It’s almost just the size of a glue stick so it’s amazing how a tiny chapstick can be addictive. Many women can relate to how it’s irresistible to reach up for a tube of chapstick especially when your lips are so chapped it hurts even just to smile.
This makes it easy to ignore the fact that chapstick is just another lip-moisturizing product made up of chemicals. Some of these chemicals are irritating to the skin or even toxic such as parabens, oxybenzene, camphor, phenol, and menthol.
So next time you feel the need to lather your lips in chapstick, think again. There are natural alternatives that can offer soothing relief to your chappy lips and even much better lip care.
FYI, thanks to AI imagery software, we’re able to create very specific fashion and hairstyle examples to illustrate the points being made. In some cases, imagery is exaggerated to hammer home the point.
1. Aloe Vera Is Amazing
Everyone’s heard of how amazing Aloe Vera is, and you can use it easily when your lips are chapped and dry. You can use a live plant, cut off a small piece, and use the gel-like substance inside for the treatment of your lips. If your lips are too cracked, Aloe Vera may not be the best product to use, but if they are only slightly damaged, it is perfect.
Advantages
- Aloe Vera plants are inexpensive and easy to get
- The gel feels good against your skin
Disadvantages
- This isn’t recommended for lips that are already severely chapped
- Many people don’t like the feel of Aloe Vera on their skin
You can also use the Aloe Vera sold in bottle form because as long as it is 100% Aloe Vera, it will do your lips a lot of good.
2. A Recipe for You
Here is a scrub that you can make yourself and then rub on your lips to exfoliate the dead skin. Simply place a small amount of the scrub on your lips, and leave it on there for one to two minutes, rubbing in a circular motion the entire time. After you rinse off the scrub, rinse off your lips thoroughly and gently pat them dry. When you’re done, make sure that you apply a good moisturizer so that your lips can stay smooth and soft.
For the scrub, all you have to do is mix ½ teaspoon of coconut oil with ½ teaspoon of either white or brown sugar.
Advantages
- A very simple recipe that anyone can try
- Consists of ingredients you have around your home
Disadvantages
- Some people dislike scrubs because of their grittiness
- May be too harsh for severely chapped lips
Make sure that you mix it up thoroughly before applying it to your lips. You can also try mixing equal parts of honey and olive oil and rubbing it on your lips. This is another recipe that will work well.
3. A Simple DIY Lip Balm
If you’re looking for an all-natural, easy-to-make lip balm, follow these instructions.
Take a microwave-safe bowl, and mix 3 tablespoons of beeswax pellets, 4 tablespoons of coconut oil, and 2 tablespoons of shea butter in 30-second increments until it is dissolved. When that is done, add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil, then pour it into lip balm tubes or pots until cool.
If you want the mixture to be softer, reduce the amount of beeswax you use, and, in fact, you can adjust this recipe any way you like. You can easily change the texture, the amount, and even the scent of the lip balm with just a few simple changes, so it is very simple to make this product your own.
Advantages
- Smells and feels wonderful on your skin
- Easy to make and easy to use
Disadvantages
- You have to find the right types of containers, which may be time-consuming
- May be considered too complex for some people
4. Cucumber Treatment
A good tip for eliminating dryness or irritation on your lips involves a cucumber. If you slice a cucumber and then rub the slice on your lips for five minutes, it soothes your skin and reduces the inflammation, mostly due to its Vitamin B-5 content. Don’t rub the outside part where the peel is on your skin, but instead use the flat side so that the cucumber itself is rubbing against your lips.
Advantages
- Cucumbers are healthy and non-acidic
- Cucumbers are inexpensive and easy to get
Disadvantages
- Some people do not like the smell of cucumbers
- Only fresh cucumbers will do, so you have to pay attention to their age
If this isn’t an option, you can also take cucumber juice and apply it to your lips two to three times per day, and it will produce the same effect.
5. Diet Is Important
When you’re trying to keep your lips soft and healthy, there are certain foods that you should make a habit of avoiding. This includes items such as salsa, citrus fruits, such as lemons or oranges, popcorn, hot wings, nuts of all kinds, or anything else that is salty, acidic, or spicy.
This is especially important if your lips are already chapped, dry, or cracked. They can irritate skin that is already unhealthy and even cause discomfort if your lips are just starting to get dry.
