Summer or winter- cracked lips are an issue for every one of us!
Causes of chapped lips
Lack of hydration causes chapped lips. The skin on your lips is sensitive and soft. It requires utmost care. All that eating, drinking talking causes stress for your lovely lips. Dry weather can also lead to a loss of natural oils produced by the skin on your lips. This can cause your lips to break out and crack. This sounds a lot like the barren desert earth cracking for water! Dryness in the air sucks out the moisture from your sensitive skin.
Soft, hydrated lips
Having dry cracked lips can also be due to any of the following-
1. Dry cold weather: The lack of moisture can cause dryness and remove the moisture from your lips.
2. Licking or peeling your lips: When you lick your lips, you make them prone to further dryness as when the saliva evaporates, it takes away the moisture from your lips. Lip licking is a constant habit so if you do it once, you feel the need to do it again. And peeling is a strict no as that removes the skin of your lips and can even cause bleeding.
3. Dehydration and not getting adequate fluid: This also removes moisture from your lips. It is important to drink LOTS of water if your lips are cracking.
4. Breathing through your mouth: While this may sound absurd, something as small as breathing through your mouth can dehydrate your lips.
What to stay away from
Before we get to how to remedy chapped lips, we need to discuss what to stay away from if you have chapped lips.
- Stay AWAY from lip products that are flavored or have a strong fragrance. Although they smell quite tantalizing, they can further irritate your dry lips and aggravate flaking.
- Do not peel the skin flakes, no matter how annoying it is. You’re really just going to cause bleeding, bruising, and a small wound. This will make it more difficult for chapped lips to heal.
How to care for chapped lips
The best way to take care of your chapped lips is not by applying chemicals on them, but by using these homemade scrubs. We also give you the recipe for a perfect lip balm, that you can make at home naturally.
Cure #1: Sugar
“Sugar, yes please,” seems to be the right way to go if you have chapped lips! Sugar helps in exfoliating the dead cells and restores the natural moisture of your lips.
How to prepare: This scrub is prepared by mixing sugar granules with half the quantity of honey. Apply onto your lips and let it stay. You can either apply and leave overnight or wash off with cold water.
Cure #2: Rose petals
Ruby lips
Ruby lipsThe roses in your garden serve a greater purpose than being mere ornaments. Roses are a hack that not only nourishes and moisturise your lips and also enhance their colour.
How to prepare: Take a few rose petals and soak them in milk for a few hours. You can also use glycerine. Mash the rose petals and obtain a thick paste. Apply the paste on your lips.
Cure #3: Aloe vera extract
The aloe vera plant is a wonderful remedy for your dry lips. The plant is rich in antioxidants and can soothe your chapped lips. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
How to prepare: Slice a leaf from the Aloe plant and extract the juice. Apply the juice on your lips.
DIY: How to make your own natural lip balm!
While the above cures can help heal your cracked lips, this at home lip balm recipe will help prevent your lips from getting chapped.
You will need:
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp fat from butter (Shea butter is preferred)
- 2 tbsp beeswax
- a few drops of essential oils such as lavender, tea tree or eucalyptus
How to prepare:
- On a low flame, fill a pot with water and let it boil.
- Add the coconut oil, butter, and beeswax to the pot.
- Melt the beeswax on a low flame and stir occasionally till all ingredients have melted.
- Turn off the heat and the essential oils of your choice.
Add your lip balm to a container and you are ready to use your freshly prepared balm.
We really hope you loved this article and will be happy to try this experiment.