There are few issues that annoy me greater than having chapped lips. It’s uncomfortable (and actually, a little bit painful). I can’t cease myself from selecting on the flakes, and lipstick is a no-go. However worst of all, it appears like nothing I do appears to assist. That’s maybe essentially the most irritating a part of chapped lips—there’s simply no fast resolve. Anybody else share the battle? Nicely, I’ve by no means been one to again down from a problem, so I got down to do some critical analysis on methods to moisturize lips—particularly with out utilizing chapstick.
From offering a complete information to the kind of pores and skin on our lips to asking our editors for his or her favourite lip-hydrating products, I feel I’ve cracked the code to cracked lips. Learn on to search out out why chapstick isn’t the reply (gasp, I do know), and one of the best practices to lock in lip moisture—for good.
Featured picture from our interview with Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.

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Why does chapstick not at all times work?
A serious supply of my chapped lip frustration is constantly utilizing sure merchandise with out seeing any outcomes. So I tapped movie star aesthetician Brittany Blancato to search out out why chapstick isn’t the reply to methods to moisturize lips.
“Our lips are delicate and skinny. Usually chapsticks are solely providing short-term hydration aid whereas combining different elements which will trigger irritation,” says Blancato. As soon as that short-term hydrator seal evaporates, because it shortly does, your lips can really feel even drier than they did earlier than. She notes that this creates a cycle of chasing hydration with out aid, and within the meantime, the lips develop into extra dry and scaly. Mainly my situation to a tee.
In her viral Instagram video, Charlotte Parler, one of many founders of Dieux Skin and a skincare fanatic, additionally factors out that the pores and skin on our lips doesn’t have any sebaceous glands (oil-producing glands), which is why they have a tendency to get so chapped.
Charlotte Parler‘s Tips for Perfecting the “Moisture Sandwich”
Parler shared her lip-soothing secret on Instagram… AKA my latest savior. Her three-step method for methods to moisturize lips is known as the Moisture Sandwich and is designed to not solely moisturize, however entice all of it in for long-term results. Implement this into your skincare routine or use it as wanted. You’ll be able to thank her later.
- Moisten your lips with a sip of water. As I discussed earlier, Parler notes that that is further essential as a result of the pores and skin on our lips doesn’t have any sebaceous glands, so the water is a superb base.
- Lather your lips in a beneficiant coat of lip balm or cream. Following the sip of water, the balm or cream brings rapid moisture to the lips. In her video, Parler makes use of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm, which is a multi-purpose Vitamin B5 cream for dry pores and skin.
- High all of it off with an ointment. That is the third and most essential ingredient of the Moisture Sandwich as a result of it traps in all that work you simply did and forces your lips to soak up the water and the cream. It’s the highest piece of bread maintaining all of it inside (gotta hold the metaphor going). You need to use Aquaphor or Vaseline (I really like these mini lip tubs) for this step.
Sure, you may look loopy, however it’s higher than flaky lips. I like to do that at night time earlier than going to mattress so I can let The Sandwich ‘feed’ my lips as I sleep.
Our Editors’ Favorite Products for Dry Lips
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Why I recommend it: This is the last thing I do before I go to sleep, and one of the first things I’m thankful for in the morning. It’s always my answer when someone asks me how to moisturize lips. It uses Laneige’s “Berry Mix Complex,” which is full of antioxidants and vitamin C, along with their Moisture Wrap technology to lock in hydration—all night long. The Moisture Wrap technology is a combination of hyaluronic acid, a humectant (attracts water from the air or pores and skin), and different minerals that act as a barrier in your lips. This product is unquestionably a cult favourite, as each single one in every of my associates has it, too.
Benefit Tinted Lip Oil in Heat Clear
Why I like to recommend it: MERIT nailed it with this method. Clear, efficacious, and freed from any probably poisonous components, this sheer oil leaves my lips tremendous hydrated with the slightest sheen that lasts. Finest but, it by no means leaves any sticky residue. I at all times have one in every of these in my purse, on my desk, and in my make-up bag. (Word: For a touch of coloration, I additionally simply purchased Benefit’s Signature lipstick in Millenial—which I really like.)
Naturium’s Phyto-Glow Lip Balm
Why I like to recommend it: Say whats up to deeply moisturized, shiny lips. This product from Naturium is one of the best of each worlds: an excellent hydrating lip gloss and a nourishing lip balm. I put on all of it day, however I significantly find it irresistible earlier than going to mattress. Made with plant squalane and shea butter, your lips will really feel silky clean very quickly. I’ve this lip balm in clear, however it is available in a number of completely different tints!
LiveTinted, Unity Balm Gloss
Why I like to recommend it: This gloss is a must have in my bag and on my desk always. I’ve ditched all my different chapsticks for this one product. The uber-hydrating method is filled with squalane, hyaluronic acid, and nutritional vitamins C and E, giving all of it these bonus skincare elements on high of the hydration. Not like different glosses, it’s not sticky and it lasts on my lips for hours. Plus, I like that it provides that further little bit of shine for one thing particular. I may also dab it on my pores and skin for further shine and hydration, which is far appreciated as a result of I really like a product that may operate in a number of methods.
Revision Skincare Youthful Lip Replenisher
Why I like to recommend it: It’s troublesome to explain my pure love for this product. When your lips are chapped or cracked, there’s nothing prefer it. Even when your lips aren’t chapped, there’s nonetheless nothing that works fairly as brilliantly as Revision’s product. Glide on the gooey substance (armed with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and antioxidants) and your lips will really feel plumped and quenched for hours. The one draw back is that the product is so gooey and sticky, you may choose it as an evening remedy solely. Nevertheless, in the event you don’t thoughts a little bit Lancome Juicy Tube-style consistency, gloss away all day.
The Lip Balm from Augustinus Bader
Why I like to recommend it: Women and gents, might I introduce you to the lip balm to finish all lip balms. This super-nourishing decide from Augustinus Bader is clear, vegan, and affords sustainable packaging. I really like slathering throughout my lips at night time, within the morning, and nearly anytime my pucker wants a little bit love. What’s extra? This will double as a watch balm as properly. Instructed you… marvel balm!
Alder New York 4x Lip Balm Set
Why I like to recommend it: I transfer round quite a bit, however the single consistency of my humble abodes appears to be an curiosity in locales that require an additional little bit of hydration infused into my skincare routine. (Oregon, Vermont, Chicago… I’ve a factor for the tough climate.)
However as soon as I found Alder New York’s four-pack of balms, my lips have been remodeled—for the higher. Not like different balms (or the no-go chapstick we alluded to above) these sink deeply into my lips, nourishing and hydrating from the within out. What’s extra, I really like that they’re fast-absorbing, making the ultimate look extra matte than melty. Every balm’s formulation of cocoa butter, candelilla wax, and vitamin E means my lips are getting a clear, however efficient remedy.
I’ve a tube on me always. Vanilla Kush in my purse, Eucalyptus Mint on my desk, the unscented balm in my automobile, and my favourite—Citron—in my pocket, at all times.
Three Ships Buttercream Hydrating Lip Masks
Why I like to recommend it: I’m consistently altering purses and diaper baggage so I by no means bear in mind to pack a lip hydrator. Within the significantly dry months I take advantage of this lip masks throughout my Sunday wind down tub ritual, however you need to use it as much as twice a day if you’d like. I really like that this product is 100% plant-derived and leaves your lips tender and supple.
What are your favourite merchandise for a hydrated pout? Maintain the checklist going within the feedback!