Nothing Is Working For Your Dry & Chapped Lips? Read This!

If your lips tend to become dry and parched during the freezing winter months, that’s alright. But, if that’s the case all year-round then that’s a problem. It may not look like a big deal at first, but prolonged lip dryness might actually be a symptom of an underlying issue. If you have dry and chapped lips, you’ll notice, 

• Lips become dry easily
• Skin is flaky or scaly
• Frequent sores
• Bleeding cracks
• Occasional swelling

Below are a few reasons why your lips are dry and chapped. 

1. Bathing with hot water

As much as we love those soothing and relaxing hot showers, the skin on our face and especially our lips does not. The skin on the lips is very thin, as compared to the rest of the face. Which is why it is all the more prone to damage and dryness. Plus, there are no oil glands on our lips. So, taking hot water showers or cleansing the face with hot water further dries up the skin and causes lips to chap. 

2. Vitamin deficiency 

One sneaky reason that your lips might be perpetually dry is due to vitamin deficiencies. Especially folate (vitamin B9) riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamins B6 and B12. It causes painful cracks and sores on the lips as well as near the mouth. 

3. Licking lips

This is such a common mistake that it does not even count as one. Like, everyone unconsciously licks their lips, right? Which is where things are going wrong. Unless there is a *really* delicious dish in front of you, you must refrain from licking your lips, no matter how dry they feel. Because even though they might seem like a quick fix and a lip balm substitute, it’s causing your lips to dry up even more. 

This is because the saliva contains enzymes that help in digestion. When you lick your lips frequently, these enzymes start nibbling on your lip’s skin, making them dry. And unknowingly this becomes a vicious cycle, where you lick your lips because they feel dry, and in turn, you dry them out even further. Catch yourself whenever you do this, and overtime the habit will stop. 

4. Unhealthy gut 

From unhealthy food habits, eating habits, and gut health, everything impacts how our skin looks and feels. It might seem far-fetched, but it’s actually not. Your skin is what you eat. So, when you’re bloated or constipated, your skin takes a hit and starts to dry up. This is even more amplified for the lips. Eat healthy, and watch how it reflects on your skin. 

5. Weather conditions 

If it's boiling hot outside, your lips will chap. If it’s too cold and breezy your lips will still chap. So basically whenever the climate starts becoming a bit extreme, you will experience sudden dryness in your skin, and your lips will take a larger hit. 

6. You’re not hydrated 

Dryness directly means lack of water. So, when your body’s required quantity of water is not met, it starts drawing it from the rest of the body to hydrate the cells. It’s most direct impact is seen on your lips, as the skin is extremely delicate. Keep yourself well-hydrated and always have a bottle handy. On the other hand, cutting back on sugar-y drinks and caffeine will also help bring down overall skin dryness.

3 ways to fix dry and chapped lips 

• Use a lip sleeping mask 

The easiest way to deliver bountiful of nourishment and hydration to your lips is by applying a lip sleeping mask. After you’re done with your PM skincare routine, apply the lip mask as a last step, and your job is done. Our Mon Cherry Lip Nourishing Sleeping Mask exfoliates as well as hydrates overnight to give you cushion-y soft lip every morning! This intensive care lip mask locks-in moisture with the goodness of cherry blossom, pearl, plant-based squalene and glycerin. Grapefruit extracts, being a natural form of salicylic acid, gently exfoliate as well as nourish the lips. Make it a staple in your routine to make dry and chapped lips a thing of the past! 

• Keep a lip balm handy 

The quickest way to fix dry and chapped lips is by applying a generous amount of lip balm. 

But here’s a better way to do it – 

• Wet your lips with a few drops of water. 
• On damp lips swipe your lip balm. 
• With your finger, massage the product until absorbed

Adding water to your lips before applying the balm means you’re adding a layer of hydration. The more, the merrier, right? Plus, lip balms usually contain hyaluronic acid so water will help in making the lips look healthy and plump. Also, massaging the product will allow it to seep into the skin rather than it simply sitting on your lips. Pick lip balms that have ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, vitamin E and lanolin that will give your lips the optimum nourishment! 

• Exfoliate regularly 

It’s a fact that after a point, no amount of lip balm will work. Reason? There is an end-to-end layer of dead skin cells on your lips that is preventing all the goodness from the lip balm to get into the skin. Twice in a month or as required, use a gentle lip scrub and exfoliate your lips to brighten them and eliminate dead skin cells. You can either apply a store-bought lip scrub, or do a DIY home remedy with honey and fine sugar. Just be gentle, and do not over-exfoliate. 

Get ready to kiss away dryness and flaunt your perfect pout with these tips!