If you have dry and chapped lips, adding a lip mask to your beauty routine can be a much easier way of dealing with it than having to carry lip balm everywhere you go. Lip masks are effective, convenient, and deliver long-lasting hydration to your lips, helping to heal and prevent chapping.
Usually worn for longer stretches of time, lip masks provide a more long-lasting effect than lip balms, which absorb into your skin quickly. Lip masks are more hydrating — often due to ingredients like hyaluronic acid — and sometimes contain exfoliants that are not found in lip balm.
"Antioxidants in lip masks help prevent premature signs of aging and also help retain moisture—less chance of chapping! —so your lips appear smoother," she tells Byrdie. Beyond that, some formulas gently exfoliate to dry skin and flakey lips.
So yes, you can use this as a lip balm, but just know that it's a very rich treatment that will make it hard for your lipstick to cling onto.
If your lips are very dry and cracked, try a thick ointment, such as white petroleum jelly. Ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Slather on a non-irritating lip balm with SPF 30 or higher before going outdoors. Even in the winter, it's important to protect your lips from the sun.
See a dermatologist if your problem persists. Chapping that doesn't heal, despite regular use of lip balm, can be a sign of infection or a more serious problem, like cancer or a precancerous condition called actinic cheilitis.
Severely chapped lips may take longer to heal, but the average time is two to three weeks to recover completely. If you treat chapped lips as soon as you notice a problem, your lips will heal much faster and you can avoid potential complications like infection.
You can use a lip mask everyday, multiple times a day. You can even replace your current go-to lip balm with the Rooted Lip Treatment to achieve maximum hydration, day in and day out.
Unlike other skin care masks that should only be used two to three times a week, most lip masks can be used in your daily regimen. Lip masks deliver long-lasting moisture and nourishment, so there's no need to worry about any adverse effects.
Keep the mask on for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the mask gently, and rub in any excess moisture into the lips.
If you have really dry lips, want softer lips, or love berry-scented lip balm, I definitely recommend Laneige's Lip Sleeping Mask. It's absolutely worth the money and it made a significant difference in my lips' overall moisture level and texture.
To work well, the mask needs to stay on your mouth for about 10 to 15 minutes, though some run up to 30 minutes or longer. Read the directions for your specific mask. Set a timer so that you're not tempted to pull it off early. You may need to lay down while it's working, as some aren't terribly sticky.
Mask wearing may lead to both sore skin and rashes behind the ears and chapped or cracked lips, which can both be uncomfortable or downright painful! To prevent trauma to the back of the ears, wear different masks, and make sure that ear loops are not too tight. Masks with ties around the head will relieve ear pain.
It's known as an occlusive, so while it can help trap moisture into the lips, it can't add moisture that isn't there. Vaseline works best when used with a humectant, like shea butter or aloe, which can actually pull moisture into the lips.
Apply this paste on your lips and leave for 15 minutes. Wash with cold water. Though these homemade lip masks are completely natural, it is best to do a patch test on your hand before applying them directly to your lips.
“If chapped lips continue for two to three weeks even after you've started moisturizing regularly, are staying hydrated, and avoiding licking, you should see a board-certified dermatologist,” Dr. Browne suggests.
Licking your lips when they're chapped will not make them better. In fact, according to the Dermatology Clinic at UAMS, licking your lips can actually make things worse. Chapped lips are caused by a number of factors. For most people, the weather is the main cause of chapped lips.
Chapped lips are typically caused by environmental exposures that lead to irritation, including saliva and licking your lips, spicy foods, and cold, dry weather, says Dr. Zeichner. The common cold and sun damage can also cause chapped lips, he adds, as well as medication like cholesterol-lowering agents.
Chapped lips are a common symptom of deficiencies, especially in folate (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamins B6 and B12 ( 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ).
Lack of moisture can make the problem worse, whether it's weather-induced or related to a lack of self-care. Little humidity in the air during the winter months is known to cause chapped lips. Frequent sun exposure in the summer can also worsen your condition. Another common cause of chapped lips is habitual licking.
Some lip balms contain ingredients that can irritate or dry out your skin. Menthol, salicylic acid, cinnamic aldehyde and balms with flavoring can all cause lips to become dry. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, you may be at even greater risk of getting chapped lips when using these products.
Choose ointments or balms
While they can temporarily soothe dry lips, they tend to have chemicals (like the aforementioned menthol) and flavors that can further irritate the skin, and in severe cases, trigger eczema and allergic contact dermatitis, Marchbein said.
On the other hand, most lip masks are meant to be used two or three times a week. If you have particularly dry lips or live in a cold, dry climate, you may need to use a lip mask more often. Some people find that lip masks work in conditions that regular lip balm can't keep up with.