In comes the cold weather and out go your soft, supple lips. It can be really difficult to keep your lips from drying out during the winter months due to the dry air and harsh winds. Thankfully, there are some simple and effective ways to help keep your lips hydrated and healthy.
Full of natural ingredients and less expensive than store bought, this DIY lip balm is customizable and fun to make, and it gives you a taste of summer in January! The combination of the beeswax and coconut oil helps maintain a true balm consistency — even when it touches the warmth of your skin. Any essential oil can be substituted for the lime depending on flavor you would prefer; other good options include peppermint, spearmint and orange. Get creative with the storage of the balm by using old makeup containers or empty miniature candle holders.
Try out the homemade lip balm in addition to some of the tricks below, and you will surely notice a smoother, softer smile — even during the coldest winter months!
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 Tbsp. beeswax
1 tsp. sweet almond oil
10 drops lime essential oil
Directions
- Melt coconut oil, beeswax and almond oil over a double boiler.
- Once melted, add essential oil and mix until combined.
- Pour into lip gloss-sized containers and let harden. Will keep for several months in airtight container.
9 Tips to Prevent and Treat Dry Lips
- Stock up on lip balm — Shamelessly leave lip balm all over the place. Put one in your car, one on your bedside table, one in your purse — anywhere you think you might want or need some rehydration. Pick up a two-pack of Nova Scotia Fisherman , a three-pack of Life Elements or a four-pack of Burt’s Bees to make sure you’ll always have some extra on hand.
- Avoid salty foods — Salty foods can easily dry out your lips, so avoiding things like chips and salty meats may help prevent extra dryness.
- Use an overnight moisturizer — Prepping your lips before you go to sleep with a thicker moisturizer, like Vaseline, will help keep them hydrated throughout the night and less likely to dry out during the day.
- Keep a humidifier in your room — Humidifiers are a great way to help maintain some moisture in the air (and your lips) during the dry winter months.
- Exfoliate with sugar and honey — Mixing a bit of honey and sugar together makes a sweet lip balm and scrub for your lips. After applying it, rub your lips together to slough off dead skin.
- Avoid menthol and salicylic acid — Some lip balms contain the chemical menthol, which feels soothing to the lips but can ultimately cause them to dry out further. Same goes for salicylic acid, another popular skincare chemical.
- Keep using SPF — Even though the beach tanning days may be on hold, your lips will still be exposed to plenty of sunshine in the winter, making them susceptible to sunburn and peeling. Sun reflects off snow similarly to how it reflects off water. Avoid sun damage by using a lip balm with SPF 30, at the least.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! — We’re definitely not the first, and we won’t be the last, to tell you that drinking water is key for hydration, and this translates to your skin and lips also. Drink up!
- Make your own lip balm — DIY lip balm (such as the one above) is easier than it sounds and can be a fun thing to do with children or friends. Combine beeswax with a natural oil for a safe and inexpensive way to keep those lips looking and feeling great.
