How to Moisturize Your Lips

You don't need pricey formulas to fix extremely dry lips. In fact, you can probably get the job done after a quick look through your kitchen cupboard or bathroom cabinet.

Exfoliation isn't just good for your body -- it also can help your lips. To exfoliate, gently rub your lips with a washcloth morning and night. Mix together a small amount of olive oil and sugar, and then rub the concoction on your lips. If you'd rather not go the natural route, head to your drug store and look for a lip exfoliator.

Once you've exfoliated, follow up by applying a lip balm or lip treatment. Products with beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E or oils such as jojoba, olive and coconut can provide your lips with an adequate amount of hydration [source: Latona]. Reapply your lip balm often. Inexpensive petroleum jelly can also work as a lip moisturizer. However, save it for times when the sun is starting to set, or use a lip product with sunscreen on top of it. Lip products should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Also make sure that your lip balm's SPF offers broad-spectrum coverage from both UVA and UVB rays.

Sunscreen is vitally important for your lips. Remember, your lips don't have melanin (pigment). That means that they are extremely susceptible to the sun's damaging rays, which can cause skin cancer. Sunburned lips can be uncomfortably dry, and in some cases they'll also peel. Finally, if you want to keep the signs of aging at bay, sunscreen can reduce any wrinkles or cracks in skin.

Read on to learn more tips for moisturizing your lips, including why it's important to select the right kind of lipstick.

Matte lipstick has many convenient qualities. After putting it on, your lips will look the same for longer periods of time, and you probably won't have to break out a compact mirror to constantly reapply. The problem with matte lipstick, however, is that the ingredients that are helping your lips stay colorful and fresh can also dry them out. To avoid having your lips look like they're too dried out, look for lipsticks with hydrating formulas that contain glycerin or vitamin E. When you do use a matte lipstick, you also can dab on a bit of moisturizing balm to keep your lips moisture-packed [source: Latona].

If you use lip gloss, your lips are also at risk -- not for dryness, however, but for sun damage. Lip gloss provides your lips with a little extra shine. Although it may make your lips sparkle and draw attention to them, it may also attract the sun more than you need. Sunlight can increase signs of aging around your lips, and lip gloss may absorb harmful rays from the sun. In a worst-case scenario, this might mean an increased risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer of the lips is almost always squamous cell carcinoma, which is rarely fatal, but it can sometimes be difficult to treat. Other less serious concerns are noncancerous skin conditions and premature aging. A good precautionary measure is to make sure that your lip gloss contains an SPF of at least 15. And make sure to apply it generously and often [source: Dahl].

Hydration, a good lip balm, sunscreen and protection from the elements are the basics to keeping your lips moisturized. See the links on the next page to learn more about taking care of your lips, along with the rest of your skin.