3 Surprising Ways To Prevent Chapped Lips

Keep your pucker kissable with these easy strategies.

You’re a veritable lip balm squad: You put it on morning, noon and night. But no matter how hard you try, your lips are still cracked and flaky year-round. Why?

“Lips get chapped because they don’t contain oil glands and they can’t hydrate themselves,” says fashion and beauty expert Rebekah George. “This makes them more vulnerable and prone to dryness.”

Give chapped lips the kiss-off with a few easy tweaks:

Consider your beauty routine. Your lips may be coming into contact with more beauty product residue than you realize. Toothpaste, face lotion, foundation — even errant hairspray — could contain irritants or allergens, such as fragrances, dyes or color additives, that bother your lips. Avoid contact when possible, and try applying Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly (Link opens in new window) on your lips before you get ready in the morning to create a barrier.

Watch your mouth. Your diet may be one of the sneaky culprits behind your chronically chapped lips. Some research suggests dry lips may be caused by a lack of B vitamin or iron, so up your intake of foods rich in these nutrients. Spinach, lean red meats, nuts and whole grains (Link opens in new window.) are some great sources of iron; B vitamins can also be found in whole grains, as well as meats and tuna (Link opens in new window.) and many other sources. Or talk to your doctor about whether or not supplements are appropriate for you.

Whatever you do, resist the urge to lick your lips. “It makes them feel good for a second, but it only dries them out more,” warns George. To help reverse the damage, apply Vaseline® Lip Therapy Rosy Lips to lock in moisture.

Layer it on. Before bed, exfoliate lips with a soft toothbrush or nubby washcloth and warm water to help your balm really penetrate. “At night I apply a layer of Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly on my mouth,” says Falik. “I think it’s a good way to prevent licking your lips.” George also suggests covering the areas around your mouth—not just lips—with Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly to ward off irritation.