How to Heal Dry, Chapped Lips

With the cold-weather seasons in full effect, it’s time to get serious about your lip-care routine. Truth be told, you should treat your lips with the same TLC as you do the rest of your complexion (think: weekly exfoliation, hydrating masks, moisturizing on the regular). If you’re wondering how to properly care for your dry, chapped or peeling lips this season, follow our step-by-step guide to winter lip care. 

STEP 1: Cleanse With a Lip Color Remover

Before beginning your winter lip-care routine, it’s important to remove any lipstick you may have on. We recommend using a micellar water-soaked cotton pad or makeup wipe, like the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water.

STEP 2: Exfoliate With a Lip Scrub

Just like the rest of your body, the skin on your lips can experience a buildup of dry skin. To help reduce the look of peeling or flaky lips, exfoliate at least once a week with a lip scrub. Scrubs can be a gentle yet effective way to slough off dry, dead skin cell buildup on the surface of your lips and can leave them feeling soft and smooth. 

One lip scrub we like is the Lanolips Lemonaid Scrubba-Balm. To use it, simply apply a small amount of the scrub to clean lips and rub them together. It gently gets rid of dead cells and leaves behind a nourishing balm. 

STEP 3: Use a Mask With Soothing Ingredients

After exfoliating your lips, it’s time to mask. Similar to the skin on your face, the skin on your lips can benefit from using a weekly or bi-weekly mask. No matter what season it is, using a hydrating lip mask can help nourish and soften your lips. One of our favorite lip moisturizers is the KNC Beauty Kiss My Lips Collagen-Infused Lip Mask.

STEP 4: Deep Condition With a Lip Oil, Gloss or Butter 

If your lips are looking extra dry and in need of some additional nourishment, try deep conditioning them with an oil serum or butter. We recommend the Inn Beauty Project Glazed Donut Lip Oil or the Maybelline New York Lip Lifter Gloss that is formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid. 

STEP 5: Protect and Hydrate With a Lip Balm With SPF

Sun protection is an absolute must, and your lips are no exception. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, lips have no melanin, which means they’re even more at risk of damage from the sun’s harmful UV rays. This winter — and year-round — protect and hydrate your lips with a SPF lip balm like Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment With SPF 30.

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn

Read More:

3 Benefits of Body Exfoliation

How to Get Glowing Skin in 8 Easy Steps 

Derm DMs: How Long Does It Take for Skin Care to Work?