & Fig Organic Lip Scrub - For Damaged & Chapped Lips
This restorative concentrate is loaded with White Sugar, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil and Shea Butter. Better yet: It leaves the sweetest scent of Coconut and Rose that ensures your lips smell good while looking good. Simply scoop out a wee bit of product and gently scrub your lips to whisk away the dead cells and make way for the softest flake-free lips.
4. Alanna Vit C Rich Lemonade Lip Scrub
When you think of an in-house rejuvenating treatment for your lips, think of this nutrient infused scrub. The mild scrub exfoliates and conditions your lips thanks to the fusion of Sugar and Lemon. It gently removes dry flakes so your lips feel smooth and nourished for hours. Think of it as weekly treatment for times when you don’t wish to overtly depend on frequent coats of lip balm.
5. Biotique Bio Berry Plumping Lip Balm
Laced with Indian Berry, Lodhra, Badam and Kusumbhi, this hydrating lip balm provides deep moisture to your distressed pout. Besides, it can double up as the perfect hydrating base for your lips before you swipe the matte lipstick for a smooth finish. Bonus? It’s free of all the sketchy ingredients (Read: chemicals, fillers, parabens, or additives) which makes it a non-toxic remedy to heal parched lips.
6. Organic Harvest Grapefruit Lip Balm - Soft Pink
How about slathering your lips with a conditioning formula that bestows your lips with the sweetness of grapefruit? Enter: Organic Harvest Grapefruit Lip Balm. Infused with Mango Butter and Candellia wax, it delivers a non-sticky super-moisturizing treatment that soothes cracked lips while leaving behind a natural looking sheen. Apart from being intensely moisturizing, it imparts a light pink color to your lips. Talk about a deliciously nourished pout!
7. Skinella Strawberry Lip Balm
If you are looking for a non-gloopy formula that can moisturize dry lips and make them supple, look no further than the Skinella Strawberry Lip Balm. Smooth on a layer of this delicious balm before you step out and let Strawberry Extracts get to work on your pout; oh and did we tell you it leaves behind an irresistibly sweet scent? We’re already berry much in love.
8. Himalaya Herbals Rich Cocoa Butter Lip Care
Your search for a lip balm that keeps your lips moisturized through your morning commute and the quick coffee at your desk finally ends here. This moisture-boosting balm is scented with a fusion of Cocoa Butter and Castor Oil that glides with a smooth finish. P.S. Its cute and compact packaging is motivating enough to carry it along with you and calm your lippies with the midday TLC they need.
FAQs On Dry Lips’ Remedy
1. Suggest the best lip balms for dry lips.
Here are the best lip balms for dry lips.
- Maybelline New York Baby Lips Color Balm
- NIVEA Lip Balm - Fruity Watermelon Shine
- The Body Shop Vitamin E Lip Care SPF 15
- Innisfree Canola Honey Lip Balm - Intensive Moisture
2. How to cure chapped lips fast?
It’s essential to identify the root cause for your dry lips before you search answers for how to cure dry lips. Although, following these three steps regularly can help achieve smoother lips faster.
Step 1: Exfoliate your lips every three days to remove dead cells and reveal fresh skin underneath. You could invest in a mild lip scrub or prepare your own home-made scrub combining sugar and honey.
Step 2: Apply and reapply a toxic-free lip balm to protect your lips from drying out.
Step 3: Replenish your lips with a lip mask or lip patch for overnight conditioning treatment. This will ensure rehydrated and nourished lips in the morning.
Nykaa Recommends: Alanna Vit C Rich Lemonade Lip Scrub, Himalaya Herbals Sun Protect Orange Lip Care SPF 30 PA+++, TONYMOLY Kiss Kiss Lovely Lip Patch, LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask Apple lime
