How to Heal Cracked & Chapped Lips

Chapped lips can be painful, and nobody wants them hanging around! But, they can be brought back to their soft, smooth selves with a bit of patience and a few handy tools.

THE FOUR CRUCIAL ELEMENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE CHAPPED LIPS TREATMENT

When your lips reach next-level dry and become cracked or chapped, simple fixes like a swish of lip balm or a big glass of water, aren’t likely to be enough. Cracked lips aren’t likely to be repaired in a single day but, with a bit of discipline, patience and persistence, you can replenish the health of your lips. Next time you are looking for a chapped lips cure, follow our simple four step guide below.

1. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS

Dehydration often shows up on your lips first, so if they’re dry and chapped, it could be a sign that you’re not getting enough water. Drinking around eight glasses a day can help keep dehydration at bay, as can increasing your intake of water-dense fruit and veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, oranges and berries. Bonus – they’re all packed with skin-loving vitamins and minerals!

2. COVER YOUR LIPS WITH AN EMOLLIENT (MOISTURE LOCKING) LIP BALM

Because your lips don’t have any pores (and therefore can’t produce hydrating oil and sweat), using lip balm regularly is your best bet for providing the moisture they need. Lip balms work by locking in moisture and preventing it from evaporating into the air. Look out for some of our fave nourishing ingredients like Provitamin B5, Glycerin and Vitamin E, all of which do wonders when it comes to keeping your lips soft and smooth. And, for outdoors - a lip balm with added SPF is an absolute must! Look for a gentle lip balm that contains natural moisturising ingredients like:

Beeswax
Shea butter
Coconut butter
Olive oil

Applying a lip balm will also provide your chapped lips with much needed relief. Treat your dry and chapped lips with NIVEA Lip Hydro Care SPF15 provides instant hydration and long-lasting moisturisation.

3. APPLY OILS TO ULTRA-TENDER LIPS

There are probably plenty of dry lip remedies already sitting in your kitchen cupboard! Natural oils are great for relieving chapped and cracked lips, as they provide moisture and protect your lips from further damage. Easy as pie! Gently rub a small amount of soothing oil on your lips to provide great relief for cracked and chapped lips. Choose natural nut oils and seed butters, including:

Coconut oil
Olive oil
Almond oil
Jojoba oil
Shea butter
Rosehip oil

NIVEA’s Lip Care Original contains natural derived oils and shea butter, perfect for everyday use!

4. CONSIDER A HUMIDIFIER

Dry air can be one of the biggest underlying causes of chapped and cracked lips. If you work or live in a building with particularly dry air – such as an air-conditioned office – a humidifier can help moisten the air, and in turn, your lips.

THE THREE FUNDAMENTALS OF A DRY LIPS CURE

Keeping dry lips soft and smooth may seem like a constant battle, but there are ways to keep your pout from drying out. Keep your lips healthy in three simple steps:

1. Exfoliate

Gently rub your lips with a homemade mixture of olive or coconut oil and sugar and wipe clean with a face washer or a splash of warm water.
Exfoliating helps to remove the dead flaky, top layer of skin on your lips to reveal the fresh, young skin underneath.

2. Wear lip balm regularly

Apply and reapply a good quality lip balm, often:

NIVEA’s Lip Care Strawberry is enriched with shea butter and 24hr melt-in moisture, to provide your lips with intense long-lasting moisturisation
NIVEA’s Sun Protect Lip Balm effectively protects your lips against harmful UVA and UVB rays with SPF30 while keeping your lips hydrated with 24hr melt-in moisture

Moisturising lip balms help lock in hydration and protect your lips from drying out.

3. Apply a dry lips treatment overnight

Replenish your lips’ moisture while you sleep with NIVEA’s Repair and Protection Lip Balm. Formulated with Hydra IQ shea butter, bisabolol and wheat germ oil this dry lips treatment rehydrates your lips, leaving them healthy, soft and nourished.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR DRY LIPS

Treating dry lips can also be done using a few common ingredients from home. For a quick natural fix, experiment with one of these three simple and natural dry lips remedies:

1. Coconut oil

Spread pure coconut oil over your lips for instant hydration.
Coconut oil helps to boost the overall health of your skin including the skin on your lips. It contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), making it easier for your skin to absorb.
Coconut oil also helps your body absorb more vitamin E, which works to prevent the production of cell-damaging free radicals.

2. Aloe vera

Apply the gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf to your lips to soothe sore or tender lips.
Aloe vera has natural anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe your skin and relieve stinging sensations.

3. Rose water and honey

Mix honey and rose water and apply to your lips for about 15 minutes before washing off. Honey and rose water help prevent cracking and provide deep moisturisation.