It can be really frustrating when you suddenly notice that your lips are dry and chapped.
This is especially true for us women when we try to apply tinted lipstick, which looks much worse on chapped lips.
You may be wondering what to do to prevent your lips from cracking or what is the best and fastest way to treat them.
I know that you may not always have the right lip balm at your hands, and it may be tempting to apply a regular body lotion on your dry lips.
But is it really a good idea?
Not all products that you use as a body or hand lotion, can be used as a lip gloss or a lip balm.
You may have heard that lotions for sensitive skin are also suitable for lips, but that is not always true.
Sometimes, in addition to not having desired effects, random body or hand lotions, can cause more negative outcomes such as a burning sensation, more dryness and skin irritation, or even allergy and swelling of the lips.
Therefore, when choosing what moisturizer to use on your lips, you must be careful and look not only at the moisturizing properties, but also at other ingredients that the product contains.
If you put the wrong lotion on your lips, it may have more negative effects than benefits!
Besides, most body lotions are not safe for ingestion! Read on to learn more how to moisturize your lips in the right way.
Spoiler alert: in most case it’s way better to use lip balm that is particularly designed to protect your lips.
Can I Use Lotion Instead Of Chapstick On My Lips?
I believe before you decide putting lotion on your lips, the question should be: “Is all skin on your body the same?”.
The answer is: no, it’s not! Actually, the skin on your lips differs a lot from the skin on other parts of your body.
That’s why some body lotions will sting when you use them on cracked and irritated lips.
It happens with moisturizing lotions because the ingredients such as additives, preservatives, dyes, scents and other harsh ingredients they contain, are not made for the skin on your lips which is much thinner and more sensitive.
To keep your lips hydrated or prevent dryness, you need products that create a protective layer to the lip area and trap moisture.
This could be beeswax, natural oil, cocoa or shea butter (as well as petrolatum or mineral oil, but I don’t recommend these two ingredients), and lots of other products in the form of chapsticks or lip balms.
So to answer your question “Can you put lotion on your lips?”, I would say of course you can put lotion on your lips, but depending on what lotion you choose, you may experience different results than you expect. The best solution is to check ingredients list.
If you apply lotion with harsh ingredients, it will irritate your lips, instead of moisturizing them.
However, if you have a clean, non-toxic lotion that contains only the safest, natural and organic ingredients that you can put such a lotion on your lips for extra nourishment.
However, you need to still keep in mind that body lotion is usually not safe for digestion – that’s why it’s designed for your body – not lips.
If you decide to use lotion as an alternative to lip balm, remember not to “eat” it from your lips.
I still vote for a lip balm as it’s made specifically for that gentle and ultra-sensitive lip skin.
Can You Put Face Moisturizer On Your Lips?
There are many great options to moisturize your lips out there such as lip balms, ointments and oils to keep your lips hydrated and protected.
But using face moisturizer on your lips is not ideal. However, if you must use a face moisturizer because you don’t have a lip balm at hand, make sure that the moisturizer is not irritating for your lips.
There are face balms1 that contain safe ingredients for sensitive skin, formulated with shea butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, colloidal oatmeal, panthenol and glycerine.
These multipurpose balms are safe for skin anywhere in the body, including the lips.
Remember to check your face moisturizer ingredients list before you apply it on your lips to ensure it’s free from nasty irritants (like alcohol, disodium and tetrasodium EDTA, phenoxyethanol, various types of PEG, especially PEG-100, etc.).
Can You Put Body Butter On Your Lips?
Whether a body butter is suitable for use on your lips depends on the type of the butter.
Natural butters without added ingredients are generally safe for use on the lips, whereas butters mixed with body lotions and multiple ingredients may not be adequate.
If you want soft and luscious lips, try shea butter. It’s a popular lip balm ingredient for a reason. It has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that soothe redness and swelling.
Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants to protect your lips from UV damage. For better results, use it whipped to make it easier to apply and feel great on your lips.
Cocoa butter is like a tasty treat for your lips! It’s super nourishing because it has lots of fatty acids that make your lips soft and smooth in no time. Plus, it smells amazing!
You can also find mango butter, kokum butter, and avocado butter!
