How To Treat Chapped Lips Right Now

Uh oh. You hit the slopes sans SPF lip balm and now your chapped lips are basically a bleeding nightmare. Wind, sun, and extreme temperatures can create a perfect storm for chapped lips, but here's how to treat chapped lips overnight and (hopefully) learn your lesson quickly.

Here's a weird fact: Chapped lips happen because your lips cannot naturally moisturize themselves (like other parts of your face) because there are no oil glands in your lips. Weird, right? That, plus lip's ultra thin layers of skin, make them a disaster zone of potential damage. Luckily, those are the exact reasons why you can heal chapped lips quickly.

"During cold weather and in low-humidity environments, moisture escapes quickly through the top layer of skin," said dermatologist Francesca Fusco, according to Allure . Talking, eating, pretty much living life can exacerbate chapped lips, so while this is a quick fix, you definitely need to take steps for longer lasting, healthy lips. This works as a temporary fix, but from here on out you should definitely keep lip balm close by. Staying out of harsh weather, using a humidifier, only wearing moisturizing lipsticks and glosses, and avoiding harsh ingredients in products like toothpaste, face wash and mouthwash will help.

Here's how to cure chapped lips, fast.

1. Cleanse & Moisturize

POND's Cold Cream Cleanser, $5, Amazon

If your lips are dry and peeling, first clean them using a gentle moisturizer. This will replenish moisture and make sure your lips are primed for treatment. I like using POND's Cold Cream as a cleanser, since it's hypo-allergenic and great for sensitive skin.

2. Exfoliate

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, $22, Amazon

Getting rid of flaky dead skin is essential to starting the healing process, but you want to do it gently or things could get worse. Whatever you do, don't pick away the flakes. Instead, gently buff it with an exfoliant. You can make your own or use a store bought exfoliant with warm water and a soft washcloth or toothbrush.

3. Apply Balm

Delicious Skin's Silky Lip Salve, $8, Delicious Skin

I have tried everything when it comes to lip products, and I have never loved anything more than Delicious Skin's Silky Lip Salve. It's buttery and whipped and lasts for hours. Now that your lips are cleansed and exfoliated, apply a gentle balm (like this one, seriously) to protect your lips from further irritants.