Skincare for winter is spoken about a lot, but when it comes to your lips, the most vulnerable, it’s very much still overlooked. And if you think your skin has it tough, your lips have it significantly worse. Your lips, unlike the rest of the skin on your body, structurally are ill-equipped to handle cool winds and dry air all on their own, making them chap, dry or flake much more easily during the winter. That’s why looking for the right lip balm for the upcoming winter seasons matters. The right lip balm should help trap moisture from escaping and take away any discomfort with dryness during the day.
And in this dermatologist-approved blog, we tell you what to look for in the right lip balm to keep your lips protected, and explain how the overall formulation of a lip balm matters more than just a “hero ingredient.”
Why Do Lips Get Dry and Chapped in Winter?
Remember when we said that your lips are structurally ill-equipped to protect themselves, making them all the more vulnerable in winter? Let’s get into the science for a bit:
Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips lack the natural defence mechanisms needed to stay hydrated and shield themselves from environmental elements. They have much fewer sebaceous glands than the rest of your facial skin.
What Should You Look For in a Lip Balm for Dry Lips?
Occlusive Ingredients
- Occlusives sit on your skin’s surface and form a protective, water-resistant barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), like a sort of cling film over your lips.
- Examples can include petrolatum and certain waxes or butters like murumuru butter or shea butter, depending on the formulation.
Emollient Ingredients
- Emollients are the “space-fillers.” When your lips become dry and chapped from the dry winter air, the surface begins to crack.
- The job of these emollients is to fill these microscopic gaps between your skin cells with lipids (fats) to smoothen the skin’s surface.
Humectants
- If occlusives are the shields and emollients are the space-fillers, humectants are the “moisture magnets.”
- Humectants draw moisture from the atmosphere into the skin. Think of them like a kitchen sponge, super dry and shriveled until you show it under a tap of water. When you show it under water, it absorbs all of it and becomes plumped up and soft.
- That's what humectants do for your lips. They draw moisture and make your lips plump and soft.
Barrier-Supporting Ingredients
- Ceramides
- Certain lipids
- Other formulation components designed to support the lip's protective function
Here's a table for your easy reference:
| Ingredient Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Occlusives | Help reduce moisture loss by forming a protective barrier on the skin's surface. |
| Emollients | Smooth and soften dry-feeling lips and skin by filling in microscopic cracks. |
| Humectants | Help attract and retain water to keep the skin layers hydrated. |
| Barrier-Supporting Ingredients | Support the protective function of the skin to improve natural barrier resilience. |
Is SPF Important in a Lip Balm?
Yes, SPF is an absolute must for your day-to-day lip balm. Here’s why:
- Your lips are exposed to UV rays. Since they have significantly less melanin and fewer sebaceous glands than the rest of your skin, they are vulnerable to sun damage, UV-induced pigmentation and dryness.
- UV exposure is not just limited to summer. UV rays are present all year round and can still cause damage.
- If you live in the colder northern regions of India, higher altitudes increase UV exposure by 10–12%, and mountainous regions have higher UV exposure during winter.
- Snowy regions can reflect up to 80% of UV rays, increasing your UV exposure.
That’s why a lip balm with SPF can be useful, particularly for daytime use and outdoor exposure. Winter does not eliminate UV exposure.
Which Lip Balm Ingredients Should You Be Careful With?
Some ingredients are likely to cause allergic reactions, depending on individual sensitivity.
- Strong fragrance
- Flavouring agents
- Ingredients that create a strong cooling or tingling sensation, like menthol and eucalyptus
- Exfoliants and acids in a lip balm that may remove dead skin too harshly from your lips
- Denatured ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, which can dry out your lips
Always look for a fragrance-free formula that hydrates your lips, locks in moisture and seals it in, along with barrier-supporting ingredients.
How to Choose the Right Lip Balm for Your Needs
Here is a table for your easy reference:
| Lip Concern | What to Prioritise |
|---|---|
| Mild Dryness | Moisturising or emollient formulation |
| Very Dry Lips | More occlusive, protective formulation |
| Flaky Lips | Gentle moisturisation; avoid aggressive exfoliation |
| Daytime or Outdoor Use | Lip balm with appropriate SPF |
| Sensitive Lips | Simpler formulation with fewer potential irritants |
| Frequent Reapplication | Comfortable texture that is easy to use consistently |
Recommended Lip Balm: Deconstruct’s Brightening Lip Balm with SPF 50
Deconstruct’s Brightening Lip Balm, instead of relying on a petroleum-based formula, achieves a triple-threat moisturising structure with a blend of natural plant-based oils, waxes, along with actives like resorcinol and vitamin C for brightening your lips.
To help moisturise and protect your lips, lip balm formulations can be built around three pillars of lip hydration: humectants, emollients and occlusives. If you’re wondering what humectants vs emollients vs occlusives do, they each draw moisture to your lips, soften them and shield your lips by trapping moisture, respectively.
Here’s why it fits well into your winter routine:
- SPF 50 with broad-spectrum protection (UVA and UVB protection)
- Powered by 1% Vitamin C and 0.1% resorcinol to help actively brighten your lips and fight pigmentation and uneven lip tone.
- Helps repair lip discolouration.
- Murumuru butter helps moisturise dry and chapped lips, keeping your lips nourished, moisturised and hydrated throughout the day.
For anyone looking for a lightweight, hydrating formula that is fragrance-free, helps keep lips hydrated, protects against UV rays and simultaneously fights lip pigmentation, Deconstruct’s Brightening Lip Balm with SPF 50 is an option to consider.
How Often Should You Apply Lip Balm in Winter?
- Apply when lips feel dry and as needed.
- Reapply after eating or drinking, when appropriate.
- Apply before going outdoors.
- Apply before bed if your lips tend to become dry overnight.
- Reapply your SPF lip balm every two hours during outdoor exposure, and after eating, drinking, wiping or washing your lips, as appropriate.
Common Winter Lip-Care Mistakes to Avoid
- Repeatedly licking dry lips
- Picking or peeling flaky skin
- Using products that repeatedly sting or burn
- Exfoliating already cracked lips aggressively
- Forgetting daytime UV protection
- Applying a very thin layer when the lips need more occlusive protection
- Assuming a strong cooling or tingling sensation means the product is working better. That's most likely not the case.
Final Verdict
Winter does not mean dealing with dry, chapped lips. Because your lips have fewer sebaceous glands and less melanin than much of the rest of your skin, they have limited natural protection against cold, dry winds and UV rays. That’s why choosing a lip balm involves more than just looking for a moisturising formula. Prioritise SPF, a fragrance-free formula with emollients, humectants and occlusives, as well as barrier-supporting ingredients to help keep your lips moisturised while protecting them. Formulas like Deconstruct’s Brightening Lip Balm with SPF 50 offer sun protection while helping address lip pigmentation and uneven lip tone. Remember, your lips need protection just like the rest of your face, if not more!
FAQs
Why do my lips get so dry in winter?
In winter, colder air carries less moisture. Wind also accelerates moisture loss and draws moisture from your lips. Frequent lip licking can contribute to dry, chapped lips as well.
What is the best ingredient for dry lips?
There is no single best ingredient for dry and chapped lips. A well-formulated lip balm for dry or chapped lips should contain all three pillars of hydration: humectants, emollients and occlusives. These help draw in moisture, soften your lips, and trap moisture to seal it in.
Is a lip balm necessary for winter?
Yes, a hydrating lip balm that also protects your lips from UV rays (SPF 30 or above) can help keep your lips hydrated and UV-protected during winter.