Our Secret Formula for How to Get Rid of Chapped Lips

Chapped lips are no fun, and getting rid of them isn't always easy. If you need help taking your lips back to smooth-and-supple status, here's exactly what you need to do.

First thing's first: Chapped lips happen for a variety of reasons. You could be dehydrated, or your body might be fighting off a cold, or you might just be adjusting to a new season or temperature. Some medications and skincare products can also cause dry or peeling lips, so be mindful about reading those side effects.

In general, it's a good practice to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and to avoid licking your lips (which will only result in the air drying them out). Next, follow these instructions to nix chapped lips and get soft, smooth skin again.

1. Exfoliate dry lips with a scrub.

Use your finger to massage your lips with a lip scrub in circular motions. Apply on dry lips, and massage for 30 seconds to ensure all areas are buffed. Optional: Allow the scrub to sit on your lips for an additional minute.

Shop our favorite lip scrubs:

2. Moisturize with a balm.

Use a warm, damp washcloth the remove the lip scrub and pat lips dry. Apply a thick coat of a moisturizing balm just before bed, and wear it overnight. The key to a good lip balm is creating a protective seal over the skin. Something as simple and cheap as Aquaphor or petroleum jelly can do this, but you may find your lips require additional humectant (read: moisturizing) ingredients, such as shea butter, lanolin, or castor oil.

Shop our favorite lip balms and masks to wear overnight:

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

$22 at Amazon $15 at Walmart $24 at Sephora

Aquaphor Lip Repair

$7 at Amazon

Vaseline Rosy Lip Therapy

$14 at Amazon

Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm

$13 at Amazon $10 at Ulta Beauty

3. Repeat!

The next morning, you should wake up to noticeably smoother, plumper lips. If not, you probably didn't use a balm that's really up for the job, so try one of our suggestions above (really!). Give your lips another quick scrub on a daily or weekly basis as needed, and continue to slather on a thick coat of balm to seal in moisture until your lips are fully healed. Keeping a protective layer on your skin at all times is the best way to both heal and prevent chapped lips, so give the matte and dry lipsticks a rest and switch to balms and glosses for the near future.

Shop our favorite lip products for keeping your pout pretty throughout the day: