Dry, cracked and chapped lips aren't only unsightly; they can be painful as well. During the dry winter months, indoor heating and frigid weather can leave your lips parched. During the hot summer, excessive sun exposure could leave you with a raw kisser. To get rid of chapped lips in one day, you must remove the dead skin cells that are causing the rough look and replenish the moisture in your lips. Rich, emollient moisturizers can help make your lips look smooth and supple again.
Step 1
Exfoliate the dead, chapped skin from your lips by using an abrasive agent to buff the skin away. The style website Polyvore recommends dipping a soft-bristled toothbrush in petroleum jelly, and rubbing in short circles over your lips. The toothbrush gently brushes away dead, chapped skin, while the petroleum jelly moisturizes for softer lips almost immediately.
Step 2
Moisturize your lips after exfoliating with a lip balm that contains ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, petroleum or dimethicone. Each are effective ingredients for both retaining moisture and attracting moisture to your parched lips. Allure magazine recommends choosing a viscous lip balm over a wax-based balm, so the active ingredients are absorbed by the tips, rather than sitting on top.
Step 3
Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated. What you may think of as a beauty problem may actually be an internal problem of being chronically dehydrated. The U.S. National Library of Medicine recommends that you drink more water in the dry winter months. Keep a full bottle with you during the day and drink to help your exfoliation and moisturizers work even more effectively for smoother lips in one day.
Step 4
Avoid licking your lips. While you may think that you are giving them moisture throughout the day, your saliva, MayoClinic.com notes that saliva evaporates too quickly, leaving your lips even drier than before. Slather a non-flavored lip balm (which might help avoid the temptation to lick your lips) over your lips to moisturize them and prevent yourself from licking throughout the day.
Step 5
Visit your health care provider if your efforts don't seem to remedy your chapped lips problem. Your chapped lips may actually be an allergic reaction or skin condition that should be medically treated, according to DermaDoctor.com.
Things You'll Need
- Toothbrush
- Washcloth
- Lip balm
- Water
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