15 Ways To Moisturize Chapped Lips With Honey

Dry and chapped lips can be a big nuisance in everyday life. They are painful and sore when you talk or smile; the cracks may even sting and burn when you eat something sour or spicy. What’s more, chapped lips have an unsightly rough texture and are always peeling off or bleeding.

Our lips don’t contain sebaceous glands to keep them hydrated with natural oils, like the rest of the skin does. Also, the skin on our lips is much thinner in comparison to the rest of our body. This makes the lips more prone to dryness and dehydration. Factors like habitual licking, cold and dry weather, frequent sun exposure, harsh chemical cosmetics or excessive smoking can strip off moisture content, causing the lips to dry out.

Using a commercial lip balm frequently is the most common solution for chapped lips but results stay only a short period of time. And the worst is that the salicylic acid, phenols or menthol contained in the lip balms make the lips drier or may cause allergies on the skin later.

Several natural ingredients present in our kitchens like sugar, milk cream and honey can act as wonderful healing and long-lasting hydrating agents for chapped lips. In this article, let’s talk about honey as a remedy in detail and see how it can help in caring for dry lips.

Is Honey Good For Chapped Lips?

• Honey acts as a natural humectant and emollient by drawing moisture from the air into dry lips and helps retain it within to prevent further dryness (1).
• It is a rich source of Vitamins B1 and B6 which are essential for proper nourishment of the skin, including lips. These also stimulate new skin cells formation, resulting in softer and more moisturized lips.
• The Vitamin B complex in honey has an anti-inflammatory effect on chapped lips. It reduces the swelling caused by peeling or infections (2).
• It also contains Vitamin B2 and zinc which nourish the skin and protect the lips from the damaging effect of free radicals.
• It is a natural anti-bacterial and antiseptic which prevents chapped and cracked lips from getting infected by harmful bacteria (3).
• The Vitamin C in honey provides relief to topical symptoms of chapped lips like peeling, painful sores and bleeding.
• Honey also acts as a mild natural exfoliant to remove dead and damaged skin cells from the surface of dry lips. It unclogs pores and results in fresh, smoother skin cells which make dry lips appear softer.

How to Use Honey for Chapped Lips

Honey on its own acts as a soothing and hydrating agent for chapped lips. For a long-lasting respite from dryness, you can also combine other natural hydrating ingredients with honey to make a scrub or chemical-free lip balm which provides relief from sore, dry lips.

1. Honey

Honey is a natural humectant which hydrates and rejuvenates dry and chapped lips. It also works as an anti-irritant to reduce the soreness and painful symptoms associated with dry lips.

• Apply a thin layer of honey on your chapped lips with your fingers.
• Leave the application overnight or as long as possible.
• Wash off with cool water in the morning.
• Repeat several times a day.

2. Honey and Glycerin

Glycerin has natural moisturizing properties that keep chapped lips hydrated from within. It also heals the symptoms of dry lips like bleeding, flaking and irritation with regular use.

• Mix 1 tablespoon each of honey and glycerin in a bowl.
• Apply the paste on dry lips.
• Leave it on overnight.
• Wash off application in the morning.
• Re-apply every alternate day for best results.

3. Honey and Sugar

Sugar acts as a good exfoliator for chapped lips. It helps to remove the dry and dead cells from cracked lips, resulting in softer and smoother texture of lips.

• Mix 2 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of honey in a bowl.
• Apply it to your cracked lips and leave it on for 5 – 8 minutes.
• Gently rub lips with your fingers to loosen up the dry skin cells.
• Wash off application with lukewarm water.
• Repeat the process thrice a week.

For extra benefits: Add few drops of olive oil into the mixture. Olive oil is packed with anti-aging oxidants and hydrating squalene, which helps it to nourish dry and cracked lips.

Note: You can use either white or brown sugar in this remedy. Brown sugar crystals work better with honey if your lips are extra-sensitive.

4. Honey and Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly or Vaseline locks in moisture by forming a protective layer on chapped lips. It easily penetrates into the layers within and speeds up the natural renewal process, resulting in softer lips.

• Apply a thin layer of honey on your dry lips with your fingers.
• Allow it to air dry for a minute.
• Apply a light coat of petroleum jelly over it.
• Wait for 5-8 minutes.
• Remove application by wiping off with a cotton ball dipped in lukewarm water.
• Repeat application twice daily.

