LIP CARE 101 : Why Your Lips Stay Dry (and How to Fix Dry, Chapped Lips)

Lips are one of the few areas of the face that people treat almost continuously. Lip balm is in every handbag, pocket, car and bedside drawer, yet chronically dry, peeling lips are incredibly common.

There is a reason for that. The lips are structurally different from the skin on the rest of the face. Their protective surface is thinner and more vulnerable to moisture loss, which makes them particularly susceptible to dryness, peeling and irritation.

Keeping lips healthy requires more than making them feel smooth. They need hydration, emollience and protection from moisture loss, particularly when they are already dry or compromised.

WHY LIPS GET DRY SO EASILY?

The skin of the lips is structurally different from the skin covering most of the face.

The lips have a thinner, more delicate protective surface and fewer of the natural mechanisms that help the rest of our skin stay lubricated and protected. This makes them particularly vulnerable to dehydration and environmental exposure.

Cold weather, dry indoor air, wind, sun exposure and frequent lip licking can all make the problem worse.

So can some of the things we do in an attempt to fix dry lips.

Repeated exfoliation, picking at peeling skin and using irritating or strongly flavored lip products can leave already-dry lips even more vulnerable.

WHAT DRY LIPS ACTUALLY NEED

Think of effective lip care as a combination of three functions:

• Humectants help attract and hold moisture

• Emollients soften, smooth and improve the feel of dry lips

• Occlusive and film-forming ingredients help reduce moisture loss and protect the surface

This combination is especially useful because dry lips rarely have only one problem.

They may be dehydrated, rough, flaky and exposed to environmental stress at the same time.

The goal is not simply to coat them, but to create a comfortable, protective environment that helps lips retain moisture and stay supple.

STOP SCRUBBING YOUR LIPS

One of the first things people tend to do when their lips become flaky is exfoliate them.

Sometimes that makes sense. A very gentle removal of loose surface flakes can temporarily improve texture.

But chronically dry lips do not need to be scrubbed into submission.

Repeated use of lip scrubs, aggressive rubbing or pulling off peeling skin can further disturb an already-fragile surface and prolong irritation.

If your lips are persistently dry and peeling, focus first on hydration and protection.

Once the lips are comfortable again, occasional gentle exfoliation may be useful if there is visible surface buildup. It should not become the treatment for chronic dryness.

WATCH THE LIP LICKING

Lip licking is another surprisingly common reason dry lips stay dry.

It feels helpful for a few seconds because saliva temporarily wets the surface. But as that moisture evaporates, lips can feel even drier.

Saliva also contains enzymes designed to begin breaking down food. Those enzymes are useful in the mouth, but repeated exposure is not particularly helpful to irritated lip skin.

If you notice yourself constantly licking your lips, especially when they already feel dry, keep a lip treatment nearby and reach for that instead.

THE RIGHT FORMULA FOR DRY LIPS

When I formulated the Lip Treatment, I wanted something substantially more useful than a waxy stick that simply made dry lips feel slippery.

I wanted hydration, softness, cushion and protection in the same formula.

Our Lip Treatment has a rich, cushiony texture that coats the lips in a comfortable protective layer that stays put without feeling heavy or sticky. Lips feel softer, smoother and more supple with a healthy-looking finish.

The formula combines humectants, emollients and protective film-forming ingredients to hydrate, soften and cushion dry lips while helping reduce moisture loss.

It includes glycerin to support hydration, squalane and sunflower oil to soften and condition, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, CoQ10 and vitamin E to complement the formula with peptide and antioxidant support.

A little piece of Lip Treatment history: I formulated ours with peptides long before peptide lip treatments became a beauty trend. What now seems to be everywhere was part of this formula from the beginning.

The result is a treatment that feels substantial enough to protect dry lips while remaining comfortable enough to wear throughout the day.

Keep it nearby and reapply as needed, especially before going outside and before bed.

DON'T FORGET THE AREA AROUND THE LIPS

The skin around the lips deserves attention too. I like using a Gua Sha Board  around the mouth as a preventive practice. Gentle massage helps release tension in the muscles surrounding the lips and keeps the area mobile and relaxed, particularly where repetitive movement can eventually contribute to visible lines.

Use light pressure and glide the board over well-lubricated skin rather than dragging it across dry skin. Follow with Lip Treatment to keep the lips soft and conditioned.

 IF YOUR LIPS ARE CONSTANTLY DRY

If your lips are constantly dry, don't immediately add more products.

If they feel tight: focus on hydration and moisture retention.

If they are flaky: reduce aggressive exfoliation and protect the surface.

If you apply balm constantly but never seem to get ahead of the dryness:  look for a formula that combines humectants, emollients and protective ingredients rather than relying on surface coating alone.

And if you are licking, biting or picking at your lips throughout the day, addressing that habit can make as much difference as changing the product. 

WHAT ABOUT BREAKOUTS AROUND THE LIPS?

Lip products don't always stay on the lips. Balms, glosses, lipstick, toothpaste, lip pencils and other products can migrate onto the surrounding skin, and pore-clogging ingredients can contribute to breakouts around the mouth.

If you are acne-prone, check the ingredients in products you use on and around your lips. Copy and paste the ingredient list into our Pore Clogger Checker to quickly identify potentially pore-clogging ingredients.

The same applies to makeup and skincare used around the mouth. When breakouts repeatedly appear in this area, look at what is coming into contact with the skin before adding more acne products.

  A SIMPLE LIP ROUTINE

During the day, apply a hydrating, protective lip treatment as needed and before exposure to dry air, wind or cold.

At night, apply a generous layer before bed.

If your lips are exposed to the sun, use appropriate lip sun protection as well.

Unlike many skin concerns, dry lips usually give you fairly immediate feedback. When your lip care is working, you should notice it: less tightness, less flaking, a smoother surface and lips that remain comfortable for longer between applications.

That is ultimately the measure of a good lip routine: not how much product you use, but the condition of your lips.