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Struggle with chapped lips during fall and winter? Here’s what you need to use
Dermatologist picks for the best products to prevent and treat a dry pout, from now 'til spring.
It's now officially autumn which means crisp air, falling leaves, cozy clothes, pumpkin spice and, for many of us, seriously chapped lips. Unlike most of our skin, our lips don't contain oil glands (fun fact: neither do our palms and soles!), which makes them especially susceptible to the cracking and peeling that's often caused by dry conditions. Fall's arid air and colder winds, along with humidity-zapping indoor heat, can wreak havoc on this delicate area, leaving your lips not only dry, but in extreme cases, red, sore and even bloody. And it's not just the weather: Chapped lips can be exacerbated by excessive licking (hard to resist when your mouth is dry!), unprotected sun exposure, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes and certain medications, like lithium.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lip Balm B5
Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm with Sunscreen, SPF 30
e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, some of the best ways to prevent and treat chapped lips include: drinking ample amounts of water, avoiding licking your lips, using a humidifier while you sleep and finding a non-irritating balm to help your pucker stay hydrated and, when necessary, heal. Gentle lip products (like those from Aquafor), can be applied four times a day or whenever your mouth feels tight and dry.
What to look for in a lip balm
"Effective lip treatments contain emollient and occlusive ingredients that hydrate and lock in moisture. Key ingredients to look for would be hyaluronic acid, ceramides, shea butter, squalene, peptides and beeswax," explains San Diego board-certified dermatologist Dr. Melanie Palm. "The skin on your lips is more delicate than the skin on your face," she says. "To keep lips soft and smooth year round, it's important to stay hydrated by drinking enough water daily, using a hydrating and protective balm and exfoliating with a gentle scrub or lip serum to help with cell turnover."
In terms of the best lip balm for you, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends avoiding products with ingredients like camphor, eucalyptus, phenol, menthol and salicylic acid; and flavors such as mint and cinnamon, which can actually make the entire situation worse.
Additionally, says Palm, "Lip treatments that are formulated with antioxidants [like vitamins C and E] can help go the extra mile in helping to prevent extra damage."
Last, to potentially avoid the whole chapped problem and protect your lips longer term: "It’s important to keep your lips protected with an SPF of 30 or higher," says Palm.
Palm's pick for a potent, moisturizing balm is this fragrance-free treatment by La Roche-Posay: "It's a great hydrating shea butter formula that soothes and softens dry lips. It's also great for sensitive skin types," she says.
You don't even have to shell out $10: For just $5, this dermatologist-recommended lip repair balm is clinically proven to both relieve dryness and soothe cracked lips. Bonus: It's also a sunscreen that protects lips with broad-spectrum SPF 30.
If you are especially prone to chapped lips, dermatologists like Palm recommend occasionally exfoliating with a gentle lip scrub to slough off dry skin and encourage cell turnover. This vegan and cruelty-free version from e.l.f is the most efficient, least-messy iteration I've found — especially for the $5 price. It's the best selling lip scrub on Amazon and also a product I haven't endured a dry season without in years.
The formulation is infused with hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil and comes in multiple non-irritating flavors, like coconut. Best of all, the convenient tube applicator means you don't have to repeatedly dig your fingers into a messy tub of scrub.
