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Dry lips can affect your entire day: you smile less, eating feels uncomfortable, and flaky skin keeps coming back. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to relieve dry lips and prevent them from returning. In this blog, you’ll discover what helps against dry lips, why they dry out so quickly, and how the right lip care can make them soft and smooth again.
What are the symptoms of dry lips?
You can easily recognise dry lips, but symptoms differ from person to person. The better you identify the signs, the faster you can treat them.
- Redness on and around the lips.
- Loose skin and flakiness.
- Cracks or small fissures.
- A tight, burning, or itchy feeling.
- Pain when eating spicy, salty, or sour foods.
Try giving your widest smile. Does it feel tight or sensitive? Your lips are telling you they need a little extra care.
Dry lips: the causes
The skin on your lips is thin and delicate and contains no sebaceous glands. That means your lips have no natural protection against moisture loss. Several factors can speed this up.
✧ Weather and environment
In winter, your lips dry out faster due to cold wind outdoors and dry heating indoors. In summer, the sun and UV rays can pull moisture from the skin as well. Low humidity at home or in the office amplifies this effect.
✧ Habits and products
Licking your lips or pulling off skin flakes may seem harmless but can damage the skin and worsen dryness. Irritating lip products like matte lipsticks, lip plumpers, flavouring agents, menthol, or SLS toothpaste can make dryness worse. Smoking contributes to irritation and cracking.
✧ From within
Not drinking enough water, vitamin deficiencies, or certain medications can dry the skin from within. This means you may still experience dry lips even when using a good lip balm.
What helps against dry lips?
Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to relieve dry lips. With a few simple steps, you can help the skin recover and build a routine that prevents future dryness.
✧ Tips for dry lips
- Leave dry flakes alone to allow the skin to heal.
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free lip balm that strengthens the skin barrier.
- Apply extra balm before going outside, especially in cold or windy conditions.
- Scrub your lips only when they are not cracked or wounded, and no more than once a week.
- Drink plenty of water to support your skin from within.
- Increase humidity indoors for a more comfortable environment.
- Avoid irritating products like SLS toothpaste or strongly fragranced lip products.
Our favourite lip care for dry lips
These Korean lip products deliver deep hydration and help repair dry, rough, or cracked lips quickly.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask EXDeeply hydrating overnight mask that gently exfoliates and smooths the lips.
Tocobo Vita Glazed Lip MaskNourishing lip mask that softens and deeply hydrates.
COSRX Ceramide Lip Butter MaskNourishing lip mask with shea butter and ceramides that supports and repairs the skin barrier.
Frudia Blueberry Honey Lip BalmHoney-rich balm that softens and smooths the lips.
Dr. Ceuracle Kombucha Lip BalmVegan balm that soothes and strengthens the lip barrier.
Want to explore more great formulas? Browse our full lip care collection.
Frequently asked questions about dry lips
✧ Why do my lips get so dry in the winter?
Cold air outdoors and dry heating indoors pull moisture from the skin, causing your lips to dry out more quickly. A nourishing balm and higher indoor humidity can help prevent this.
✧ Is scrubbing good for dry lips?
Scrubbing can help remove flakes but is not suitable when your lips are cracked or painful. Wait until the skin has calmed down and scrub no more than once a week using a gentle product.
✧ Does drinking water help?
Drinking water helps your skin from within, but it won’t solve dry lips on its own. The best results come from combining hydration, lip balm, and protection from cold.
✧ Which lip care is best for sensitive skin?
For sensitive skin, choose fragrance-free, gentle formulas with soothing ingredients like oils, shea butter, or ceramides. Avoid products that tingle or contain strong fragrances.
✧ Can lip balm make my lips feel drier?
Lip balms containing strong fragrance, menthol, or flavouring agents can irritate the skin and cause dryness. A simple, nourishing formula is often the best option.
Conclusion: how to keep your lips soft
Dry lips are bothersome, but with the right routine they’re easy to care for. If you identify the cause, protect your lips daily, and choose gentle products, your skin will stay smooth and comfortable all year round.
With love for skincare,
Little Wonderland
