You may think of chapped lips as something that only happens in the winter. But the truth is, unless you take special care, your lips can get dry, sore, and scaly any time of year. If you do these things, you could be your own worst enemy when it comes to healthy lips.
Stop hurting your chapped lips
You Go Commando
Your lips don’t have oil glands, and they're almost always exposed to the elements. So if you don't take care of them, you'll pay the price. What can you do to keep them safe?
Use lip mask.
A good mask can buffer your delicate lip skin from the elements. Choose one high in emollients. Check the ingredient list for shea butter (preferably pure ones!), which locks in moisture, and seals off cracks and splits in drying lips. Don’t limit yourself to products with the word shea butter in them, either. Pure ointments are just as good a choice.
Apply early and often.
Whatever type of product you choose, apply it before you put on lipstick or lip gloss, not after. To keep your lips protected, reapply frequently. You need about six to eight coats during the day, so apply first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every couple of hours during the day. To make this easier, stash a tube in your purse, one in the car, a third your desk, and another near the bed.
Protect your lips when you’re outside. You cover your hands and feet when the temperature drops; do the same for your lips. Wear a scarf or a ski mask that covers your mouth when you go out in the cold. And remember to choose a lip balm with broad spectrum UV protection year-round.