Dry, cracked lips are commonly caused by cold or dry weather, sun exposure, frequent lip licking and moisture loss from the delicate skin of the lips. The best way to manage chapped lips is to minimise irritation and regularly apply a moisturising lip balm containing ingredients that soften the lips and help prevent further moisture loss.
Although chapped lips are often associated with winter, they can occur at any time of year.
Understanding what’s causing the dryness and choosing the right lip care can help keep your lips softer, smoother and better protected.
Why do lips become dry and cracked?
The skin on your lips is thinner and more delicate than the skin on many other parts of your body. This makes it particularly vulnerable to moisture loss and environmental exposure.
Common causes of cracked or dry lips include:
Cold and dry weather
Cold temperatures, wind and low humidity can increase moisture loss, which is why chapped lips are particularly common during winter.
Sun exposure
Like other exposed areas of skin, your lips can be affected by UV exposure. Spending extended periods outdoors without appropriate lip protection can contribute to dryness and irritation.
Frequently licking your lips
Licking dry lips may provide temporary relief, but saliva evaporates quickly and can leave the lips feeling even drier.
Repeated licking can create a cycle where your lips feel dry, you lick them, and they become increasingly irritated.
Products that irritate your lips
Some people are sensitive to particular fragrances, flavourings or other ingredients in lip products.
If your lips repeatedly become irritated after using a certain product, stop using it and see whether the condition improves.
What are the signs of chapped lips?
Common signs include:
- Dryness or tightness
- Flaking or peeling
- Rough texture
- Cracks
- Tenderness
- Itching or irritation
Severely cracked lips can occasionally bleed, particularly if dry skin is repeatedly picked or peeled.
Persistent cracking around the corners of the mouth can also have other causes, so seek advice from a healthcare professional if your symptoms are severe, recurring or don’t improve.
How to treat dry and chapped lips
1. Stop licking and picking your lips
Try to avoid licking, biting or peeling dry skin from your lips.
Instead, apply lip balm when they begin to feel dry or tight.
2. Protect your lips from the environment
Wind, cold weather and sun exposure can all contribute to dryness.
Use an appropriate lip product when outdoors and consider additional protection such as shade and a hat during prolonged sun exposure.
3. Avoid products that cause irritation
If a particular lip balm makes your lips sting, burn or become increasingly irritated, discontinue use.
A longer ingredient list doesn’t necessarily mean a better product. Choosing a formula with effective moisturising and protective ingredients is more important.
4. Use a moisturising lip balm regularly
A good lip balm helps soften the lips while creating a protective layer that reduces moisture loss.
Apply it throughout the day when needed and consider applying a more generous layer before bed, particularly if you regularly wake up with dry lips.
What ingredients should you look for in a lip balm?
When choosing a lip balm for dry or cracked lips, focus on ingredients that help soften, moisturise and protect the lips.
Beeswax
Beeswax is commonly used in lip balms because it helps form a protective layer over the lips.
This can help reduce moisture loss while also giving lip balm its characteristic protective texture.
Shea butter and cocoa butter
Shea butter and cocoa butter are emollients rich in fatty acids.
They help soften dry skin and improve the feel of rough or flaky lips while supporting the lip’s protective barrier.
Lanolin
Lanolin is an emollient and occlusive ingredient that can help soften lips and reduce water loss.
It can be particularly useful in richer lip balms designed for persistent dryness, although people who know they are sensitive to lanolin should avoid it.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E provides antioxidant and skin-conditioning benefits and is commonly combined with moisturising ingredients in lip products.
If you’re particularly interested in this ingredient, read our guide to the benefits of Vitamin E in lip balm.
Urea
Urea is a natural moisturising factor that helps attract and retain moisture.
Although it is more commonly associated with hand and foot creams, it can also be included at suitable concentrations in lip care formulations to support hydration.
Learn more about urea and its benefits for dry skin.
Grape seed oil
Grape seed oil is an emollient containing fatty acids and antioxidant compounds that can help condition dry skin.
Read more about grape seed oil for skin.
What is the best lip balm for very dry lips?
For persistent dryness, look beyond products that simply make the lips feel glossy.
A good intensive lip balm should ideally combine emollient ingredients that soften the lips with occlusive ingredients that help reduce moisture loss.
For example, an intensive lip balm combining beeswax, shea butter, lanolin, urea, Vitamin E and grape seed oil brings together several of the ingredients commonly used to support dry and chapped lips.
This type of richer formulation can be particularly useful before bed or during periods of cold, windy or dry weather.
How often should you apply lip balm?
There is no fixed number of times that suits everyone.
Apply lip balm whenever your lips begin to feel dry, tight or uncomfortable. You may find you need it more frequently during:
- Winter
- Windy weather
- Extended time outdoors
- Air-conditioned environments
- Periods when your lips are already chapped
Applying lip balm before bed can also be useful because it remains on the lips for longer without being removed by eating or drinking.
DU’IT Tough Lips 4.5g
Clinically proven DU’IT Tough Lips antioxidant intensive lip balm instantly hydrates and relieves dry, chapped lips, resulting in soft, healthy-looking lips. Enriched with nourishing grape seed, vitamin e and antioxidant polyphenols, its texture instantly melts without a greasy effect and leaves your lips moisturised.
