- My Lip Hydration Journey: A Habit Formed by Accutane
- Why Do Lips Get Dry So Quickly?
- How to Properly Hydrate and Protect Your Lips
- The Most Popular Lip Balms Right Now
- Conclusion: A Simple Routine for Healthy Lips
Lips are one of the most sensitive parts of the face. Constantly exposed to cold, wind, sun, and other external factors, they dehydrate quickly and can become dry, chapped, or even painful. Yet, lip care is often overlooked compared to facial skincare.
So, how do you properly take care of them? What ingredients should you look for? Is lip exfoliation really necessary? And what are the best lip balms right now? Here’s a complete guide to help you achieve soft, well-hydrated lips.
My Lip Hydration Journey: A Habit Formed by Accutane
I have to admit, I never really paid attention to lip hydration before. I didn’t feel the need to use lip balm daily… until I went on Accutane.
If you’re not familiar, Accutane (or isotretinoin) is an extremely effective treatment for severe acne, but one of its biggest side effects is intense skin dryness, including the lips. Throughout the treatment, I literally had to carry a lip balm with me at all times, or else my lips would become unbearably dry and uncomfortable.
Three years after finishing Accutane, my skin and hair are still drier than before, but my lips have gone back to normal. However, the habit of always having a lip balm with me has stuck. Now, I can’t go without one—whether it’s in my bag, on my nightstand, or in my pocket, there’s always one within reach. Some habits just stick, even when the need is no longer there!
Why Do Lips Get Dry So Quickly?
Unlike the rest of the skin, lips have a unique structure that makes them particularly vulnerable:
- No sebaceous glands → They don’t produce sebum, the natural oil that helps keep skin hydrated.
- Thin, delicate skin → The skin on the lips is much thinner than on the face, making it more prone to damage.
- Direct exposure to the elements → Wind, cold, UV rays, and dry air accelerate moisture loss.
- Bad habits → Licking your lips or using the wrong products can make dryness worse.
Common Mistakes That Make Lips Even Drier
🚫 Licking your lips → It might feel soothing in the moment, but saliva evaporates quickly and makes lips even drier.
🚫 Using the wrong lip balms → Some contain fragrances, essential oils, or irritating ingredients like menthol, which can dry out lips over time.
🚫 Not drinking enough water → Hydration starts from within! Drinking enough water helps keep lips soft and hydrated.
🚫 Over-exfoliating → Despite popular belief, many dermatologists advise against lip exfoliation. Since the skin on the lips is already thin, exfoliating regularly can cause micro-damage and worsen dryness instead of solving it.
Lip Exfoliation: A Bad Idea, According to Experts
Exfoliation is often seen as an essential step in skincare, and it’s tempting to “scrub away” dead skin for smoother lips. However, many dermatologists strongly advise against it, even occasionally.
Dr. Shereene Idriss, a dermatologist specializing in skincare, explains:
“Lips are extremely delicate, and exfoliating them, even rarely, can create micro-tears and lead to long-term dryness.” According to her, hydration is the key to having plump and healthy lips.
In reality, dry, flaky lips are usually a sign of dehydration. They become thinner, duller, and more sensitive. The real solution? Consistent hydration and protective care, which help restore natural plumpness and smoothness without causing damage.
Why Hydration Alone Is Enough
Both internal hydration (by drinking water) and external hydration (with products like balms or oils) help keep your lips supple and full, while preventing dehydration.
By applying a hydrating lip balm, you can restore their softness without the risk of damaging them with unnecessary exfoliation. A daily routine is enough for smooth, plump lips!
How to Properly Hydrate and Protect Your Lips
Choose a Good Lip Balm: Key Ingredients
A good lip balm should contain nourishing, moisturizing, and protective ingredients. Look for:
✅ Hyaluronic acid → Retains moisture and boosts hydration.
✅ Shea butter → Deeply nourishes and protects.
✅ Jojoba oil → Mimics natural skin oils and maintains elasticity.
✅ Beeswax → Forms a protective barrier against environmental stressors.
✅ Ceramides → Strengthen the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss.
Tip: Avoid balms with excessive fragrances, essential oils, or alcohol, as they can irritate sensitive lips.
Apply Your Lip Balm the Right Way
- Apply lip balm in the morning and evening, plus whenever needed throughout the day.
- Stick or tube balms are more hygienic than jar balms.
- Before bed, apply a thicker layer for intense overnight hydration.
Protect Your Lips from External Aggressors
- Shield them from the sun → Just like skin, lips are vulnerable to UV rays. A balm with SPF 30+ is essential year-round.
- Avoid dry air → In winter or air-conditioned environments, use a humidifier to prevent moisture loss.
Stay Hydrated & Eat Well
- Drink enough water (at least 1.5L per day) to keep lips hydrated from within.
- Eat omega-3-rich foods (avocados, fish, nuts) to strengthen the skin barrier.
- Get vitamins E & C (almonds, citrus fruits, leafy greens) to promote skin regeneration.
The Most Popular Lip Balms Right Now
If you’re looking for an effective and trendy lip balm, here are some highly talked-about options:
Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil → A lightweight, hydrating oil-balm with a glossy finish—perfect for a non-sticky shine.
Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm → A TikTok favorite! This tinted balm adjusts to your pH for a natural, custom color.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask → A classic for very dry lips, ideal as an overnight treatment.
