Chapped lips are one of the first signs of winter, and the lip balm you reach for can either help or make things worse. Here is what the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends, which ingredients to look for and avoid, and how the balms we stock compare.
Key takeaways
- Stop using any lip product that burns, stings or tingles.
- Apply a non-irritating balm several times a day and before bed.
- While lips are chapped, avoid flavored balms (especially mint, peppermint, cinnamon and citrus), fragrance, menthol and camphor.
- Stop licking your lips; saliva evaporates and leaves them drier.
- Outdoors, use a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher.
How to heal chapped lips
The AAD's advice is short and practical:
- Stop anything that stings. Burning, stinging or tingling is a sign a product is irritating your lips.
- Use a balm often. Apply a non-irritating lip balm several times a day and at bedtime. For very dry lips, a thick ointment such as white petroleum jelly seals in water longer than waxes or oils, according to the AAD.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Stop licking, biting and picking. When you catch yourself licking your lips, apply balm instead.
- Run a humidifier, especially in the bedroom if you breathe through your mouth at night.
- Protect them from the sun. Outdoors, wear a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher, even in winter, and reapply every 2 hours.
The AAD says lips should improve in 2 to 3 weeks. If they don't, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Lip balm ingredients: what to look for and what to avoid
| Look for | Avoid while lips are chapped |
|---|---|
| Castor seed oil, ceramides, dimethicone, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, petrolatum, shea butter, white petroleum jelly | Camphor, eucalyptus, menthol, phenol, propyl gallate, salicylic acid |
| Sun protection from zinc oxide or titanium dioxide | Flavorings, especially cinnamon, citrus, mint and peppermint |
| Fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formulas | Fragrance, lanolin, octinoxate, oxybenzone |
The lip balms we stock, compared
We'd rather be straight with you: several of our balms are flavored, and the AAD suggests skipping flavored balms while lips are cracked. Save those for everyday use once your lips have healed.
| Lip balm | Flavor | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Naturallow Tallow Lip Balm, Pure/Unscented | Unscented option | Chapped lips: choose the Pure/Unscented variant |
| Ginger Lily Tallow Organic Tallow Lip Balm | Scented (essential or fragrance oils) | Everyday use once lips have healed |
| Ginger Lily Tallow Organic Tinted Lip Balm Stick | Tinted, with fragrance oil | A sheer wash of color on healthy lips |
| Pure Good Tallow Lip Balm | Citrus, coconut, peach or vanilla mint | Everyday use once lips have healed; comes in cardboard tubes |
| Poofy Organics Lemon Sugar and Strawberry Smoothie | Lemon or strawberry | Everyday use once lips have healed; certified USDA Organic |
| Balmy Tallow Peppermint Tallow Lip Balm | Peppermint | Everyday use once lips have healed |
Tallow balms are made with beef fat and aren't vegan, and several balms here also contain beeswax. None of them are sunscreens, so add an SPF lip product outdoors. See all organic lip balm, and our winter skincare routine for the rest of your face.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to heal chapped lips?
Stop using anything that stings, apply a non-irritating balm or white petroleum jelly several times a day and at bedtime, stop licking your lips, and use a humidifier at night. The AAD says lips should improve in 2 to 3 weeks.
Why do my lips stay chapped even with lip balm?
Your balm may be part of the problem. Flavorings, fragrance, menthol, camphor and some other ingredients can irritate lips. Switch to a fragrance-free, unflavored balm, and stop licking your lips.
Is tallow lip balm good for chapped lips?
Tallow is a fat that helps seal in moisture, and an unflavored tallow balm avoids the flavorings the AAD warns about. If your lips don't improve, try white petroleum jelly, which the AAD names as one of the most effective options.
Should I use lip balm with SPF in winter?
Yes. The AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher on your lips outdoors year-round, reapplied every 2 hours.
When should I see a doctor about chapped lips?
If your lips haven't improved after 2 to 3 weeks of gentle care, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Sources
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Patch-test new products and ask a dermatologist or doctor about skin or health concerns.
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