Wintertime is here and with it comes the holiday season, twinkling lights, shiny wrapped presents, hot cocoa, crackling fires, and dry skin. In particular, the dry air in the Winter can cause lips to get irritated and chapped. In this post you’ll find a number of incredible DIY natural lip masks with recipes made from ingredients you’re likely to have in your cupboard.
Some simple ways to try to prevent dry lips are rooted in positive habits such as:
- Staying well hydrated by sipping water regularly all-day
- Keeping on top of oral health to prevent dry mouth
- Eating foods like avocados that are high in positive oils
- Avoiding touching or licking your lips
While these are simple things you can do, there are other ways you can work to promote hydrated lips. One of the best strategies to keep your lips plump and pouty is lip masks. Just like facial masks, lip masks are designed to hydrate your skin and are to be applied when you have a little time to let them settle and do their work.
If you search, you will find a vast array of balms, salves, and ointments for sale that help alleviate the symptoms of dry lips. And when looking for lip masks, you may notice that many of these remedies tout 100% natural ingredients. While they might boast elements like exotic-sounding botanical oils, most of what makes up these lip masks can be found in your home, your pantry, or at your local grocery store. This means it is very easy to DIY.
Below we cover a number of incredible recipes that can be put together easily from natural ingredients you likely have in your cupboard.
Natural Lip Masks
Exfoliate first
As with any moisturising regime, it’s essential to exfoliate beforehand. Excellent elements of a good lip mask scrub generally have one or more of these ingredients
Something Sweet
- Some recipes include raw Honey which helps both exfoliate and moisturize
- Often granulated or brown sugar is added which is a sweet and delicious exfoliant
To make this lip scrub, follow the steps below:
- Mix together honey, brown sugar, and lavender essential oil and mix well.
- Massage the scrub onto your lips for 2–3 minutes.
- After, wash away with warm water.
Something Spicy
- Turmeric contains curcumin which is known to be an anti-inflammatory agent
- Vanilla extract adds a lovely aroma but is also known to be an antioxidant
To make this lip scrub, follow the steps below:
- Blend together coconut oil and turmeric in a bowl.
- Add in castor oil and sugar and mix well.
- Add in the beeswax and mix until the substance is thick.
- Then microwave your mixture for 1–2 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Once done, store in a container and let sit for about 30 minutes to cool off.
- Then, apply to your lips.
Get Moisturising
Once you have scrubbed, you can start working on hydrating. Many similar ingredients are excellent when creating the perfect moisturising lip masks. Recipes often include the raw honey that was suggested in the exfoliating scrubs along with elements like:
- Bees Wax
- Shea Butter
- Coffee Grounds
- Strawberries
And more…
To make this lip mask, follow the steps below:
- Mash strawberries in a bowl and mix in vitamin E oil.
- Add a pinch of coffee grounds and mix together.
- Apply to your lips and leave on for 20–30 minutes for the best results.
Overnight Treatments
While many natural lip masks like the ones you will see below are meant to be applied for a few minutes or so, putting on a couple of quick ingredients overnight can make a world of difference on your chapped lips.
Recipes for overnight treatments are simple, such as:
- Equal parts raw honey and coconut oil allowed to sit on your lips all night will give you even more benefits of those two ingredients.
- Clarified butter, known as Ghee, can be heated and then cooled so that it takes on the consistency of lip balm. Apply it at night and allow the healthy fatty acids to repair and protect your lips.
- Using aloe vera on your hands is pretty common, but application on the lips has a similar effect as an anti-inflammatory to help your lips when they are chapped.
To make this overnight lip mask, follow the steps below:
- Blend together equal parts coconut oil and raw honey.
- Mix until it forms a thick consistency.
- Then, apply to your lips before bed and wake up with moisturized lips!
It’s important to stay on top of your self-care, especially in the winter. These lip masks are an affordable, sustainable, natural and fun way to keep your lips healthy. They also make a great DIY gift for those wanting to avoid busy malls this holiday season!
Words by Sierra | Photography by Delfina Cocciardi
