Are your lips chapped, never to be fully healed? Unfortunately, you’re not the only one. Dry winter months or humid summers leave our lips feeling rough and uncomfortable. Thankfully, there’s a new natural solution trending all over the internet—the answer is coconut oil. Used for beauty and in the kitchen, coconut oil is a great way to relieve dry, cracked lips and keep moisture levels consistent. If you’re seeking natural alternatives to expensive, chemical-laden lip balms, coconut oil may have the answer.
Coconut oil is the oil extracted from coconut meat from mature coconuts and contains properties that draw in moisture, making it an ideal option for lip care. Moreover, coconut oil is inexpensive, readily available, and boasts a nice fragrance. It’s also 100% natural, meaning that instead of having sensitive skin absorb harsh chemicals from store-bought lip remedies, coconut oil will only benefit. Here is everything you need to know about coconut oil for lips in an easily digestible guide.
Why Do Lips Get Chapped?
Lips are sensitive. The thinness of the epidermis on your lips compared to your arms and legs means they don’t have their own oil glands like the rest of your body to moisturize them naturally. Thus, they are predisposed to drying out over time. Furthermore, during the winter months, the cold air and wind strip oil from our delicate pouts, encouraging tight skin filled with cracks. Summer isn’t much better; exposed to sunlight, tight lips can emerge from overexposure or not using sunblock and reapplying regularly. Sometimes even heating or air conditioning makes the indoors just as dry, so chapped lips persist.
Dehydration is an additional reason that lips fail to retain moisture and feel chapped. If one is not drinking water, their body will not present elsewhere, and people certainly do not avoid licking their lips in hopes of restoring moisture; unfortunately, that’s the last thing they should be doing. Saliva dehydrates the skin further and splits the lips even more; furthermore, biting one’s lips, overusing lip products, and other similar habits only cause irritation. Thankfully, coconut oil combats the dehydration effects and potential irritation from further injury, as it sits atop the lip as a seal, preserving moisture and not enabling further irritation.
What Make Coconut Oil Great for Lips
Coconut oil is a better product for the lips than anything else for many reasons. For one, it’s all-natural. For example, so many petroleum jelly lip products contain petroleum jelly or chemically induced fragrances that harshly irritate sensitive skin. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is all-natural with no synthetic counterparts, and it’s packed with vitamins and minerals great for maintaining a person’s lips healthy and supple.
In addition, coconut oil boasts a luxurious texture. When applied, it feels deliciously creamy—not sticky or oily. It melts at room temperature practically on contact, which permits a great and smooth application without excess waiting time for absorption. Coconut oil serves as a sealant from the cold, extreme heat, and anything else might chap lips. Lastly, it has a subtly scented smell that does not overpower like various lip products with obnoxiously potent scents.
Another major advantage is that coconut oil is versatile. Most likely, even as you’re reading this, you have a tub of coconut oil in your kitchen or bathroom for cooking or skincare uses. Why spend extra on a pricey lip balm when you can use something you already have? It’s economical and multi-purposed, which is a boon for your wallet and your lips.
How to Use Coconut Oil on Your Lips
Using coconut oil on your lips is simple; no special applicators or applications are required—just the coconut oil tub and your hands. First, wash your hands so no unwanted germs transfer to your lips. Then scoop a small amount out (a pea-sized dollop is plenty). If it’s in a solid form, rub it between your fingers to warm it up and soften it a little.
Then gently rub your lips with the oil to ensure full coverage. Don’t worry if you used a little too much; your lips will absorb what they need, and you can take an excess off with a tissue. There is no exact science to how often you should do this, but two to three times a day is reasonable for most people. You may want to add a layer before bed for overnight moisturizer.
If your lips are excessively chapped, try coconut oil lip treatments in mask form. Apply it in a thick layer and let it sit for 10–15 minutes to soak in, then wipe with a soft cloth to remove gently. This creates an added hydrating experience. You can also combine it with other natural ingredients like honey or sugar to create a coconut oil lip scrub of your own—more on that later!
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Lips
Coconut oil is not just a hydrating treatment for lips. Coconut oil for lip treatments has multiple uses. For example, coconut oil hydrates. Coconut oil penetrates lip skin and makes sure lips never feel tight or crackly, and this makes them feel soft throughout the day. This is an excellent treatment in extreme temperatures as coconut oil can provide a barrier from the wind/cold or sun for lips.
Coconut oil as a lip treatment also soothes irritation. Chapped lips don’t just feel rough; they often appear red and irritated; thus, coconut oil can help de-red and soothe lips to provide almost instant relief. In addition, coconut oil is gentle enough for sensitive skin, so there’s no fear of any stinging or burning. Finally, coconut oil has a silky texture upon application, which plumps the look of lips and provides a natural glow without the wetness of a lip gloss.
You won’t have to reapply coconut oil lip balm every hour like conventional balms—coconut oil stays on the lips because it locks in moisture. Who wants to keep lip balm in their bag and have to pay attention to it? Not anyone. And it’s edible—if you accidentally lick your lips, you’re not intaking some synthetic chemical. How cool is that?
