How to heal chapped, dry lips this winter

If you're wondering how to properly care for your peeling, dry, or chapped lips, follow this step-by-step winter lip care guide.

As the cold weather brings frigid, drier air, it's important to think ahead and develop a lip-care routine.

Just like the rest of your complexion, you should treat your lips with the same level of care and attention. This means regular exfoliation, moisturizing, and using a hydrating sleep mask.

1: Cleanse Makeup with Makeup Removing Water

Remove any lipstick you may have on before starting your winter lip-care routine. We recommend using a micellar water-soaked cotton pad or makeup wipe, like the Sensibio H2O Micellar Water from Shoppers Drug Mart.

2: Exfoliate Your Lips with an Exfoliating Lip Scrub

The skin on your lips is thin and fragile. A buildup of dry skin can wick moisture away from living cells, creating unnecessary surfaces that catch the cold and wind. To help minimize the look of peeling or flaky lips, exfoliate at least once a week with a lip scrub. Lip scrubs offer a gentle and effective way of sloughing off dry, dead skin cells on the surface of your lips and can leave them feeling soft and smooth.

Be sure to use a scrub that is designed for lips. Simply apply a small amount of the scrub to cleaned lips and rub them together. This gently gets rid of dead cells and leaves behind a nourishing balm.

3: Moisturize with a Lip Balm

When you're not wearing a lip color, keep a hydrating balm on your lips at all times. Constant moisture will help protect your lips from the harsh air and nourish the skin to soften them.

4: Choose a Hydrating Lipstick or Gloss

Once your lips have been properly exfoliated and moisturized, add some color. When your lips become dry, it's better to use a hydrating lipstick or lip gloss formula in your makeup routine. Avoid drying matte formulas as these tend to emphasize cracks and wrinkles.