Relief for Chapped Lips

Gentle, regular exfoliating is the key for soft, kissable lips...

Hi all! Well, it's officially chapped-lips season -- as evidenced the other day when I saw a woman at the restaurant table next to mine pull out a purse-sized jar of petroleum jelly, goop some onto her finger and slather it on her lips. "My lips are soooo chapped, I'm addicted to this stuff!" she told her companion. (I wasn't eavesdropping, honestly! It's just that this particular little lunch place is so crowded, everyone's practically sitting in each other's laps).

Anyway, being someone prone to chapped lips, I could feel this woman's pain -- and wished I could let her know that one reason for her petroleum-jelly-addiction was that this highly-processed product actually leaves lips even dryer, creating an unhealthy dependency. (In my effort to mind my own business, I practically bit my lip -- but didn't, because I'm also trying to break some bad-for-my-lips habits). More on petroleum products and why it's beauty-smart to avoid them in a future post, but for now, what to do about chapped lips?

The most important step -- before even thinking about lip balm -- is regular exfoliation. (If you simply slick on lip-balm over super-chapped lips, the moisturizing and healing properties will have a hard time penetrating the build-up of dry, damaged skin). My favourite method is to simply exfoliate lips with a warm, wet facecloth when in the shower. So simple, and really effective.

But if you have seriously chapped lips, here's another very effective and moisturizing exfoliator. Make a paste of olive oil and sugar; use your fingers to gently rub the mixture over your lips and then rinse off. If you'd like, you can add a couple of drops of lemon juice to boost the exfoliation-power and raw honey for extra hydrating-and-healing power (but the simple olive oil and sugar mixture works really well on its own).

Whichever method you choose, the key is to exfoliate very gently -- aggressive rubbing (or picking at your chapped lips!) can cause further damage and even remove healthy cells underneath the dry layer.

After exfoliating, nourish and moisturize your lips. When choosing a lip balm, I encourage you to find an all-natural one (I often use coconut oil, although I'll opt for a lip balm with more "sticking power" if my lips are feeling extra-dry). Remember, this is a product that sits on your lips, and you don't want to be ingesting yucky toxic chemicals -- which, like the above-mentioned petroleum jelly, can also lead to increased dryness and lip-balm-dependency in the long run. (If you need some suggestions for good, natural lip-balms, please feel free to ask -- I've tried many!)

A few other tips:

• Raw honey is fantastic for healing and hydrating sore, cracked lips: simply slick it on like lipgloss for immediate relief.
• If your lips are so chapped that even brushing your teeth irritates them, apply a protective coat of natural lip balm before you brush.
• And speaking of brushing, avoid drying and irritating sodium-lauryl-sulfate-containing toothpastes (as well as alcohol-based mouthwashes).

And finally, remember (as I try to): lips are for talking, smiling, and kissing -- not picking, biting, and licking! Happy -- and comfortable -- smiling, everyone!

Comments

[jd]

This is just the post that I have been needing as I really suffer from chapped lips. How often do you recommend exfoliating the lips?

[BeautyCosmopolite]

Hi JD - Thanks for your question, I should have mentioned this in the post! If your lips are really chapped, you can exfoliate once a day. Once you remove the dry, damaged skin, and keep the healthy new skin as moisturized as possible, you should be able to cut down the exfoliating to a few times a week, or an as-needed basis. The key, again, is to be very gentle and to avoid over-exfoliating so that you don't damage or remove the healthy cells underneath the build-up of dry skin (over-exfoliating can dry out lips even further). Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more questions!

[Kim B.]

I just wanted to let you know that I tried the honey and it works amazingly well! My lips get really chapped and sometimes it's quite painful. I've tried so many different lip balms but I have to say that I think the honey out-performs! Great tips, thanks!

[BeautyCosmopolite]

That's great, Kim, glad the honey worked so well for you -- it is probably my favourite "balm" for lips that need healing and soothing! Thanks for sharing!

[angular cheilitis]

I haven't tried honey yet but if it works asg ood as it sounds I definatley will. thanks so much for the post.

[BeautyCosmopolite]

Hi Angular Cheilitis - I hope the honey is helpful -- a really high quality raw honey, like a Manuka honey, will have the most active healing properties. Thanks for visiting!