How To Get Rid Of Dry Lips, According To Experts

Want to know how to get rid of dry lips once and for all? First, it’s important to understand how to recognise that you have dry lips and what causes them. We spoke to skin experts and asked about the causes of dry lips and how to treat and prevent them – so you won’t have to suffer anymore. 

What exactly are dry lips?

Do a self-check test if you’re wondering what dry lips look and feel like. First, see if you have one, two, or all of the main symptoms, including dryness, flaking, peeling, swelling, cracking, or worse, bleeding. If you tick some or all of them, bingo. You have chronic dry lips!  

Experts say the skin on our lips is the thinnest on the body. But unfortunately, it is also one of the most sensitive and delicate, making it more prone to damage. 

Charlotte McHale, Clarins Training Manager, explains, “The lips don’t have a protective layer. It neither has sweat nor sebaceous glands which are responsible for producing the hydrolipidic film, the skin’s bodyguard.” 

This makes them vulnerable to external aggressors and susceptible to becoming dry and flaky.

What causes dry lips?

What are dry lips a sign of? “Several factors cause lips to dry: from environmental factors and lifestyle choices to certain health conditions or medication reactions, all of which can lead to loss of hydration, irritation and inflammation,” Wedad Abdelrahman, NHS Consultant Dermatologist, tells us.  

Here are six common dry lips causes: 

• Environmental factors: Constant exposure to environmental factors, such as sun exposure, fluctuating weather conditions, harsh wind, and dry air, are common culprits of dry lips.
• Drinking too much alcohol: Dehydration is one of the leading causes of dry lips. The next time you’re drinking and socialising, make sure to keep yourself hydrated by drinking water after each alcoholic beverage.
• Excessive lip licking: If you think lip licking can solve your chapped lips issues, you’re entirely mistaken. Instead, you’re making it worse. 
• Spicy and salty food: Experts suggest refraining from consuming too much salty and spicy food, which can irritate your lips and cause inflammation.
• Cosmetics: If you feel certain sensations such as burning, stinging, or feeling uncomfortable when you apply a product to your lips, it means you’re irritating your lips, so you should stop using that product.
• Vitamin deficiency: B vitamins, zinc and iron deficiencies have been reported to be a potential cause of dry lips. So load up on your greens, as they are rich in zinc and iron.

How to get rid of dry lips fast

Follow our 7 tips on how to get rid of chapped lips.

1. Exfoliate your lips  

“You can exfoliate crusty lips using the Comfort Scrub. It contains sugar microcrystals from beetroot, which are effective in removing dead skin cells, while the wild mango butter has nourishing properties to soothe the lips. Oily and gentle, it works brilliantly as a lip exfoliator,” McHale says. 

McHale advises to be gentle as the skin on the lips are thin and delicate, “If your lips are drying out, let the product do the work. You don’t need to add additional pressure or friction. It will gently take away any dry skin from the lips on its own.”

2. Moisturise your lips with a lip balm 

To plump and smooth extremely dry lips, McHale recommends the Extra-Firming Lip and Contour Balm. “This soothing balm is formulated with raspberry seed oil and shea butter, which repairs, replenishes, softens and moisturises severe dry lips.” Your lips will appear naturally fuller, younger and beautifully defined after every use.

Or, we love the Hydra-Essentiel Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. This excellent lip care has multiple five-star ratings for its ability to replenish and restore the driest of lips. It also has a natural rosy tint, which gives the lips a plumper appearance. It’s also great for lip wrinkles and dry skin! 

Clarins beauty advisors also recommend the Calm-Essentiel Soothing Repairing Balm for people with dry, cracked, and itchy lips. Apply liberally to affected areas to soothe sensitivity, dryness and irritation at any time during the day. 

If you are looking for a lip care product that also gives an aesthetic vibe, Clarins Lip Comfort Oils are enriched with Vitamin E thanks to jojoba and Hazelnut oils. We recommend using Lip Comfort Oil in Honey and leaving it overnight for ultra-nourished lips in the morning. We also have lip oil in various colours that are suitable for every makeup look.

3. Apply sunscreen on your lips  

One of the most overlooked ways how to fix dry lips is to apply SPF to them on a daily basis. Lips are just as prone to the sun’s radiation as the rest of the body, which means they’re also vulnerable to skin cancer. Choose a lip balm or a sunscreen stick every day, ideally with SPF50.

Clarins Invisible Sun Care Stick SPF50 comes in a pocket size to take with you anywhere. This sunscreen has an ultra-comfortable "bare skin" texture that stays invisible as it protects the most sensitive parts of your face.

Apart from the SPF in lip balms, look for moisturising ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, glycerin and shea butter. Swipe a fresh coat after eating, drinking, or sweating. Reapply every two hours for continued sun protection and intense hydration. 

4. Stay hydrated 

When considering how to stop dry skin on lips, hydration is key. Since dehydration can be a major cause of dry lips, make sure to keep hydrated and aim for an intake of two litres of filtered water a day, which can include herbal teas.

5. Invest in a humidifier 

If you’re suffering with constant dry lips and your environment is arid, invest in a humidifier. Keep the humidity in your home between 30% and 50%.

6. Avoid holding items made of metal to your lips

Jewellery and other everyday products made of metal can irritate your already inflamed lips.

7. Eat a rainbow diet

If you want to treat and prevent dry lips, opt for non-citrus fruits and vegetables. All vegetables and fruits are alkalising, so eat ‘the rainbow’ regularly. 

How to get rid of chapped lips in 5 minutes

For quick and effective results, we recommend you use a lip care product that is rich in hyaluronic acid and treatment ingredient - peptides, like the Hydra-Essentiel [HA²] Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. Apply a thick enough coat of this lip balm and let it sit for 5 minutes; then, your lips will be restored, plumped and shine naturally.  

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