Is Honey Your Cure For Chapped Lips?

honey remedy chapped lips

Honey is my favorite condiment and is often my turn-to beauty product. From softer hair to smoother skin, honey has been proven to provide ample support in the beauty department. While honey has given us added support to our hair and acne problems, is it possible that this sweet condiment could also help soothe dry, chapped lips? Winter is among us and, even if it’s early in the season, it is likely our lips are starting to feel its wrath. This winter, should we skip the drug store’s lip balm selection and instead look to honey to cure our irritation? Let’s find out what the researchers think!

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A medical informational website, Medical News Today, explains that “the possible health benefits of consuming honey have been documented in early Greek, Roman, Vedic, and Islamic texts and the healing qualities of honey were referred to by philosophers and scientists all the way back to ancient times, such as Aristotle.” Still popular today, honey can be found in most household kitchens and, while eating honey has numerous health benefits, researchers suggest that applying it on our skin may also be useful. A health and wellness website, Live Strong, states that “honey has the power to moisturize and heal, making it an ideal treatment for parched lips.” Our lips become chapped due to a lack of moisture, and researchers believe honey can be just the remedy to help keep our lips from feeling dehydrated. Since the air has less humidity in the winter and we spend more time in heated rooms, we tend to make up for the lack of moisture by licking our lips. All of these factors make chapped lips inevitable, but honey may be just the remedy we need to battle cracked lips this winter. Furthermore, Live Strong explains that “because honey has antibacterial powers, it helps prevent infection from developing in cracked lips,” therefore, when applied, honey may shorten the amount of time lips may feel chapped.

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We already know that using some lip-care products actually do more harm than good. Dermatologist Jessica Krant M.D. explains on a health and wellness website, Shape, that in most lip balms “‘the wax or petrolatum in lip balm essentially creates a watertight barrier that prevents your internal skin moisture—which normally evaporates through the surface, especially on dry, cold, windy days—from escaping, softening your lips and keeping them feeling moist.” Between the soothing effects of honey and its ability to prevent our already chapped lips from becoming worse, it seems honey may be the only lip product you’ll need this winter. A health and wellness website, Women’s Day, explains that “when you combine it with the moisturizing effect of petroleum jelly, you’re relieving and curing chapped lips,” whereas other lip balm is only glossing over your lips and not providing any lasting relief. Instead, honey helps promote the body’s natural healing process and can provide relief from the winter’s cruel weather.

Verdict: Truth. Honey is definitely a product you want to keep in your beauty drawer. Researchers agree that honey can help heal cracked lips. According to Live Strong, “The National Honey Board […suggests to…] Combine 1 cup of sweet almond oil with half a cup of beeswax–you can find both these ingredients at health or natural foods stores–and melt the mixture over low heat, while stirring. When completely melted, whisk in 2 tbsp. of honey,” then use as a natural lip balm. Instead of spending money on lip balms this winter, give honey a try for a sweet way to soothe your lips.

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What honey remedy have you tried and has proven effective?

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