How to Choose the Right Coconut Oil
Not all coconut oils are created equal, so it’s good to know what to seek. The best coconut oil for lip care is pure, unrefined coconut oil, aka virgin or extra virgin coconut oil. This means it is minimally processed, meaning it retains all its natural qualities, and it has a light coconut smell. Refined coconut oil is processed via heat or chemicals—meaning it might lose some benefits and has no scent. It’s not dangerous, but it may not have the same lip moisturizing properties.
Make sure the label says 100% coconut oil with no other additives like perfumes or preservatives; organic coconut oil is better if you want to avoid pesticides on the coconut fields, but regular, non-organic is fine—as long as it’s not compounded with anything else. Pure coconut oil is relatively inexpensive from any grocery store, health food store, or online—and a little goes a long way in a small jar.
For those concerned about the heaviness of the oil, cold-pressed coconut oil is an excellent option that feels much lighter and penetrates better. Additionally, store your coconut oil in a dry, cool location for it to last. Should it melt in the summertime, put it in the fridge to harden back up.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applying coconut oil for lips isn’t overly complicated but there are a few mistakes people make. First, don’t apply too much. Less is more, and if you slather too much coconut oil on your lips, they’ll feel oily and collect dirt. A thin layer does the job.
Second, don’t use rancid coconut oil. Coconut oil lasts a long time—up to a year or two—but if it’s too old or kept in unsafe places, it can spoil. If coconut oil smells off or changes color, toss it and buy a new jar because you should always pay attention to the expiration date when buying coconut oil.
Finally, some believe that coconut oil acts as a sunscreen. While some sun protection is better than none, coconut oil cannot replace sunscreen. If you’re in the sun often, utilize an SPF lip treatment and use coconut oil at night for extra hydration.
Lastly, if you’re experiencing severely chapped, flaking lips, make sure to exfoliate before utilizing coconut oil. Coconut oil will not nib dead skin so make sure to scrub with a gentle exfoliant first for the smoothest experience. Avoiding these mistakes means you’re on your way to maximizing coconut oil benefits for lips.
When and How to Use Coconut Oil
It’s easy to use because it’s so versatile. Use coconut oil during the day as you’re preparing to go out into the world, especially if you know you’re going to be in harsh elements. Then apply a thin layer of coconut oil to your lips before lipstick or gloss application; coconut oil works great UNDER lipstick as it helps keep in moisture.
You can use it at night as well, part of your nighttime routine. After brushing your teeth, apply coconut oil to your lips to maintain moisture overnight. You’ll wake up with softer, smoother lips. For those who wear matte lipsticks that dry lips out, coconut oil is a great way to remove your lip color easier and ensure hydration afterward.
You can store coconut oil in a small container inside of your purse for daytime moisturizing, too, for midday hydration and freshening up during a long day. The best part of all is you don’t have to switch up your routine—simply replace your typical lip balm with coconut oil for regular use.
When NOT to Use Coconut Oil
Despite the wonders of coconut oil for most, not everyone should use it. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, test on your inner wrist before applying to your lips. There have been rare occasions where coconut oil is so heavy that people experience mini breakouts around the mouth and if this happens, it might be best to stick with another lip balm.
Also, if you are someone who breaks out around your mouth, be cautious in applying coconut oil to the creases of your mouth, it may clog pores in this area. Make sure to wipe it away from these areas. In addition, if you use medicated lip products—i.e., for cold sores—consult a physician about transitioning to coconut oil as it might not provide the same targeted results.
Using Coconut Oil with Other Lip Products
Coconut oil easily blends with other lip products so there’s no need to stop using your favorite lib balm while incorporating coconut oil. For example, coconut oil can serve as a first layer for moisture and then a tinted lip balm can go over it for color or any lipstick—matte or glossy—can go over coconut oil as it prevents dryness.
Ever used a lip scrub or lip masking treatment? Use coconut oil to moisturize afterward. A thin layer keeps lips smooth post-scrub, and if you want to scent it a little, add a drop of non-toxic, lip-safe essential oil (lavender, vanilla, etc.)—food-grade and safe to go on lips.
Coconut Oil For When Life Needs It
Coconut oil comes in handy when life needs it. When traveling—especially dry or cold climates—coconut oil is a must. Every human knows plane air is dry, and everyone gets chapped lips. Throw a mini jar in your travel toiletry bag for reapplication on long flights, and it’s a perfect at-home partner for skiing, hiking, and all outdoor activities with lip exposure.
If you have kids, coconut oil is one of the best treatments for chapped lips for kids (aside from no allergens)—it’s safe if they lick it off. When they have colds in the winter and blow their noses frequently, it’s also good for the area around the nose and lips.
Conclusion
Coconut oil for lip treatment will change how you think about lip care. It’s natural, inexpensive, and one of the best ways to keep your lips hydrated, soft and protected. Whether you live in a dry, cold climate or are looking for a remedy to avoid peeling lips with excess skin or just need something quick to treat your lips, coconut oil will do the trick. Use it right out of the jar or even use it to formulate your own homemade lip scrub or chapstick. The possibilities are endless and mesh well no matter what a routine or special situation may be.
So what are you waiting for? Purchase an unrefined jar of coconut oil and experience the conversion for yourself. Sometimes the simplest solutions create the greatest results. Have you used coconut oil on your lips before? If not, this is the time to start. Your lips will appreciate it!