Get Smooth, Soft Lips: Lip Care Routine, Essential Tips, and Product Recs
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If you suffer from dry, chapped lips and are looking for a way to have consistently soft lips, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been there…actually, I was JUST there. We’ve all experienced it: the uncomfortable tightness, the unsightly flakes, and the relentless self-consciousness of having dry, chapped lips. And to add insult to injury, your lips can become especially dry during harsh weather conditions, which are just around the corner. But luckily, relief is within reach!
In this post, I’ll be going over:
Whether you're battling the cold autumn air, or simply want to maintain your lip health, this post will help you achieve hydrated, soft lips. So if you’re ready to transform your lips from parched and flaky to supple and soft, keep reading 👀
Why Are Your Lips So Dry?
Dry, chapped lips can be caused by a variety of factors; some common ones are listed below. By pin-pointing the cause(s) of your dry lips, you can be better able to address the issue(s).
Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can lead to dry lips (and dry skin throughout your whole body). Keeping hydrated is crucial for maintaining overall healthy skin.
Weather Conditions: Cold, windy weather such as what’s coming up in the Fall season can strip moisture from your lips. On the flip side, hot, dry climates can also lead to dryness.
Sun Exposure: Just as anything else dries out in heat, sun exposure can affect the sensitive skin on your lips, causing them to become dry and chapped if they’re not properly hydrated and moisturized.
Lip Licking: While lip licking seems like a quick remedy to dry lips (I’m so guilty of this..), frequently licking your lips can actually dry them out more because saliva evaporates quickly, leaving your lips drier than before.
Harsh Ingredients: Though it seems counterintuitive, some lip products that are marketed as “moisturizing” can actually irritate your lips and cause dryness. For example, quite a few products contain alcohol as it acts as a preservative, helps with things like ingredient penetration, or even creates that tingly sensation on your lips that some people enjoy. However, the alcohol can cause irritation or drying of your skin.
Allergic Reactions: Allergies to certain foods, cosmetics, or dental products can lead to chapped lips.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), or iron, can contribute to lip dryness. For example, angular cheilitis - those annoying cracks and inflammation at the corners of the mouth - could be caused by a vitamin B2 deficiency. Or a vitamin E deficiency may also result in dry, cracked lips as vitamin E helps with protecting and repairing skin cells.
Skin Conditions: Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or cheilitis (inflammation of the lips) can cause persistent dryness and chapped lips.
Breathing Through Your Mouth: Breathing through your mouth, especially during sleep, can dry out your lips.
Just existing 😭: During the day, you eat, drink, and talk, all of which cause air or other substances to pass by your lips, which can exacerbate dryness and irritation.
Lip Care Routine for Hydrated, Soft Lips
A good lip care routine can help keep your lips smooth, hydrated, and healthy. Below is a high level routine that you can follow both morning and night, which can be customized to fit what your lips need.
Exfoliate: Gently exfoliate your lips once a week to remove dead skin cells and promote smoother lips. You can use a lip scrub or make your own with ingredients like sugar and honey (which is a natural moisturizer). Or if your lips are extra sensitive, try using a soft cloth or your fingers rather than abrasive scrubs to wipe your lips.
Prep your lips: Wet your lips with water (not saliva!). Or if they’re still wet from brushing your teeth or washing your mouth, do not wipe the water off.
Treat (Optional): If your lips are particularly prone to dryness, let them dry a bit until they’re damp and then apply some hyaluronic acid (or another hydrating serum), gently patting it into your lips. You can even wet your lips with water again to add more moisture for the hyaluronic acid to work with.
Moisturize (Optional): Let your lips dry until damp, then add one drop of a moisturizing oil like squalane oil or rosehip oil onto the tip of your finger and dab it onto your lips.
Applying oil can deeply moisturize your lips and help smooth any roughness or flakiness. Bonus points if you use it before bedtime as the oil will have time to hydrate and soften your lips as you sleep.
Moisturize/Seal in the moisture: Apply a moisturizing lip balm or lip mask regularly, especially before bed and if possible, after eating or drinking to both add and seal moisture in your lips. Look for balms with ingredients like shea butter or cocoa butter, which are great for moisturization. And during the day, use a lip balm with SPF to protect your lips from sun damage as UV rays can cause chapping.
Further seal in the moisture (Optional): If needed (like if there are extreme weather conditions or your lips are particularly dry), feel free to further seal in the moisture in your lips from the previous steps with another occlusive like vaseline.