CeraVe Healing Ointment → Dermatologist-recommended for severely chapped lips, thanks to its ceramide and petroleum-based formula.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick SPF15 → A cult favorite among beauty influencers, known for its rich hydration and protective SPF. Personally, I’m not a fan of SPF in lip balms since I prefer not to ingest sunscreen daily. But if you want hydration + sun protection, this one is a great option!
NB: I haven’t tested all of these balms yet, but they’re very popular right now. If you’ve tried them, share your thoughts in the comments!
My Favorite Lip Balms & My Experience with Accutane
The Lip Balm That Saved Me During My Accutane Treatment
Before Accutane, I never had the habit of moisturizing my lips. But once I started the treatment, I couldn’t go without a balm, my lips were extremely dry, and I needed something truly effective to protect and nourish them.
The balm that literally saved me during this period was Carmex Naturally Watermelon. I used it every night and whenever I needed it during the day, and I never experienced cracks or split lips, even in the middle of winter. Plus, I love its flavor! The moment you open it, you get this sweet watermelon scent, and it tastes just as good on the lips.
I also tried the Berry version, but honestly, I didn’t like the taste at all. Watermelon, on the other hand, is pure joy to apply.
Besides its effectiveness and great taste, I really appreciate its formula. It has a great rating on INCI Beauty (18/20), which is reassuring, even though I take these ratings with a grain of salt. I don’t always agree with their assessments of certain ingredients, but overall, it’s a good indication.
Since I use lip balms every single day, morning and night, I pay close attention to their composition. Psychologically, I don’t like the idea of applying a product with questionable ingredients on my lips, especially since we inevitably end up ingesting some of it. Sure, skincare products absorb into the skin to some extent, but lip balms? We literally eat them. To me , that makes a big difference!
That’s also why I’m not a huge fan of lip balms with SPF. Even though I know sun protection is important, I don’t love the idea of ingesting sunscreen daily. That being said, when I go to the beach and know I’ll be exposed to the sun for a long time, I do apply SPF on my lips (even though I’m not a big fan of tanning anyway), but not on a daily basis. Of course, everyone is free to do what works best for them, but sun protection remains essential, even on a daily basis!
Another Favorite: My Nighttime Lip Mask
Recently, I wanted to try a lip mask to switch up my routine a bit. Laneige lip masks are super popular, and while I haven’t tried them yet, I wanted to find a cheaper alternative to see if it’s even worth the hype.
I discovered the Lip Lovin’ Overnight Lip Mask by Catrice in Feelin’ Peachy, and it’s a gem! The moment I saw the texture and packaging, it reminded me of Laneige, so I decided to give it a try.
This mask contains:
✔ Shea butter → Intense nourishment
✔ Peach oil → Hydrates and softens
✔ Vitamin E → Protects against dehydration
It’s also vegan, paraben-free, microplastic-free, and cruelty-free. Plus, it comes in three scents:
• Bedtime Beauty → Shea butter + Vitamin E (no added oils)
• Cherry Pop → Shea butter + Vitamin E + Cherry oil
• Feelin’ Peachy → Shea butter + Vitamin E + Peach oil (the one I got)
Why did I choose Peach ? Because I wanted to avoid a tinted effect. I had a feeling that Cherry Pop and Bedtime Beauty might leave a slight pink or red finish, and I prefer neutral lips at night.
In terms of effectiveness, it does a really good job. The texture is creamy, super pleasant, and a tiny amount is enough. The jar is only 4g, but honestly, given how little you need to apply, I think it’s sufficient. Anyway, I prefer smaller formats for lip products. It allows me to finish them without getting bored, use them up quickly if I don’t like them, and switch things up whenever I feel like it!
Now, I just need to compare Catrice vs. Laneige to see if there’s a real difference in effectiveness, taste, and texture. But for now, this mask is perfect!
Why I’m So Picky About My Lip Balms
Since my experience with Roaccutane, I’ve become very particular about what I apply to my lips. Since I got used to hydrating them every day and several times a day, I decided to prioritize clean and effective formulas. During my treatment, I tried several lip balms with clean ingredients, but I didn’t get the deep hydration I achieved with Carmex.
Clean balms often lack certain occlusive ingredients like lanolin or petroleum jelly, which are capable of creating a protective barrier and locking in moisture for the long term. While natural ingredients like plant oils do provide good hydration, they don’t always penetrate as deeply and don’t have the “long-lasting” effect I’m looking for. As a result, the balm would wear off quickly, the moisturizing effect (the film that remains after application) wouldn’t last, and I had to reapply too often to keep my lips hydrated.
With Carmex, that’s not the case: it hydrates deeply and for a long time. Carmex Naturally Watermelon remains my go-to for now, although I do love testing new products, like the Catrice Overnight Lip Mask I recently tried. And this is just the beginning… so expect even more posts on lip care!
Conclusion: A Simple Routine for Healthy Lips
In summary, to avoid dry, chapped lips:
✔ Choose a moisturizing lip balm with good ingredients.
✔ Apply it regularly, especially before bed.
✔ Protect your lips from the sun and cold.
✔ Drink enough water and eat a nutrient-rich diet.
With these simple steps, dry lips will be a thing of the past! And you, what’s your go-to lip care product?
See you soon, Beautifully Moi!
Beautifully Moi 
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