They’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants, super moisturizing, and perfect for skincare products like lip balms. Give them a try!
Can You Put Hand Lotion On Your Lips?
Hand lotions are made for hands, which have tougher skin and need stronger ingredients.
These ingredients can be too strong for the delicate skin of your lips. They can lead to chapped and dry lips because your lips don’t have enough oil glands like your hands do.
To avoid cracked lips, it’s best to use a lip balm or ointment that’s made specifically for moisturizing dry lips.
Can You Put Calamine Lotion On Your Lips?
You know that pink lotion we all love to put on our skin when we have a rash? Yep, that’s calamine.
But hold up, don’t even think to put it on your lips! It’s strictly for external use only, so save it for those itchy spots and leave your pout out of it2.
Is It Bad To Put Lotion On Your Lips?
Body lotions are like the superheroes of skincare- they work hard to protect and moisturize your skin, so you might be wondering “Can you put lotion on your lips as well?”.
One thing you should know for sure is that they’re not meant for ingestion!
Using them in your dry lips or near your mouth can lead to serious troubles, which I’m sure you don’t want!
Some of the negative effects that body lotions can have on your body, in case of ingesting too much lotion are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, chemical poisoning, skin irritation and severe allergic reactions.
It might seem like a good idea applying lotion to moisturize your dry and chapped lips but lotion on your lips can actually make the problem worse.
So, let’s stick to some good old-fashioned chapsticks and lip balms instead, and leave the moisturizing lotion just for your dry skin in other sensitive areas.
Why Lotion Isn’t As Effective As Chapstick?
You might be tempted to use body lotion on your dry lips, but that’s not necessarily a good idea! Lotion is designed specifically for other parts of your body, like your legs, hands and feet.
Your lips, on the other hand, are super sensitive and deserve some extra care, so applying lotion on your lips is not a solution.
Lips don’t have any sebaceous glands or hair follicles, and they’re exposed directly to everything you eat, drink and breath in through your mouth. This is why they’re much more sensitive and delicate.
Typically, a lip balm contains natural ingredients like beeswax and essential oils.
In addition to these, some lip balms may also include hyaluronic acid, which helps to retain moisture and maintain your lips soft and supple.
On the other hand, body lotions have some beneficial ingredients to moisturize skin, but they also come with a lot of added fragrances, preservatives, and other ingredients that are just too harsh on lips.
That’s why putting lotion on your lips can be really harmful. So, try to keep the body lotion for your body only!
What Can I Put On My Lips If I Don’t Have Chapstick?
Can you put lotion on your lips when you’re out of Chapstick or lip balm? We’ve all been there. There are many better natural alternatives to make your lips soft and healthy and I’ll suggest a few.
1. Coconut Oil
You probably have it in your kitchen or skincare stash! It’s full of lauric acid that can fight germs on your skin. A study in 2018 found that virgin coconut oil has anti-inflammatory effects and supports skin barrier function3.
And if you have dry or cracked lips, coconut oil can help them heal faster and keep them from getting worse. Who needs lip balm when you have that miraculous coconut oil?
2. Cucumbers
We all know that cucumbers can help lighten dark circles around the eyes, but they can also do wonders for your lips.
Cucumber juice gives your lips a beautiful rosy hue while also making them softer. This is especially great for those with slightly discolored lips.
It also helps to hydrate your lips and provides them with important vitamins and minerals. It’s no surprise that it’s included in many lip balm formulations.
3. Honey
Did you know that honey is fantastic for moisturizing? That’s why it’s often used in homemade face masks, and it works wonders for your lips too as a lip scrub and as a moisturizer.
Honey is a natural humectant4, meaning it helps moisturize your lips and make them stay hydrated by absorbing moisture from the air. Plus, it tastes great, unlike any other lip balm substitute.
You can either apply it for a few minutes and rinse it off or leave it on overnight for soft and plump lips in the morning.
4. Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe Vera is great for sun damage and for cooling and moisturizing skin, but did you know it’s also perfect for your lips in humid weather? It can heal chapped lips and gently exfoliate dead skin for a smoother surface.
Because Aloe Vera is a light humectant, it’s best to seal it with occlusive agents to lock in moisture. It’s a fantastic choice for hot summer days!