Additional Tips for Keeping Your Lips Soft
In addition to the steps mentioned above and the general guidance of drinking enough water to stay hydrated and regularly applying lip balm, incorporating some of the tips below into your regular lip care repertoire can further help you achieve and maintain soft lips:
Avoid Irritating Ingredients: Lip products containing irritants like alcohol, fragrances, or artificial dyes can wreak havoc on your lips. Opt for gentle, hydrating, and hypoallergenic products instead.
Always keep a lip balm handy: Keeping a lip balm handy in your purse, backpack, car, - anywhere you might access often - will help you avoid constantly licking your lips when they need moisture. Whenever you have the urge to lick your lips or pick at the skin on your lips, try to just apply lip balm instead to add moisture instead of drying your lips out more with your saliva.
Just remember to be cautious about what ingredients are in your lip balm as certain ones can dry out your lips even further.
Maintain a Healthy Diet: As mentioned earlier in this post, nutritional deficiencies can contribute to dry, chapped lips. Therefore, try to adjust your diet to include foods rich in vitamins and minerals that support skin health, such as dark leafy greens, avocados, nuts, and seeds.
Check for Allergies or Sensitivities: If you suspect that a particular food or cosmetic is particularly irritating or drying your lips, try eliminating it from your routine to see if your lips improve. For example, matte products tend to be drying.
Use Tallow: If you are ok with using animal products, tallow is a great option for hydrating your lips and creating a protective barrier against the environment. It’s super affordable, and similarly to rosehip oil, it can be used to protect and hydrate your skin as well.
Add a Protective Physical Layer: If you’re planning to go out when it’s windy or cold, use a scarf or a mask to shield your lips from the harsh environmental conditions.
Use a Humidifier: What you can also do in dry climates or during winter is to use a humidifier. It can add moisture to the air and help prevent your lips from drying out.
Try DIY Remedies: A lot of products that you may already have at home can actually be used to help nourish your lips. This makes lip care more convenient and affordable than having to buy lip-specific products.
Natural Oils: Applying oils like coconut or almond oil can nourish and hydrate your lips… and you might already have some in your kitchen!
Honey: Honey is a natural humectant/moisturizer. If you apply a thin layer on your lips and leave it on for about 10 minutes before rinsing, it helps to hydrate and soften your lips.
Stimulate Circulation in Your Lips: Lightly massaging your lips with your fingertip can promote blood flow and help keep them plump and healthy. Just a minute or two daily can make a difference.
As is important in any kind of skincare, consistency is important. If you’re able to pick a few of the above tips and follow them consistently, you should notice a positive change in your lips.
Product Recommendations
Best hydrating serum for lips:
This is an ultra hydrating serum that I originally started using on my face, but found that it worked well on the lips too. Formulated with squalane and glycerin, it helps to plump up the lips with moisture. And its ceramides helps support the outer layer of your lips, which is especially great if you experience peeling or flakiness. Follow this up with a lip oil, then a balm, and your lips will feel so nice!
Best oil for lips:
This Rosehip seed oil is a really affordable addition to your lip care routine that does a great job with adding extra moisture and softening effect.
I will say that it has a slight smell, which might not be for everyone. But it’s easy to get over, especially since the oil is so good for your skin. A bonus is that it can also be used on your face to help soften your skin and seal in the moisture there.
Best moisturizing lip balm:
Nivea lip balm is one of my favorite go-to lip products. It’s no-frills, ultra-hydrating, and applies a pretty, barely-there tint that adds natural looking color to your lips. Also, the consistency is pretty soft, so it glides easily on your lips.
These are also very affordable, so it’s easy to keep multiple handy - for ex. have one in each bag you use, one in the car, one on your desk… such that you have a way to moisturize your lips in any situation.
Best lip mask:
This is a great lip mask - it is sooo buttery and leaves your lips equally as soft and moisturized. It’s also packed with vitamin C, an antioxidant powerhouse for the skin on your lips.
I know that a lot of peoples’ favorite is LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask, but I actually like the texture of this better. Also, I like that this comes in a smaller size than the Laneige lip mask (0.42 oz vs. 0.7 oz, and at a proportionally lower price). The container is big enough that it lasts a long time, but not too long such that it prevents you from being able to try new products.
Best occlusive balm:
This is a great all-around nourishing balm that I started out using on my hands, but found that it also works wonders for the lips. It contains shea butter and glycerin for moisture and hydration, and it’s specifically formulated to help relieve cracked and chapped skin. It also contains SPF, so it’s great for daytime use.
I use this as the last step of my lip care when I REALLY need extra moisture. And upon application, you can just feel the added nourishment and protection.
With the right products and just a little consistency, you can have a solid lip care routine that combats dry, chapped lips and will leave you with beautiful, soft lips all season long!