Advantages
- It is easy to remember which foods you shouldn’t eat
- There are still a lot of foods left to enjoy
Disadvantages
- Some people may consider it difficult to give up these foods
- It is easy to forget that these foods will make your chapped lips worse
While you’re thinking about your diet, you can also make sure that you consume large amounts of Vitamins E and C every day to help your chapped lips. Both of these vitamins help with the healing process and can help your lips look healthy again a lot sooner.
However, you should never apply Vitamin E directly to your lips because this can actually irritate lips that are already dry and chapped. If you use a product that contains Vitamin E, it won’t have this effect, but never apply straight Vitamin E directly onto your lips.
6. Don’t Put up with Certain Weather Conditions
If your lips are already dry and chapped, it is best not to go outside in certain weather conditions. If it is too hot, too windy, or too cold outside, your lips will only get drier and more chapped and irritated.
If you do have to go out, make sure that your lips are protected with a super-moisturizing product such as a thick oil or petroleum jelly. Protection is the next-best remedy to staying inside whenever you are trying to avoid chapped lips.
Advantages
- It gives people an excuse to avoid certain weather conditions
- It is a relatively easy method to follow
Disadvantages
- It is often difficult to avoid being outside
- During long periods of inclement weather, this method may be difficult to follow
7. Hydration Is Important
This may sound pretty basic, but it’s amazing that not everyone knows about it. A hydrated body is a healthy body, and this includes your lips. During the dry winter months, it is crucial to drink a lot of water during the day, and if the air inside of your home is a little on the dry side, buy yourself a humidifier. Make sure that your body stays hydrated, and your lips will stay that way, too.
Advantages
- Water is healthy for more than just your lips
- Water is available to everyone
Disadvantages
- Some people do not like to drink water
- Some areas have less-than-healthy tap water, and bottled water may be inconvenient
8. Oil, Oil, Oil
There are a lot of different oils that can keep your lips moisturized, and you don’t have to run out and purchase expensive essential oils to get the job done. You can also use cocoa butter, almond oil, coconut oil, Vitamin E, and even oils such as canola oil or olive oil.
Some people also use petroleum jelly on their lips before venturing outside or before going to bed, and you don’t need a lot of it to do the trick. Just a small amount of one of these items rubbed onto your lips on a daily basis will help your lips stay soft and moisturized all the time.
Another item that you can use, which is usually fairly inexpensive, is beeswax because it contains an anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Advantages
- Most of these oils are easy to get and inexpensive
- Oils work almost immediately
Disadvantages
- Some people don’t like the feel of oil on their lips
- Some oils can be a bit expensive
9. Skip the Lipstick
When you have dry lips, the last thing you want to place on your lips is lipstick. Most lipstick is very drying and should be avoided, but if you can, find a moisturizing lipstick or lipstick that has a high SPF number attached to it, such as 15 or higher.
The same ingredients that give lipsticks their staying-on power are often the same ones that make your lips dry, so the longer you can avoid wearing lipstick, the more your lips will thank you for it.
Advantages
- It saves you money on lipstick
- It is an easy habit to pick up
Disadvantages
- Many women feel incomplete if they are not wearing lipstick
- Some SPF-15 or conditioning lipstick can be expensive
10. Tea Bags Can Help
Green tea bags make your lips feel better more quickly than you think. You can soak them in warm water for a few minutes and either rub them on your lips or keep them in between your lips for a little bit. The polyphenols contained in green tea are anti-inflammatory in nature, and they will make your dry, chapped lips feel better in no time.
Advantages
- Green tea bags are inexpensive and easy to find
- Teabags feel good against your lips
Disadvantages
- Some people don’t like the feel of the bags on their lips
- It can be inconvenient to keep teabags around all the time
11. Toothpaste Types Matter
There are certain ingredients in toothpaste that cause allergic reactions in your skin, including your lips. This includes synthetic flavors such as spearmint and peppermint, as well as the ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS.
All of these ingredients are easy to discover because, by law, they have to be listed on the back of the tube. Before you buy your next tube of toothpaste, therefore, go ahead and check for these ingredients beforehand.
Advantages
- This is an easy solution to dry lips
- You have to brush your teeth anyway
Disadvantages
- SLS-free toothpaste is sometimes difficult to find
- It is easy to forget to make sure SLS isn’t in your toothpaste