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Despite having three different lip balms in my bag right now and using them religiously, somehow my lips still feel dryer and more chapped than ever. Apparently, there are ingredients in the lip balms we use that can actually make our lips worse, creating a never-ending cycle of applying products with no results. Also, not all lip balms are equal. In fact, there are types that you should avoid altogether.
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Peppermint is a common ingredient in many lip balms, but it can actually irritate your lips and make them worse. "While that cooling feeling may seem like a good thing, these ingredients are often just initially masking what may become worse problems," said dermatologist Dr. Cybele Fishman.
On top of checking for harmful ingredients in your lip balm, you should also take into consideration the form of your chapstick. According to dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu, you should avoid using sticks. "Dragging a stick across your dry lips, especially one that's not brand new, can only irritate the skin further," said Dr. Wu. Instead, opt for lip balms that can be applied by (clean) fingers!
For hydrated lips, Dr. Wu also suggests drinking plenty of water, using a humidifier at night, and exfoliating the lips. She also suggests applying lip balm beyond the lips. "Oftentimes, it's the border of the lips that gets most chapped, so you don't want to ignore that area," Dr. Wu says. "It may not be the cleanest look, but a dab just outside the natural line of your lips will work wonders."
Have you tried these tips for more hydrated lips? Let us know in the comments below!
