You never know when you are going to suffer from dry, chapped lips, and chances are that it will happen at a time when you don’t have any lip balm on hand. Maybe you’re in a survival situation but forgot to put some in your bug out bag, or perhaps you just don’t want to leave the house in the middle of the night to pick up a fresh supply. No matter the reason, the good news is that there are plenty of natural options to choose from that can provide effective relief. Let’s take a look at a few examples that are worth remembering so you can use them to your advantage when the need arises.
Coconut Essential Oil
Coconut oil is a potent moisturizer, and it also contain compounds that nourish and heal the skin. You can apply it directly to the affected area, or you can turn it into an essential oil. Pour a couple of ounces of the oil into a small container, add a few drops of tea tree, neem or grapeseed oil, give it a good shake, apply it to your lips, and you’re good to go.
Honey
Bee honey is loaded with compounds that can ease the pain of chapped lips while promoting faster healing. One tried-and-true remedy is to combine equal parts of honey with petroleum jelly, mix and apply it to the lips. The honey will work its magic while the petroleum jelly will help to protect the lips from further damage while sealing in moisture at the same time.
Rose Milk
Take a handful of rose petals and let them soak in some milk for a few hours. Gently press the petals until they start to dissolve and turn the milk into a pinkish paste. Apply the remedy to the affected area and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe away and repeat a couple of times per day until the skin heals. The milk contains compounds that help to remove dead skin while the fats act as a moisturizer. The rose petals are loaded with vitamin E that promote healing and speed up skin regeneration.
Cucumber
Take a slice of cucumber and hold it between your lips for about 15 minutes. Cucumber not only moisturizes the skin, but it also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory while also improving blood flow. All of this can contribute to faster healing while easing pain and discomfort at the same time. Best of all, there are no side-effects, and you can even eat the cucumber when you’re finished. The only drawback is that it won’t provide long-term protection as the moisture from the cucumber will dry out soon after you’re done. Consequently, this is a great remedy to use when you’re not exposed to the elements, but consider applying some petroleum jelly or wax to your lips if you’re heading outdoors.
Aloe
Aloe is another plant that works wonders on damaged skin, and all you need to do is cut a slit into a leaf in order to extract the gel-like liquid before applying it to the affected area. This is a good remedy to use before bed as the compounds will soak into the skin while you sleep and spur the healing process. Aloe also soothes burning and inflammation and produces a cooling sensation that can reduce discomfort.
Green Tea
Steep a green tea bag in some hot water for a few minutes before holding it between your lips for about 15 minutes. The water will activate tannins, antioxidants, and a host of other compounds found in the tea that will heal, moisten and soothe burning, damaged skin. Do this a couple of times a day until your lips heal.
Treating chapped lips involves protecting the skin from further injury while creating the right conditions for healing to take place, and these remedies can help. Try them for yourself, and see how they can go a long way with giving you much-needed relief.
