From coconut oil to cucumber, the quick fixes for chapped lips

Chapped lips can strike when you least expect it, for any number of reasons – allergies, a lack of water, or even a lack of vitamins can be to blame.

But if you’re caught without lip balm or vaseline, there are some amazing home remedies that can improve the condition of your lips by adding some much-needed moisture.

From food condiments to natural oils, here are just a few you can try:

Read more: What your cracked lips are trying to tell you…

Honey

If your lips are so cracked that it hurts to smile, try soothing them with this natural home remedy – honey!

Ancient Egyptians, Chinese and African used honey on serious wounds because of its anti-fungal and antibacterial powers on serious wounds, and it’s just a good a remedy for dry and damaged lips.

Honey’s antibacterial powers help prevent infection from developing in cracked lips, while its hydration capabilities help your dry lips to restore lost moisture. Just try not to lick it off once applied!

Coconut or almond oil

Carrier oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil, are the best natural moisturisers, and contain healthy fatty acids to provide lips with the essential oils they need.

By adding a few drops of tea tree oil to the coconut or almond oil, you can also speed up the healing process if you’ve got sore cracks in your lips.

It’s worth applying this two to three times a day, and works best when left overnight – ensuring you don’t have any allergies first.

Cucumber

This works especially well in summer when you’re battling the heat, as it acts as a natural cooling agent.

Wipe a slice of cucumber across your lips, before leaving it resting on your lips for up to 10 minutes.

It will immediately soothe irritated areas and help to add much-needed moisture to the tender skin.

Aloe vera

The natural ingredients in aloe vera help to soothe chapped skin. Remove the thorny skin from a piece of aloe vera and apply the ‘gel’ from the flesh of the plant to your lips.

This works best when applied before you go to sleep, and left overnight to work its magic.

Green tea bags

The benefits of green tea are seemingly endless, and now there’s another way they can help with your health and wellbeing.

By soaking a tea bag in some hot water, allowing it to cool enough to the touch, and then wiping it on your lips, it can rehydrate them instantly.

The bag contains antioxidants which help heal the dry and dehydrated skin on your lips.

Cocoa butter

Just like an intense moisturiser, cocoa butter works by replenishing moisture in the lips and soothing chapped areas.

Applying a thin layer at night, and leaving it while you sleep.

Avoid spicy and salty food

Avoiding salt in food can be near impossible, but simply cutting down your intake per day can help chapped skin developing around your mouth.

Salt and spicy foods dehydrate you, meaning your lips are getting much less moisture than usual, and because they’re dry, you’re likely to be more tempted to lick them, causing a cycle of sore lips.

Drink lots of water

It may sound simple, but chapped lips are largely down to dehydration.

By drinking more each day, you’re giving your body enough water to moisten the lips, while preventing you from licking them as much – which can actually dry them out more.

Turn on a humidifier at night

A humidifier works by adding more moisture back into the air on dry nights, particularly in summer.

Keeping one on while you sleep ensures your body doesn’t lose too much water, which in turn can cause your lips to dry out and chap.

Do you suffer from dry or chapped lips? Have you tried any of these tricks or do you have one of your own?