How to Get Rid of Chapped Lips Without Lip Balm

Last Updated: November 12, 2021 References Approved

If your lips are chapped, you may want to avoid the artificial ingredients in certain lip balms, and with good reason. The fragrances, artificial colors, and soothing agents they contain can irritate your lips and make them worse.^{[1]
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Research source} Or maybe you don’t have any lip balm around and want relief without running to the store. Never fear! You can soothe and heal your lips naturally by avoiding irritants, taking simple measures to keep them protected, and applying natural moisturizers and soothing agents.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Avoiding Irritants

1
Avoid licking your lips. Licking your lips does temporarily add moisture, but at a cost. Your saliva will irritate your lips, while constant licking will also remove the natural oils that protect them and hold in moisture.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
2
Breathe through your nose. The more you breathe through your mouth, the drier your lips will become.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} This means that if you have a cold as well as chapped lips, a decongestant can do wonders for both.

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3
Don’t pick off flakes of dead skin. Instead, soften them with emollient oils, such as coconut oil or almond oil, and let them fall off naturally. Pulling them off too early will expose raw, painful skin.^{[4]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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4
Stay away from acidic, salty, or spicy foods. All of the above can further irritate your already damaged lips. They can also make the skin barrier on your lips weaker, making them more prone to dryness and damage.^{[5]
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Research source} In particular, be sure to avoid:
- Citrus like grapefruit or orange juice
- Popcorn or nuts
- Hot wings or salsa
5
Get rid of toothpaste with synthetic flavors. Flavors like spearmint and peppermint, as well as ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), can cause allergic reactions that aggravate already irritated skin.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
DermNet NZ
Online clinical resource website written and run by dermatologists providing evidence-based information about dermatology and skin health
Go to source} Check here for a list of SLS-free toothpastes: http://slsfree.net/sls-free-toothpaste/.
6
Avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Sun and wind are the 2 main causes of chapped lips. If your lips are damaged, more sunshine will only make them worse.^{[7]
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Research source} Normal sunscreen is not recommended for chapped lips, as it may irritate them, but lipsticks and balms with SPF are safe.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} However, if you’re trying to avoid balms altogether, minimize your time in the sun.
- You can also protect your lips by wearing a hat with a wide brim to help shade your face, or covering your lips with a scarf when it’s cold out.^{[9]
  X
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
7
Stay out of harsh weather. Windy, dry, or cold weather can quickly dry out and crack your lips. You’ll want to stay indoors as much as possible to give your lips a chance to heal.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Applying Natural Moisturizers and Healing Agents

1
Rub petroleum jelly or beeswax on your lips. These are the 2 main treatments suggested by the National Institute of Health.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
Go to source} Beeswax contains propolis, which is an anti-inflammatory that aids in healing.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
Go to source} Petroleum jelly is an emollient (skin softener) that moisturizes and protects lips.
2
Place or rub sliced cucumber on your lips for 5 minutes. Cucumber has been shown to be a very effective moisturizer due to its high water content.^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} It also soothes skin and reduces inflammation.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Try putting a slice of fresh cucumber on your lips for a few minutes for relief from soreness and discomfort.
- Alternately, you can apply cucumber juice to your lips several times a day, or freeze cucumber juice into an ice cube and rub it on your lips.^{[15]
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  Research source}
3
Use almond oil or coconut oil in place of lip balm. Both are emollients that keep your skin soft, moist, and flexible. Almond oil also has anti-inflammatory properties.^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} In addition, coconut promotes healing, reduces the risk of infection, and reduces pain, making it a great treatment for chapped lips.^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Gently massage almond oil or coconut oil over your lips to soften and moisturize them.
- Other oils used to treat chapped lips are olive oil, jojoba oil, canola, and mustard oil. All have moisturizing and protective properties, though their healing properties are not as pronounced as almond and coconut oil.
- Coconut oil is typically solid at room temperature. Rub a little bit of the oil between your fingers to warm it up and soften it before putting it on your lips.
4
Rub cocoa or shea butter on your lips. Both have emollient and anti-inflammatory properties. They will trap moisture and protect your lips.^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Shea butter also contains antioxidants that will help prevent further damage to your lips from the sun.^{[19]
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Research source}
5
Put drops of milk cream on your lips. The fat content of milk cream makes it effective at moisturizing your lips, though it does not have the same anti-inflammatory and healing properties as some oils and plant butters. Still, if you don’t have the right oils or butters to hand, this traditional home remedy may help. Let it sit on your lips for 10 minutes, then wash it off with lukewarm water.^{[20]
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Research source}
- You can also try mixing the cream with mashed rose petals for a boost of fresh scent and soothing moisture.
6
Use regular cooking oil if nothing else is available. Just about any oil can help lock in moisture and soothe chapped lips. If you don’t have shea butter or coconut oil on hand, grab another common household oil, such as olive oil, sunflower seed oil, or grapeseed oil. Rub a thin layer of the oil over your lips.
- You can even use butter or margarine if nothing else is available.
7
Apply aloe vera to your lips. You can purchase pure aloe vera gel at a store, or buy an aloe vera plant, break off a leaf, and squeeze some out. Aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory that also promotes skin healing.^{[21]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} However, some people experience irritation or rashes when they use aloe, so be cautious and stop using it if it makes your lips feel worse.^{[22]
X
Trustworthy Source
DermNet NZ
Online clinical resource website written and run by dermatologists providing evidence-based information about dermatology and skin health
Go to source}
8
Consume vitamins E and C. When taken together, vitamins E and C help promote healing of damaged skin, particularly if your lips are chapped due to sunburn. Talk to your doctor about trying a supplement or topical cream that contains vitamin C and vitamin E.^{[23]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Some beauty sites suggest applying vitamin E oil directly to your lips, but some doctors warn that vitamin E can irritate chapped lips.^{[24]
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  Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Steps to Protect Your Lips

