How To: Get Rid Of Dry, Flaky Lips

One of the sensations I cannot stand the most is the feeling of dry lips. Ugh! I've been noticing lately that I have to reapply lip balm more often than I would like. So, of course, I did some research because I am a self proclaimed Google queen and found out the most common reasons why I feel the need to constantly reapply and some tips on how to combat the issue once and for all.


First, let’s start off with the possible reasons your lips feel dry...

Harmful IngredientsI'm obsessed with looking at ingredients in every beauty product I own. I’m literally that girl who stands in the middle of the aisle reading the ingredients list on everything. I try to stay away from as many toxic chemicals as possible when it comes to my hair, skin, and makeup products. However, up until recently I never thought to pay attention to the ingredients on my lip balm. After coming across a few articles about the dangerous chemicals lurking in many lip products I found out that many lip balms contain petroleum jelly. Sometimes the petroleum used is at risk of being contaminated with carcinogenic agents, meaning it could be contaminated with chemicals linked to cancer. Also, some lip balms can actually be drying overtime and contain addictive properties that could cause the need to constantly reapply throughout the day. I am honestly not shocked because I have to reapply every other hour or so.

Licking your lips
I am a slight offender of this one. Although I've definitely gotten better about making sure to not lick my lips when they're dry. Licking your lips only allows for temporary moisturization and actually ends up making them worse.

ClimateThe weather is probably the most common cause of dry lips. Cold or windy weather, as well as, sun exposure can cause chapped lips.

Now that I’ve covered a few reasons why your lips may be chapped, here are a few ways to help end the dryness...

Exfoliate
The skin on our face and body are not the only places that need to be exfoliated. Our lips get flaky and dry too. Lately, I have been using the Tarte Maracuja Lip Exfoliant, although rubbing a little sugar and honey or olive oil on your lips will remove dead skin just as well (and it's cheaper!). Exfoliating should be done at least once a week in my opinion, but everyone's needs are different.

Use natural oils to moisturize
I've been using natural oils such as Coconut oil, Olive oil, Jojoba oil, and many others on my hair for years. So, now I have started using oil on my lips. Honestly, I don't know if oils like Jojoba oil or Grapeseed oil  are safe for ingestion (which is something that definitely crosses my mind when I'm applying an oil near my mouth). So to be safe, I'm going to stick to oils that I know are edible for now. Actually, as I write this post, I have Coconut oil on my lips; Olive oil is a great option as well. Just pay attention to the ingredients when you buy natural oils. Make sure that the ingredients list only contains that specific oil (unless you're purposefully buying a mixture) and doesn't contain unnecessary ingredients and chemicals such as mineral oil or fragrance. They should be pure, organic, and cold-pressed. A USDA Organic seal, certifying that it is in fact organic, is even better.

Try to find a natural lip balm
If you’re not interested in putting oil on your lips, try to find natural lip balms that contain moisturizers like Shea butter or Cocoa butter instead. The Moisture Lip Care by Nivea and L'Occitane's Ultra Rich Lip Balm are great options .

Note: This blog and all posts on it are for entertainment purposes only. I am not providing any form of medical, legal, or any other form of professional advice. Any advice taken is at your own risk. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ​