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Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you that dry and chapped lips are no joke. They're like the unwanted house guest that just won't leave, no matter how much you try to kick them out.
But fear not, my friends; I have all the inside scoop on how to keep your lips soft and supple, even in the dead of winter. Read on to explore the dermatologist recommended lip balms I talk about below.
Table of Contents
Lip Balm Ingredients
Lip Balm Ingredients to Avoid
It can be tempting to go for that spicy cinnamon or minty fresh lip balm but, trust me, it's not worth it. Those flavors are like kryptonite for dry, cracked lips. Stick to fragrance-free, hypoallergenic options, and steer clear of ingredients like camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol.
Lip Balm Ingredients to Look for
Castor seed oil, ceramides, and shea butter are all great options to look for in a lip balm.
Glycerine, petroleum jelly, and hemp oil are also great for lips. However, be a little careful with glycerine, as it loves water. It can further dehydrate your lips. So, use it in combination with a hydrating agent.
And don't forget the sunscreen! Use a lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours.
Now that we know what to look for in lip balms, let me share my recommendations.
Both men and women can use the lip balms suggested below.
Best Lip Balm for Chapped Dry Lips and Daily Use
I believe the best lip balm for all lip types and seasons is Chaptex.
This simple lip balm also protects against the sun. So, if you have dry and chapped lips and want something to use daily, go with Chaptex.
Best Lip Balm for Dark Lips
You cannot get rid of the natural color of your lips. However, if the color of your lips changed due to smoking, sun exposure, contact dermatitis, or recurrent lipstick usage, you may be able to reverse it.
For such cases, you should use Melalumin SPF 15 lip lightener or Deconstruct Brightening Lip Balm in the morning and Lipzlite at night.
For mornings:
For nights:
Kojic acid, present in the product lipzlite mentioned above, almost magically helps reduce pigmentation by targeting melanin production. Kojic acid can be great for dark lips to reduce pigmentation. To know more about dark lips and their treatment, you can read my article on lip pigmentation treatment.
Lip Care Tips
It can be hard to resist licking your lips when they're feeling dry, but trust me; it'll only make things worse. Saliva evaporates, leaving your lips even drier than before. And please, please, please don't bite or pick at your lips. That's like pouring salt on a wound.
Here's why you shouldn't use a lip scrub if you are planning on using one,
Another tip is to invest in a humidifier. Dry air can suck the moisture right out of your lips, so by plugging in a humidifier, you'll be adding some much-needed hydration back into the air.
And finally, if you've been following all these tips and your lips still look like the Sahara desert, it's time to see a dermatologist. Chapped lips can be caused by more than just dry weather, and a board-certified dermatologist can help you figure out what's happening.
So there you have it, folks. Chapped lips don't stand a chance against these tips from yours truly. Go forth, and may your lips be ever soft and supple.