5. Shea & Other Natural Butters
Butters can be a very good choice for your cracked lips. Natural butters like shea butter, cocoa butter and mango butter are rich in emollients and fatty acids that can help hydrate and moisturize dry lips and nourish them.
They can restore moisture and also form a protective barrier on your lips helping to seal in moisture and prevent further dryness. Butters are often used as ingredients in lip balms and can be applied directly to the lips for added hydration.
6. Butter
Normal butter, as well as clarified butter (ghee)5 can be used as alternatives to lip balms to prevent dryness and nourish lips.
They give the lips a plump and pink appearance and help remove lipstick. However, they’re not vegan friendly, and can feel heavy on the lips.
7. Vaseline
You may also want to add Vaseline to your list of occlusive products! It’s great for treating dryness and locking in moisture, especially in the dry air of the winter months.
Vaseline creates a protective barrier that protects your lips and skin, preventing moisture loss and allowing your lips to repair.
However, I need to tell you that I’m not a fan of it, because it’s made from petrolatum.
Sometimes if petrolatum is not properly refined, it may be contaminated with PAHs which are possible carcinogens6 (for example, they may increase the risk of breast cancer7).
8. Lip Serums & Sleeping Masks
Lip serums are a hot item in the market right now because they add some natural moisture to your lips, which can improve their appearance and overall health.
There are various types of serums that address issues like dryness, discoloration, and sensitivity.
Another great thing about serums is that they work overtime, so you won’t need to constantly apply lip balm to deal with dry lips.
There’s one more option: applying an overnight sleeping mask, which may help repair cracked and dehydrated lips.
PRO TIP: If you’re often struggling with chapped lips, I recommend you to try out Korean lip masks as they as really effective (honestly, Korean girls are really good at lip-care!).
If you’re unsure how to choose the right one for you, check out my ranking of the best Korean lip masks for dry lips.
What Can I Put On My Lips To Moisturize?
You have lots of options to keep your lips moisturized and luscious! If you’re a lip balm fan, stick with your favorite brand.
However, another great choice is coconut oil that gives your lips a tropical touch. And don’t forget about the moisturizing magic of glycerine, castor oil, sunflower oil, vitamin E oil, beeswax, honey.
Some experts also recommend classic petroleum jelly (or Vaseline), but I’m not a fan of it because it’s made from petrolatum, which can be contaminated with some toxic ingredients8.
There are plenty of other better options with moisturizing ingredients that work better than many lotions and provide superior results.
If You Still Want To Use Lotion Instead Of Chapstick – Do It In A Safe Way
Typically, most lotions, and creams are not meant for your lips, unless the label says so.
Those approved by dermatologists or physicians can temporarily soothe dry and chapped lips, but it’s important to use them with caution.
To play it safe, try a little bit on a small patch of skin first, to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction to it.
And watch out for fragrances, dyes and other ingredients, which can make your lips feel worse instead of better.
However, if you want a lip product that works like a charm, go for ones that are meant for lips specifically.
Avoid using lotions9 with extra stuff like fragrances or anything that might make your skin even more cracked. Instead, check out products with natural ingredients that are gentle on sensitive skin like that of the lips.
Here’s a quick tip if you’re looking to heal dry lips faster: you can use both lotion and lip balm10 but make sure to choose only the safest ones.
Apply lotion (with natural ingredients and zero preservatives or harsh ingredients) to your lips at first, and then the lip balm to lock in the moisture.
This will provide quick relief and better hydration.
Wrap Up: Can I Put Moisturizer Cream On My Lips?
While technically you can use a moisturizing lotion on your lips, it’s not the best solution and may even worsen lips condition. It’s better to use a lip balm or other natural moisturizers with safe ingredients that protect and heal the lips.
Better save that body lotion for your body and your facial moisturizer for your face only!
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority.
Resources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/
- https://finerhomeliving.com/
- https://www.makeupmuddle.com/
- https://www.bcpp.org/
- https://monographs.iarc.who.int
- https://thebeautyholic.com
- https://thebeautyinsideout.com
- https://www.safecosmetics.org/