1
Use a humidifier at night. Keeping your room moist will help to prevent your lips from drying out any further. This is especially important when your air conditioning or heat are running a lot, as both may dry out the air in the room where you sleep.^{[25]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
2
Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is one of the main causes of chapped lips. This is particularly true in the winter, when the air is dry and many people drink less water.^{[26]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} If your lips are chapped, try to drink at 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated.^{[27]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
3
Skip the lipstick. Or if you do use it, make sure it is moisturizing. Alternately, rub a moisturizing and protective oil on your lips before applying lip stick.^{[28]
X
Research source} Or try a lip balm that contains an SPF of at least 15.
- Long-wear and matte lipsticks can be especially drying. Stick to creamy, moisturizing formulas instead.
4
Wear a scarf over your mouth when outside. The wind can cause chapped lips, and it can aggravate already chapped lips by stripping them of moisture. Putting a scarf over your mouth when outside gives your lips a chance to heal.^{[29]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I use beeswax on my lips?

Shara Strand
Makeup Artist
Shara Strand is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Shara Makeup Studio, a makeup and image consulting studio based in New York City. She has over 15 years of image and makeup consulting experience including working as a regional artist for Bare Escentuals and Estee Lauder, Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman. Her work has been featured in WNBC, Fox 5, Direct TV ABC morning news, and Hamptons Magazine. She is the creator of Shara Cosmetics and is a two time Billboard charted singer. She holds a BFA from New York University.

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Question

I can't stay indoors because I have school and it is summer, but I don't want to wear a scarf. How can I protect my lips?

Carlotta Butler, RN, MPH
Registered Nurse
Carlotta Butler is a Registered Nurse in Arizona. Carlotta is a member of the American Medical Writers Association. She received her Masters of Public Health from the Northern Illinois University in 2004 and her Masters in Nursing from the University of St. Francis in 2017.

Carlotta Butler, RN, MPH

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

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To protect your lips in the summer, use a lip balm with a SPF of at least 15. Try Blistex products.
Question

How do I protect my lips year-round?

Carlotta Butler, RN, MPH
Registered Nurse
Carlotta Butler is a Registered Nurse in Arizona. Carlotta is a member of the American Medical Writers Association. She received her Masters of Public Health from the Northern Illinois University in 2004 and her Masters in Nursing from the University of St. Francis in 2017.

Carlotta Butler, RN, MPH

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

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Protect your lips as much as possible in all temperatures. Before going out in cold or dry weather, apply lip balm or some other kind of lubricant such as vaseline. In summer use a lip balm with a SPF of at least 15. Follow other advice offered in this article such as staying hydrated and avoid licking your lips.