When seasons change, the skin has to adapt. New temperatures, humidity levels, and other environmental factors can impact our skin and lead to visible changes. One of the most common examples: dry lips in winter.
Winter weather can compromise the skin barrier, especially the delicate skin on the lips. This can lead to visible dryness, flaking and plumpness, as well as affecting how we perceive lip colour.
Below, we explore the science behind dry lips in winter, how to prevent dryness, and which formulations can help hydrate and protect against moisture loss.
Winter brings a range of environmental stressors that can cause dry skin and lips.
First, the air becomes drier and colder, which can impact the delicate lip barrier and leave lips more susceptible to moisture loss. Heating systems, meanwhile, can make indoor air dry by reducing humidity levels. Plus, when the lips feel dry during winter, our natural instinct to lick them can often make them more vulnerable to further dryness and sensitivity.
All of these factors combined can contribute to why dry lips are so common in the winter. That’s why it’s important to give them a little extra support during colder months.
Preventing lip dryness is all about making small, intentional adjustments to your daily routine. Our lab recommends the following tips to keep your lips hydrated and smooth through the winter.
Our lip’s skin barrier is more delicate than other areas of the body. The changing weather during winter can disrupt this delicate barrier and leave lips more vulnerable to dryness and flaking. This is because the skin’s natural renewal and exfoliation cycle relies on adequate hydration levels to work effectively. Dry lips mean lower hydration, and this can disrupt the natural renewal cycle, leading to a build up of dead skin on the surface that we see as flaking.
Get ahead of dry, winter lips by exploring our PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum. PHAs work to both hydrate and gently exfoliate simultaneously. They are humectants, which means they can attract and retain moisture, so you can stay one step ahead of winter dryness. They also have a larger molecule size than other exfoliating acids, making them a gentle option for the delicate skin on your lips.
Adding hydrating formulations to your skincare regimen can help target dryness topically. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane are both known for their hydrating capabilities. Applying them through a lip balm, like Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm, can provide immediate and long-lasting hydration to the lips and surrounding skin.
For extra support, you can also apply a hydrating serum, like Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (With Ceramides), to the lips.
Another factor that can impact hydration of the skin, including lips, is how much water you drink. While drinking lots of water is not a guaranteed way to improve skin hydration, it's a good idea to up your water intake if you aren't already getting the recommended 2L per day.
If the skin barrier is damaged, water can escape and evaporate more easily. The right ingredients can support the barrier, helping your skin retain moisture. Consider adding these barrier-friendly ingredients to your regimen:
No matter if the weather is sunny or grey, SPF is essential for keeping skin protected. UV radiation can harm the natural lipids that form a protective barrier on the lips. This can disrupt the barrier, making it easier for moisture to escape—a process known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Using a daily, broad-spectrum lip balm with SPF can help prevent sun damage that can lead to lip dryness.
While the above tips can help prevent dry lips, it’s helpful to know what to do if your lips are already feeling the effects of winter. Once the lips are feeling irritated, your lip care routine should shift from active to gentle.
Our lab recommends this 2-step routine to rehydrate dry lips.
Consistency is key for restorative lip care. Keep up with your routine daily, use gentle, hydrating formulations that support your skin barrier, and avoid abrasive scrubs, picking, or strong actives. Over time, you should be able to achieve softer, smoother lips even in winter.
Your lips deserve the same science-backed care as the rest of your skin. Not only is the skin on your lips more delicate, but it’s also more vulnerable to the triggers that come along with seasonal changes.
Instead of relying solely on lip balm, consider building a lip care routine that incorporates many elements of a well-rounded skincare regimen: hydration, SPF, and gentle exfoliation that respects the skin barrier. With patience and consistency, you can prevent and restore dry lips through the winter and beyond.
