Chapped Lips – Home Remedies

While spring might be just around the corner, winter is still here, in all its glory. The air is colder and drier. We've put away our swim suits in exchange for our winter clothes. Some of us are stoking the fire, while others of us are just cranking up the heat. Along with the winter weather, comes a change in our skin. It tends to become drier. It cracks, becomes irritated and chapped. Not only can the air contain less moisture when it turns dry, but by turning the heat on in our homes, we up the ante on that dryness as well.

One of the hardest things folks seem to struggle with, at this time, are chapped lips. While we can lather up most of our body with moisturizer and then cover it up and offer some sort of protection, our lips remain exposed to the elements. As a result, those precious lips can be extremely hard to care for. When ones lips dry out and become sore and uncomfortable, we have a natural response to lick them which, unfortunately, just makes them worse. The instant gratification that the licking of lips provides, feels fabulous...for only a moment. Then one realizes they have wrecked havoc on their delicate skin.

The solution is to keep the lips moist. It is better if we keep the problem at bay by caring for our lips before they get chapped, but we tend to forget about them until they start to bother us. The first thing to do is to keep hydrated. If our body is dehydrated, our lips are usually one of the first place this becomes evident. The second thing to do is to think about your lips when you are caring for the rest of your body. When you’re slathering on the lotion and you’ve got a little left on your hands, put it on your lips. When you’re applying your facial moisturizer and/or eye cream, place a little on your lips.

When that doesn’t work (or you forget) and suddenly your lips are red, sore and driving you crazy, it’s time for some serious interference. There are many lip balms/salves on the market, some of which do a very good job. If you’re like me, however, you are constantly switching from one to another, in search of “the one” that will ease your pain. And if that’s the case, you are probably amazed and bewildered at how expensive one little bitty tube can cost. Well there is no reason to be bewildered any longer, as you can make your own lip soother at home. But before I tell you how easy that is and give you some recipes, let me tell you a little about lip balms/salves.

Some are geared solely for the purpose of softening your lips, while others might have some medicinal value. Most of the products you purchase are waxy compounds containing beeswax or carnauba wax, while others will have a base of petroleum jelly. The purpose of these products is to provide a protective layer and hold what moisture there is in. Some of the ingredients you will find are camphor or menthol, both designed to cool and provide a mild anesthetic. Phenol, also found in some products, is also an antiseptic. For moisturizing purposes, there is lanolin, shea and cocoa butters, vitamin E and petroleum jelly. And in some balms, salicylic acid has been added as a mild exfoliate to slough off the dead skin cells and to make your lips smoother. Whether the finished product comes in a tube or a mini-pot, they are designed to do the same thing; to make your lips feel better.

To make such a lip balm at home is quick and easy. You can whip up a little something to sooth those chapped lips, usually with items you already have in your cabinets. If you want to put a little more effort into it, you can produce something a bit more elegant. And for those of you who think you might like to try making your own lip balm, I've added some links at the end of this article to get you started. As you will see, you can even order kits that include everything needed, making the process even easier. It's a great rainy day project; invite some friends over and make it a party! And when the party's over, you can all kiss each other good-bye with your new, soft, kissable lips.

The following three recipes utilize items that most of us have on hand already. They are quick, easy and inexpensive. The first two remedies are scrubs which, because they have oil in them, can be used on their own or can be used in conjunction with any of the other remedies provided here today.

Brown Sugar Scrub...

1 tsp brown sugar and 1 tsp olive oil – mix these together and then rub the mixture on your lips in a circular motion with your fingertip, for about 10 seconds and rinse. They should already feel softer and smoother, but you can apply a balm/salve at this point to provide further comfort and protection. Use as needed.

Sea Salt Scrub...

1 tsp finely ground sea salt and 1 tsp olive oil -mix these together and then rub the mixture on your lips in a circular motion with your fingertip, for about 10 seconds and rinse. In addition, you can add a small amount of freshly chopped rosemary, which is an anti-inflammatory. Be careful though, as the salt in this recipe can sting your lips if they are already split or a little raw. As in the preceding recipe, you lips should already feel softer and smoother, but you can apply a balm/salve at this point to provide further comfort and protection. Use as needed.

Simple Salve...

½ tsp honey, ½ tsp fresh lemon juice and ½ tsp castor oil – mix together and apply to lips.

The following four recipes are just as easy to make but call for some additional ingredients, which most of us may not already have. If you don’t have them on hand, they should be readily available at your local specialty market or health food store.

Mint Lip Gloss...

1 tbsp petroleum jelly and 3 drops peppermint oil – mix together and apply as often as necessary.

Lemon and Apricot Balm...

1 tsp beeswax, 1 tsp lemon (orange or grapefruit) essential oil, 1 tsp apricot kernel oil and 1 tsp calendula oil – melt the beeswax and add the apricot kernel and calendula oils, stirring constantly. Remove from heat while stirring and when partially cooled, add a few drops of the essential oil. Store the finished product in a small pot and use as needed. I would suggest melting the beeswax in a double boiler or, as most kitchens aren’t equipped with one, a small heat-resistant bowl set on top of a pot of boiling water. Do not use the microwave, as this recipe calls for stirring while melting.

Vanilla Balm...

½ oz calendula or safflower oil, ½ tbsp beeswax, 1 tbsp honey and 5 drops vanilla essential oil – melt the beeswax and calendula or safflower oil, stirring constantly, as in the preceding recipe. Remove from heat and stir in the honey and essential oil. Pour into a small pot and refrigerate to set. Honey is known for its great healing properties and gives this balm a sweet flavor.

Shea Butter Balm...

(this recipe makes enough for four ½ oz tins)

1 tbsp beeswax pearls/pellets, 1 tbsp pure shea butter, 2 tbsp sweet almond oil and 10-15 drops essential oils (for a cooling, invigorating balm, add 6 drops peppermint essential oil and 4 drops eucalyptus essential oil and for a softer scent, add 10 drops of rose oil, also called rose otto and 5 drops of vanilla oil, also called vanilla absolute) – melt beeswax, shea butter and almond oil together (once again, in a double boiler or a heat-resistant bowl placed atop a pot of boiling water), stirring constantly. Once these ingredients have liquefied, remove from heat and stir in essential oils. Quickly transfer liquid into a measuring cup or a container with a pour spout and divide among tins/pots. Let cool and store in a cool, dry place.

So, there you have it...seven easy homemade recipes/remedies to conquer the dry, chapped lips that cold weather brings with its gusts and whispers of winter. And if you’re not the creative type and don’t want to bother with whisking up your own little pot of comfort, you now know what some of the ingredients in a store bought product do and can make a more informed decision.Here’s wishing you smoother, softer, more soothed and kissable lips!