Winter marks the beginning of the Christmas holidays— but it’s not the merriest season for our skin and lips. The cold, dry air of winter robs our skin of moisture, so dry skin and chapped lips are common problems. Clearly, since our lips are exposed during winter, they need all the extra help they can get to stay moisturized.

Besides the weather, two more important factors that affect your lips’ moisture are your habits and the products you apply. As you should already know, peeling off dry skin is not a good practice. And neither is over-applying your beloved cinnamon-flavored lip balm. So, what works best for chapped lips?

Find out in the list below.

How to take care of your lips during winter

While general beauty tips still apply regardless of the season, there is one thing you should pay extra attention to during winter: moisture. The skin on your lips is thinner than the skin covering the rest of your body. Thus, your lips are also more delicate. So, remember these tips for caring for your lips during chilly months.

Tip #1: Avoid licking and peeling your lips.

The cold air outside is not your lips’ only enemy during winter. The dry, heated air inside your home and office is also not good for your lips. Specifically, dry air causes the top layer of your skin to lose its flexibility, which leads to sore and cracked lips. Repeatedly licking your lips can worsen the situation. You may think that wetting your lips is a way to hydrate them, but lips actually become drier after the saliva dries. Additionally, licking your lips removes the oily film on the surface of your lips. Plus, digestive enzymes in your saliva can also irritate the lips.  The result? Cracked lips. Meanwhile, peeling and biting your lips can cause more harm and irritation. Often, they delay healing and even cause bleeding. 

Tip #2: Choose a nourishing lip balm and lipstick.

It’s no secret that lip balms can moisturize your lips— but not all lip balms are good for you. Lip products that contain artificial colors, fragrances, and waxes can cause allergies or irritation. Stay away from lip balms with mint, menthol, and cinnamon because the artificial dyes and fragrances can do more harm than good on your lips. Instead, choose fragrance-free lip balms with ingredients like petroleum, lanolin, and ceramides (e.g., Vaseline).  

When choosing lipstick for your holiday gatherings, make sure to use creamy lipstick with hydrating ingredients like essential oils and beeswax. On the other hand, matte lipsticks and lip powders are not recommended because of their drying effects. Whenever you choose products, always check the label for ingredients that help enhance your lips.

Tip #3: Exfoliate with a natural lip scrub.

Instead of peeling off dry skin from your lips, use a gentle, sugar-based exfoliator. The best part is that you can make your own exfoliating scrub at home. Just mix brown sugar and coconut oil, then gently massage onto your lips to remove the dead skin. You can use a soft washcloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush to exfoliate your lips, too. Make sure to exfoliate before putting on lip balm so that the moisturizing ingredients in the balm can reach the layer under the dead skin on your lips. Exfoliating is also useful for putting on makeup, since it gives you an even and moisturized base for your lipstick.

Tip #4: Turn on your humidifier as you sleep.

The air is naturally drier during winter, so most of us rely on radiators for extra warmth. However, the hot, dry air from heaters also steals away moisture from your lips. So, invest in a humidifier and make sure to sleep with your humidifier on to add moisture to the air. More moisture in the air also means your skin and lips can stay supple and hydrated through the cold weather.

Tip #5: Remind yourself to drink water often.

It’s easy to remember to drink water during summer when it’s scorching hot. But during winter, it can be challenging to stay hydrated. To solve this, you can set reminders on your mobile phone or computer, or prepare a pitcher of water and a glass at your working station. Whatever you do, make sure you’re hydrated so that your body won’t need to pull moisture from areas such as your lips.

Tip #6: Go to a professional if your lips’ dryness gets worse.

Treating dry lips as soon as possible is necessary for preventing worse conditions like cold sores. But what do you do if your lips are still dry and chapped even with your best efforts? First, you can give it some time. Chapped lips should heal in two to three weeks, so if they don’t, you’ll know it’s time to see a dermatologist.

Final words

Give your lips some extra love in the winter by avoiding bad habits (e.g., licking, biting, peeling), using moisturizing lip balms and lipstick, exfoliating, using your humidifier at night, and drinking lots of water. If your chapped lips don’t heal in 3 weeks, visit a dermatologist.

Written By: Katherine Pierce