Why Your Lips Are Always Chapped

It’s almost instinctive: Your lips feel dry, so you lick them. Problem solved, right? At least for a few seconds. But once that saliva evaporates, your lips are right back where they started. Worse, repeatedly wetting and drying the skin can irritate an already compromised barrier. If you catch yourself doing it throughout the day, reach for a plain lip balm instead. And when your lips are particularly chapped, resist the temptation to constantly run your tongue over the rough spots.

That cooling, tingling sensation from your “medicated” balm can make it feel like something is happening. But when your lips are already irritated, fragrance, flavorings and certain buzzy ingredients can sometimes compound the problem. This is when boring is better. Opt for simple, fragrance-free formulas designed to moisturize and protect rather than entertain you with minty freshness. CeraVe Healing Ointment is an especially good no-nonsense option, while La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lips combines moisturizing ingredients with a protective barrier that helps keep moisture where you want it.

There’s a difference between adding moisture and preventing it from escaping. When your lips are seriously chapped, you want an occlusive (a protective layer that slows water loss and gives the skin underneath a better environment to recover). But you don’t need anything expensive. The OG Vaseline is about as straightforward as it gets, but now comes in a handy tube that’s easy to apply. And Aquaphor Healing Ointment has long been a go-to for seriously dry skin. Smooth on a thin layer during the day and then a more generous one before bed.

Don’t tell us you’re not. But we get it. When you’ve got a loose piece of skin hanging from your lip, pulling it off feels practically compulsory. But that satisfying little tug can remove skin that isn’t ready to come off, leaving behind a raw spot (or even a tiny wound) that has to heal all over again. It’s not easy, but summon as much self-control as you can muster. The same restraint applies to lip scrubs. Gentle exfoliation can have its place when your lips are healthy, but aggressively scrubbing already cracked skin is like sanding a scrape. Skip it until your lips have recovered. If there’s a stubborn flake, soften your lips with warm water and load up on some balm.

We tend to think about sunscreen everywhere except our lips. But that thin, exposed skin takes a beating from UV rays, too. And because your mouth is constantly moving, eating, drinking and being wiped with napkins, whatever protection you apply won’t necessarily stay there long. That makes an SPF lip balm worth keeping in your pocket whenever you’ll be spending significant time outside. Jack Black and O’Keeffes are two longtime favorites of our team because they feel more like a good everyday balm than sunscreen. Apply it before heading out and reapply throughout the day, particularly after eating or drinking.

Sometimes you haven’t done anything wrong. It’s simply the environment. Wind, cold temperatures, air conditioning and indoor heating all encourage moisture loss. Even sleeping with your mouth open can leave your lips noticeably drier in the morning. That’s why chapped lips tend to creep up as the seasons change. Your summer lip balm might suddenly seem inadequate once the heat comes on indoors. At night, give your lips something heavier and let it sit undisturbed for several hours. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is popular for good reason: Its thick consistency makes it particularly well suited to overnight use. If you want something decidedly more luxurious, Augustinus Bader The Lip Balm makes the mundane act of treating dry lips feel considerably more luxurious and a nice rewarding ritual at the end of the day.

If your lips are already a mess, forget the complicated routine. Just stick with a bland, protective ointment and apply as needed during the day and put on a generous layer before going to sleep. During daylight hours, use an SPF lip balm when you’re going to be outside. And remember that any healing takes some time. Once the cracking and flaking have subsided, you can return to your preferred everyday balm. You may even discover that once you stop perpetuating the cycle, you don’t even need to apply it nearly as often.