Cracked lips are a telltale sign that winter is not only coming, but has arrived. Sometimes if it's chilly enough in the fall, it can happen, then, too. We know the feeling: lips are flaky or hard to open, then there's also cracking and actual cuts. In the worst case, the lips might bleed. Applying a standard lip balm over and over again may not work, which is no good, because chapped lips are awful. For one, they can hurt. Dryness can also make it harder to apply or keep on lipstick no matter how long-lasting the product is. And peeling lips just don't look attractive. If not taken care of, the dry lips can progress to bleeding lips, and nobody wants that.
We're not alone: A lot of people get chapped lips. When it happens often enough, we start to learn over time what really works. I personally have chapped lips in the winter months and have found the recommendations of a beauty group I'm part of to be incredibly helpful. There are so many options out there to not only soothe cracked lips but prevent it from happening in the first place.
To start, there are a bunch of natural remedies that won't break the bank. Like simply upping water intake to using natural ingredients, these are definitely worth giving a shot. (Seriously, bananas can help!)
Then there are the quick fixes, which include using a toothbrush to sweep off flaky skin, using a warm washcloth to soothe or exfoliate more often. However, if all of these options have been exhausted, purchasing a highly acclaimed lip balm, Chapstick, or skin salve may be the answer those dry lips are looking for. There's a bunch out there in different forms — from sticks to balms to liquids. And they come in different price ranges to make sure everyone, no matter their budget, can find their skin-soothing holy grail product. After poking around and hearing some recs, we think these might do the trick.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sunscreen SPF 15
Rave reviews and this Elizabeth Arden creams go hand-in-hand. This particular cream is made especially for lips and includes a sunscreen.
Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sunscreen SPF 15 ($24, Elizabeth Arden)
Eir NYC Ski Lips
The name of this Eir NYC balm is no accident. Skiers' lips are often dry from the mountain air and altitude and this product is meant to combat that level of lip chappy-ness.
Eir NYC Ski Lips ($5, Eir NYC)
Lip Treatment by Hanalei
Hanalei's lip treatment is like a facial on the lips. The product is made with Kukui oil, shea butter, agave, and grapeseed oil just to name a few. The grapeseed oil in particular provides high levels of antioxidants to help soothe and protect lips from harmful radicals.
Lip Treatment by Hanalei ($15, Amazon)
Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment
An oldie but a goodie, lots of recommendations I've seen come in support of Aquaphor. The product is effective in that it provides both moisture and healing to dry, cracked, and/or cut lips.
Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment ($4, Amazon)
Vermont's Original Bag Balm Ointment
This product isn't too, too popular, but it may be because it's an undiscovered gem. It definitely gives off great-grandmother ancient remedy vibes, given the packaging. Either way, it's "a formula that was created by dairy farmers to treat dairy cows that were chapped from the harsh Vermont environment." If it helped them, surely it'll help us.
Vermont's Original Bag Balm 8 oz. Ointment ($10, Amazon)
Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm Tube
Speaking of great-grandmother home remedies, allow us to include the strong-scented Vaseline on this lip list. The original Vaseline is used for lots of things, but the company decided to create a formula made specifically for the lips.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm Tube ($12, Amazon)
Smith's Rosebud Salve
Sometimes the smaller (and less expensive) items pack the biggest punches, at least when it comes to soothing or avoiding dry lips. Smith's Rosebud Salve is said to relieve chapped skin, blemishes, burns, and rough hands. It does it all.
Smith's Rosebud Salve ($8, Urban Outfitters)
Glossier Balm Dotcom Skin Salve
Glossier is a cult classic type of skin care line, so naturally, its skin balm gets good reviews, too. It's a lip balm that's "packed with antioxidants and natural emollients to nourish dry, chafed skin." Bonus: It comes in yummy (and tinted) flavors like birthday cake and cherry.
Glossier Balm Dotcom ($12, Glossier)
Blistex Lip Medex
Blistex is another classic that people love for its ability to soothe dry lips and have them sorta feel it helping in the process. It's unusual in that it has a cooling effect to soothe the burning sensation that can come from dry, chapped lips.
Blistex Lip Medex ($6, Amazon)
Carmex Classic Medicated Lip Balm Stick
Don't let the glue stick-style packing fool you. Many have recommended the Carmex lip balm, which for what they claim it does, comes at an insanely good price.
Carmex Classic Medicated Lip Balm Stick (pack of 3) ($3, Target)
Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
If it can work on a nipple, it'll do wonders for the lips. That's the idea behind the highly rated Dr. Lipp balm for lips. Reviewers say the product helps their ultra dry, chapped lips, reduces peeling, and overall improves the appearance of their lips.
Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips ($14, Amazon)
Qtica Intense Lip Therapy Balm
Sometimes, lips need an in-the-moment fix. Other times, prevention is the goal. The Qtica Intense Therapy Balm does both: "The rich, thick concentration of honey, beeswax, vitamins, aloe, tea tree and essential oils defends against the elements and helps relieve and seal the most dry, irritated lips overnight." It's also said to help lipstick last longer when used with it.
Qtica Intense Lip Therapy Balm ($12, Lovely Skin)
Neosporin Lip Health
Neosporin is known to help with cuts and burns, but sometimes, that's what ultra-chapped lips result in. The Lip Health formula helps put vitamins and moisture back into the lips to restore them back to good health.
Neosporin Lip Health ($6, Jet)
Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick
Oil is helpful for moisturizing in that it helps put some back into the skin and that's the idea here, but for the lips. Bonus: This product can be used anywhere on the body that's dry and needs soothing.
Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick ($22, Josie Maran)
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
When it comes to lips, Bite Beauty has the magic touch. Or shall we say, soothing? The company's agave lip mask is to be applied overnight to return moisture to lips by way of agave nectar and jojoba oil.
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask ($26, Sephora)
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Another sleeping mask, the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask helps do all of the heavy lifting (and repair work) throughout the night, leaving lips fresh and hydrated come morning time. This K-beauty staple also helps reduce flakiness thanks to the "exclusive Moisture Wrap technology that boasts hyaluronic acid and minerals to form a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture and active ingredients."
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (Sephora, $20)
Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil
The Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil can be used anywhere on the face, but it can also soothe lips as well. It is made with Andean Rosehip Oil extract which is known for its skin-healing properties.
Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($24, Pai Skincare)
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen
This balm contains sugar, a natural humectant that can help prevent moisture loss. Combined with oils like grapeseed and black currant, this best-selling product comes in several shades. Plus, it has sunscreen.
FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen ($24, Sephora)
Lano All-Over Golden Dry Skin Salve
The word "golden" just feels good, which makes sense for the soothing qualities that Lano's All-Over Golden Dry Skin Salve provides. It's a formula of natural ingredients like carnauba wax, castor seed oil, lanolin oil, apricot kernel oil, honey, beeswax inspired by what Lanolips CEO Kirsten Carriol felt on the sheep at her grandparents' farm.
Lano All-Over Golden Dry Skin Salve ($26, Anthropologie)
Drink Lots of Water
It seems like it's out of place on a list like this, but really, water is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to fight chapped lips. Dehydration can be a cause and the best way to fight it is by, well, drinking fluids.
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