Dry, Chapped Lips – What to Do?

The reddish color of the lips already reveals just how thin their skin is – you can practically see the blood flow shimmering through it. At the same time, lips are put under significant strain every day. External factors such as cold, heat, and wind are particular challenges for the thin skin of our lips. Weather changes with large temperature fluctuations, dry heating air, or air conditioning – our delicate lip skin doesn't cope well with any of it.

Our lips are also an important tool for us – a connection between our inner world and the outside. They allow us to speak and sing; we need them to drink and eat, sometimes very salty or spicy food. And there's much we do unconsciously: we moisten them regularly and automatically with saliva, sometimes more, sometimes less. This can dry out the thin skin even further. On top of that, we sometimes literally press our lips together in stressful situations or chew on them. In general, tension and stress can take a toll on our lips.

Dry, cracked lips can have many possible causes – and often several of them play a role at the same time: 

Cold, wind, and heat: Environmental weather conditions are the most common triggers for chapped lips. In winter or during strong winds in particular, lips dry out quickly. 

• Dry heating air and air conditioning: Dry indoor air draws moisture from the sensitive lip skin – something many people underestimate. 
• Licking and biting: Saliva dries out the lips rather than moisturizing them. Unconscious lip biting – for example when you're under pressure – also damages the lip skin. 
• Stress: Prolonged stress can reduce saliva flow and put additional strain on the skin around the mouth. The close connection between sympathetic nervous system activity and the digestive system can literally lead to a "dry mouth" – with noticeable consequences for your lip skin. 
• Salty, spicy, or acidic foods: Irritating foods can put extra strain on the already thin lip skin. 
• Not drinking enough: When our body doesn't take in enough water, we often feel it in the form of chapped lips too. 

These tips are great for your lips: 

• Apply natural care products in cold, hot, or windy weather 

• Reduce salty, spicy, or acidic foods 

• Avoid moistening with saliva, licking, biting, or picking 

• Ventilate regularly when indoor air is dry from heating 

• Drink plenty of water

A true Weleda classic – and for many, a faithful everyday companion. With beeswax, shea butter, and jojoba oil, this balm immediately protects your lips from drying out and gives them a delicate shine. The subtle scent of vanilla and rose turns your care routine into a small moment of pleasure. 100% natural ingredients. 

Ideal for: Daily protection, sensitive lips, natural care. 

True superfood for dry and chapped lips. Organic sunflower oil and beeswax, along with plant extracts from pansy, chamomile, rosemary, and calendula, make even very rough lips soft and smooth again. The handy green tubes fit in any bag – and are quickly at hand when your lips urgently need help. 

Ideal for: Immediate relief for very dry, cracked lips. 

Targeted care for lips and the eye area. The unique Collagen⁺ Active Complex made from organic gentian, organic edelweiss, and centella asiatica increases the skin's collagen content by up to 60%¹. Your lip contours appear more defined and wrinkles are visibly reduced. Fragrance-free, dermatologically and ophthalmologically confirmed. 

Ideal for: Mature skin, lip contours, anti-aging.

¹In-vitro tests

What works best against dry lips?
Regular care with a high-quality lip balm is the most effective protection against chapped lips. Products with natural oils such as jojoba oil, almond oil, or olive oil, as well as beeswax or shea butter, provide moisture and protect the lip skin from drying out. Drinking enough water and avoiding lip licking also help noticeably. 

Why do my lips dry out so quickly?
Lip skin is particularly thin and has almost no sebaceous or sweat glands – meaning it lacks a natural protective film. Cold, wind, dry heating air, stress, and unconsciously licking the lips all further promote drying out. 

Is licking your lips harmful?
Yes, unfortunately. Saliva contains digestive enzymes and dries out the lip skin as it evaporates, rather than moisturizing it. Frequent licking can therefore trigger a real vicious cycle. 

Which ingredients are good for lip care?
Particularly nourishing are natural oils such as jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil, and avocado oil, as well as beeswax, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients protect against moisture loss, nourish the lip skin, and keep it supple. 

When should I see a doctor about cracked lips?
If your lips remain persistently dry, inflamed, or cracked despite regular care, there may be an underlying cause – such as a nutritional deficiency (e.g., vitamin B2 or iron) or an allergy. In this case, a visit to the doctor is worthwhile.