Most of us have experienced chapped lips at some point, and it’s not a particularly great feeling. They’re dry and tight, and we’re afraid to crack a smile because our lips may, well…crack. In some cases, dry lips become sensitive to citrus, spicy, or salty foods that can cause a burning or stinging sensation. In the most severe cases, dry lips can swell, bleed, and develop sores.
So, what causes chapped lips, how can we prevent them, and when we can’t, how can we make them supple again?
Cracking the Case of Chapped Lips
Here are some common causes of dry lips:
Dry weather.
Dehydration.
Malnutrition.
Constant lip licking.
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Certain medications (retinoids, lithium, chemotherapy drugs especially)
*If there’s a chance you are severely dehydrated or malnourished, please consult your doctor.
Unlike almost every other part of our body, lips don’t have oil or sweat glands, so it’s our responsibility to keep them moisturized. Here are simple ways to do this:
Stay hydrated by drinking water.
Frequently apply a good lip balm throughout the day.
Use a humidifier in dryer weather.
Protect the mouth from cold weather with a scarf or other safe winter gear.
Lipstick can dry out lips, especially matte lipstick. For lipstick lovers, simply apply lip balm as a moisture base before applying lipstick to protect the lips from drying out. Try to apply the lip balm 5-10 minutes before applying lipstick.
Finding Relief with Mango Butter
Whether you’re applying lip balm as a preventative or to provide relief, you may enjoy a balm that includes mango butter as a prime ingredient. Mango butter boasts abundant antioxidants that swiftly combat dryness and chapped lips, offering potent healing qualities that prevent easy irritation. It’s packed with vitamins A, E, and C that work together to trap moisture even on the coldest days, which is especially important for exposed lips. Vitamin C even works as a mild sun protectant. If your lips are chapped, mango butter’s anti-inflammatory properties help speed up the healing process. Mango butter feels smooth on the lips and doesn’t leave behind an oily residue.
*For a list of other benefits of mango butter, check out a previous Moonlight blog, Mango Butter: The Quiet Hero Among Natural Butters.
Mona Moon Lip Balm
Mona decided to use mango butter in her lip balm formula because of its multiple benefits and restorative properties. The all-natural lip balm is available in five scents: peppermint, tangerine, vanilla, spearmint, and vanilla mint. Vanilla mint was featured as a holiday-exclusive scent, but due to customer requests, Mona decided to keep the scent available year-round.
Mona Moon Naturals focuses on small-batch products made with natural, recognizable ingredients.