Because lips don’t have oil glands to lock moisture in, they get dry fast without proper care.  Keep your lips from getting chapped with these simple tips!

1. Apply lip balm frequently. Did you know that you should be applying lip balm 6-8 times a day?  Start by putting lip balm on in the morning before applying lipstick or lip gloss and continue applying every few hours and right before bedtime.  It helps to have lip balm readily available at work, in the car, in your purse if you carry one, and in your bathroom at home.
2. Stay hydrated. When you don’t get enough water, your lips show it.  Aim to drink 8 cups of water per day.
3. Consider a humidifier. Us Houstonians are used to hot and humid, but when temperatures drop, so does the moisture in the air. A humidifier may help replenish some of the moisture our lips crave.
4. Stop licking your lips! Although licking your lips may feel right when lips are chapped, you’re actually contributing to dryness by doing so.  As saliva dries, more moisture is taken from your skin.
5. Use the right ingredients. Petrolatum locks in moisture and dimethicone seals off split or cracked lips. Look for lip balm with these ingredients and stay away from lip balm with potential irritants like beeswax, shea butter, castor seed, and soybean oil.
6. Don’t exfoliate. This may seem counterintuitive but exfoliating may actually cause more damage to chapped lips.  Keep applying lip balm to prevent dry and peeling lips.
7. Finally, if you notice that your lips are chapped despite proper care, consult a dermatologist for treatment options.