5. Honey and Lemon Juice

Lemon juice works as a natural bleaching agent for discolored chapped lips. It is also a good exfoliator to get rid of dry skin cells from the surface of dry lips.

• Mix 1 teaspoon of honey and ½ teaspoon lemon juice in a bowl.
• Massage gently on chapped lips for 1-2 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat the method twice a week.

For more effectiveness: You can add 1/2 teaspoon of castor oil into the mixture. Castor oil is rich in triglycerides and fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acids, that help restore the natural moisture balance in case of dry lips or skin.

6. Honey and Rosewater

Rosewater works to hydrate, moisturize and revitalize dry and chapped lips. It has anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties that have a soothing effect on dryness.

• In a bowl, mix 1 teaspoon each of honey and rosewater together.
• Apply mixture evenly on dry lips.
• Leave it on for about 15 minutes.
• Wash off with cool water.
• Continue repeating the process daily until you achieve the results.

7. Honey and Cucumber

The main constituent of cucumber is water which makes it an excellent hydrating agent for dry lips. It helps to relieve the painful symptoms of soreness and inflammation associated with chapped lips.

• Keep a cucumber in the refrigerator for a few hours to cool it.
• Once it cools, cut out 3-4 mm thick slices from it.
• Dab them on your chapped lips for 1-2 minutes.
• Leave on for about 2-3 minutes.
• Remove the cucumber slices.
• Spread a thin layer of honey on the dry lips.
• Leave on for about 10 minutes.
• Wash off with cool water.
• Re-apply every alternate day.

8. Honey, Milk Cream and Rose Petals

Milk cream contains fat content which has a nourishing and hydrating effect on chapped lips. Mashed rose petals act as a lip softener and help keep it moisturized.

• Wash a handful of rose petals thoroughly under running water.
• Soak them in milk for 2-3 hours.
• Mash the petals into a paste in a bowl.
• Add 1 teaspoon each of honey and milk cream to it.
• Spread mixture evenly on chapped lips.
• Wait for about 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with milk followed by cool water.
• Repeat the method daily.

9. Honey, Almond Oil and Beeswax

Almond oil is a natural exfoliator for dry and damaged skin. It helps in maintaining the natural moisture content within dry skin and chapped lips. Beeswax is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant. It helps to soothe chapped lips and forms a protective layer to prevent dry lips from drying out further.

• In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon each of honey and almond oil.
• Add a little beeswax (melted) into it and mix well to attain the consistency of a thick paste.
• Spread the mixture evenly on dry lips.
• Leave on for 5-8 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.
• Re-apply twice daily.

10. Honey, Brown Sugar and Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder contains a number of beneficial fatty acids that help in hydrating dry lips. It is also enriched with anti-oxidants that are effective in relieving symptoms like peeling and itchiness associated with dryness.

• Take 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoons each of cocoa powder and brown sugar in a bowl.
• Mix well and apply mixture as a lip balm on chapped lips.
• Leave on overnight.
• Wash off with cool water in the morning.
• Repeat 2-3 times a week.

11. Honey, Coconut Oil and Olive Oil

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer that acts as a hydrating lip balm on chapped lips. In combination with olive oil and honey, it works to soothe and hydrate dry lips from within and prevents them from losing their moisture content.

• In a bowl, take 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and olive oil.
• Add ¾ teaspoon of honey and stir thoroughly.
• Apply as a lip balm and leave on overnight.
• Wash off with cool water in the morning.
• Re-apply once in every 3 days.

Note: This mixture can also be stored in an airtight jar and used several times a day in case of excessively dry lips. Another alternative is to apply mixture of coconut oil and honey (equal portions) as a lip balm on dry lips and leave it overnight.

12. Honey, Brown Sugar, Petroleum Jelly and Olive Oil

Brown sugar crystals work as a natural exfoliator for dry and damaged skin cells on chapped lips. It also works as a natural humectant to prevent excessive moisture loss from the surface of the lips. Olive oil in combination with petroleum jelly and honey work as a deep conditioning mask to help heal dry lips and keep them hydrated.

• In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon each of honey and brown sugar.
• Add to it ½ tablespoon each of petroleum jelly and olive oil.
• Apply the honey scrub mixture on chapped lips with your fingers.
• Gently massage it in for 1-2 minutes.
• Allow it to stay on for another 2 minutes.
• Wash off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat the process twice a week.

