Chapped lips are a no-no. They make your lips so unattractive. If it isn’t the bitter cold or dry air causing your lips to crack and flake, it’s the harsh effects of the sun or your cosmetic products that are drying out your lips. The following would help you take care of chapped lips:
1. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is an emollient that not only moisturizes the skin but also protect the skin by enhancing its barrier function. Other benefits of coconut oil, especially with regard to chapped lips, are its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Apply coconut oil to chapped lips as needed throughout the day. Use a cotton swab or a clean finger to dab the oil onto your lips.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera has a number of uses and is best known as a home remedy for sunburns. Its anti-inflammatory properties and soothing effect make it a great choice for treating chapped lips, too. The enzymes in aloe vera have mild exfoliating properties, so you’ll want to limit your use of aloe vera to just two or three times per day.
3. Honey
There are numerous studies on the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties of honey. It’s been used for centuries as a home remedy for skin care and a number of health conditions. Honey can help moisturize your lips and protect cracked lips from infection. It also works as a mild exfoliator and can help remove dry, dead skin from your lips.
4. Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly seals in water longer than oils and waxes. If you have sunburned lips, petroleum jelly seals in the heat from burns.
5. Avocado butter
Avocado butter works well as an emollient and thickener in lip balms. It isn’t greasy and is well-absorbed by the skin. It also contains several fatty acids and antioxidants known to benefit the skin, including oleic and linoleic acid.