There are few issues that annoy me greater than having chapped lips. It’s uncomfortable (and truthfully, just a little painful). I can’t cease myself from selecting on the flakes, and lipstick is a no-go. However worst of all, it seems like nothing I do appears to assist. That’s maybe essentially the most irritating a part of chapped lips—there’s simply no fast clear up. Anybody else share the wrestle? Effectively, I’ve by no means been one to again down from a problem, so I got down to do some severe analysis on learn how 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 seek out out why chapstick isn’t the reply (gasp, I do know), and the most effective 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 all the time 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 seek out out why chapstick isn’t the reply to learn how to moisturize lips.
“Our lips are delicate and skinny. Usually chapsticks are solely providing momentary hydration aid whereas combining different components that will trigger irritation,” says Blancato. As soon as that momentary 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 turn out to be extra dry and scaly. Principally 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 current savior. Her three-step method for learn how to moisturize lips is named the Moisture Sandwich and is designed to not solely moisturize, however lure all of it in for long-term results. Implement this into your skincare routine or use it as wanted. You possibly can thank her later.
- Moisten your lips with a sip of water. As I discussed earlier, Parler notes that that is further necessary as a result of the pores and skin on our lips doesn’t have any sebaceous glands, so the water is a good base.
- Lather your lips in a beneficiant coat of lip balm or cream. Following the sip of water, the balm or cream brings speedy 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.
- Prime all of it off with an ointment. That is the third and most necessary 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 maintain the metaphor going). You should utilize 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 evening 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 all my mates has it, too.
Advantage Tinted Lip Oil in Heat Clear
Why I like to recommend it: MERIT nailed it with this system. 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 all the time have one in all these in my purse, on my desk, and in my make-up bag. (Word: For a touch of coloration, I additionally simply purchased Advantage’s Signature lipstick in Millenial—which I really like.)
Naturium’s Phyto-Glow Lip Balm
Why I like to recommend it: Say good day to deeply moisturized, shiny lips. This product from Naturium is the most effective of each worlds: a brilliant 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 easy very quickly. I’ve this lip balm in clear, however it is available in just a few totally 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 system is full of squalane, hyaluronic acid, and nutritional vitamins C and E, giving all of it these bonus skincare components on prime 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 also can dab it on my pores and skin for further shine and hydration, which is way 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 tough 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 favor it as an evening remedy solely. Nevertheless, when you don’t thoughts just a little Lancome Juicy Tube-style consistency, gloss away all day.
The Lip Balm from Augustinus Bader
Why I like to recommend it: Girls and gents, could I introduce you to the lip balm to finish all lip balms. This super-nourishing choose from Augustinus Bader is clear, vegan, and gives sustainable packaging. I really like slathering throughout my lips at evening, within the morning, and nearly anytime my pucker wants just a little love. What’s extra? This may double as an eye fixed balm as properly. Instructed you… surprise balm!
Alder New York 4x Lip Balm Set
Why I like to recommend it: I transfer round so much, 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 cruel climate.)
However as soon as I found Alder New York’s four-pack of balms, my lips have been reworked—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 automotive, and my favourite—Citron—in my pocket, all the time.
Three Ships Buttercream Hydrating Lip Masks
Why I like to recommend it: I’m continually altering purses and diaper luggage so I by no means bear in mind to pack a lip hydrator. Within the significantly dry months I exploit this lip masks throughout my Sunday wind down bathtub ritual, however you should utilize it as much as twice a day if you would like. I really like that this product is 100% plant-derived and leaves your lips delicate and supple.
What are your favourite merchandise for a hydrated pout? Hold the listing going within the feedback!