13. Homemade Chocolate Honey Lip Balm

Shea butter is a hydrating agent rich in Vitamin F, which helps to keep dry lips hydrated and soft by maintaining their moisture content and elasticity. Chocolate is rich in anti-oxidants which keeps the lips soft and moisturized. Vanilla extract is a good source of vitamins that have anti-oxidant properties, which play an important role in keeping dry lips nourished.

• Take 1 teaspoon each of honey, almond oil, olive oil and shea butter in a bowl.
• Add 3-4 drops of vanilla extract to it.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1 teaspoon grated beeswax.
• Add 4-5 white chocolate chips to it and heat again till fully melted.
• Combine the melted beeswax and chocolate chips to the mixture of oils and vanilla extract.
• Mix well and store in an airtight container and refrigerate.
• Apply the honey lip balm on chapped lips several times a day.

14. DIY Honey Lip Gloss

Vitamin E oil has a soothing effect on dry lips. It helps to relieve the troublesome symptoms associated with dryness and works to hydrate the lips from within. Cranberries have a high concentration of anti-oxidants, vitamins and enzymes that regenerate and moisturize chapped lips. It also imparts a natural color as a hydrating gloss to the lips.

• Combine 10 fresh cranberries, 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil and 1 drop vitamin E oil.
• Microwave mixture for 2 – 3 minutes.
• Remove from the microwave and crush the berries gently.
• Let the mixture cool down and strain through a sieve.
• Add 1 teaspoon honey and stir well.
• Transfer the mixture into a container.
• Apply to lips daily or as required.

15. DIY Raspberry Honey Lip Balm

• Using a double boiler, melt 1 teaspoon of beeswax pellets and 4 teaspoons coconut oil.
• Once melted, remove from the flame.
• Now mix, 1/2 teaspoon each of zinc oxide powder, raspberry powder, and honey.
• Pour the mixture into a lip balm container. Let it sit aside to solidify.
• Use daily as required.

Tips & Precautions

• Perform a patch test on a small area of the skin to ensure you aren’t allergic to honey before using it as a regular remedy.
• Avoid using honey if you are allergic to pollen or celery. It may cause an unexpected allergic reaction on the skin.
• Honey shouldn’t be given to infants. In rare cases, honey can be a carrier of botulism infection in young kids.
• Always opt for pure organic honey instead of processed honey.
• Exfoliate chapped lips regularly to get rid of dry and damaged cells. You can use warm water and a toothbrush or ingredients like sugar and petroleum jelly to slough off the dead cells.
• Quit the habit of licking your lips excessively. Saliva tends to increase the dryness of already chapped lips.
• Do not peel off the skin or bite it off from cracked lips. This can lead to bleeding, infection and takes longer to heal.
• Remember not to use any type of soap or cleanser on the lips immediately after washing off an application.
• Apply a sunscreen-based moisturizer (SPF 15) or lip balm before stepping out into the sun. Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause chapped lips to become scaly and drier in texture.
• In your regular diet, include foods rich in proteins, Vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet – fish, walnuts, poultry, beans, carrots, tomatoes, peanut butter, leafy green vegetables, mangoes, papayas and citrus fruits.
• Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Because dehydration is one major contributor for chapped lips.
• Use humidifiers in your room especially during cold and dry weather to relieve the painful symptoms of dry lips.
• If the lips remain excessively dry or bleed from cracks even after using any of these natural remedies, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist at the earliest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manuka Honey Good for Chapped Lips?

Yes, manuka honey can be used to treat chapped and dry lips. It is considered to be one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey in the world. You just spread a layer of Manuka honey on the chapped lips and leave it on as long as possible and wash off. You can also replace raw honey with manuka honey in the above mentioned methods.

Can We Leave Honey On Lips Overnight?

Yes, it is completely safe to leave honey on the cracked and chapped lips for overnight. Apart from moisturizing, honey helps to nourish and improve the skin health of the lips.

Take your pick from any of these simple natural honey remedies and get rid of those annoying chapped lips forever! Share which one of these worked best for you? Do you know of any other homemade remedies or natural ingredients which help in healing dry lips? Our readers would love to hear your ideas and experiences in the comments section below.