Winter care
Winter lips: how to keep them soft and still wear colour
Why lips crack in cold, dry weather, what dermatologists say actually helps, and how to wear a lip tint through a Pakistani winter without flaky patches.
The short version
- Lips have no oil glands, so cold air, wind and lip-licking dry them out fast.
- A thick, fragrance-free balm or plain petroleum jelly, used several times a day and at night, is what dermatologists recommend.
- Before tint: balm, wait a minute, blot, then tap the colour on in thin layers.
- Lips still cracked after two to three weeks of care? See a doctor.
Why lips crack in winter
The skin on your lips is thinner than the skin on your face and, unlike your cheeks, it has no oil glands of its own. It relies on you to keep it moisturised, which is why lips are usually the first thing to feel tight when the weather turns.
Cleveland Clinic lists the usual culprits: cold weather, wind, sun, not drinking enough water and, most of all, licking your lips. Saliva feels soothing for a second, but it evaporates quickly and takes moisture with it, and the digestive enzymes in it irritate the skin. Dry air indoors and out makes all of this worse.
In much of Punjab, winter brings long stretches of cold, mostly rain-free weather. The Pakistan Meteorological Department's bulletin for the last week of December 2025, for example, reported that "dry and cold weather prevailed" across the province, with fog over the plains. Add hours spent outdoors on a bike or in the wind, and chapped lips become a seasonal routine for many people.
What dermatologists say actually helps
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and Cleveland Clinic give very similar advice:
- Use a balm or ointment several times a day and before bed. For very dry or cracked lips, the AAD suggests a thick ointment such as white petroleum jelly, which holds moisture in longer than waxes or oils.
- Look for gentle, simple ingredients. Petrolatum, shea butter, ceramides, dimethicone and mineral oil are on the AAD's "look for" list.
- Skip irritants. Fragrance, flavourings (cinnamon, citrus, mint), menthol, camphor and eucalyptus can make sore lips worse. If a lip product stings, tingles or burns, stop using it.
- Wear SPF 30 or higher on your lips outdoors, even in winter, and reapply about every two hours. Sun can burn already chapped lips.
- Stop licking, biting and peeling. Pulling off flakes with your teeth or fingers opens new cracks.
- Drink enough water, and in a heated or air-conditioned bedroom, a humidifier can help.
- Cover up in the wind. A scarf or dupatta over your mouth on a cold bike ride really does help.
Good to know: the AAD says chapped lips usually improve within two to three weeks of this kind of care. If they don't, an allergy, an infection or another skin condition may be the cause, so it's worth seeing a dermatologist.
How to wear a lip tint in winter
A tint sits in a thin layer, so it shows every flake. A little preparation makes the difference between patchy and smooth:
- Balm first. Smooth on a thin layer of balm a few minutes before your makeup, or the night before.
- Blot. Press a tissue gently on your lips to take off the slippery excess, so the tint has something to grip.
- Tap, don't drag. Put a small dot in the centre of your lower lip, press your lips together, then tap outward with a fingertip. Makeup artists suggest building in thin coats rather than one heavy one.
- Build slowly. One layer for a sheer, everyday flush, a second or third for more colour. It's easier to add than to take away.
- Re-balm the centre, not the edges, if your lips feel dry later in the day. A touch of clear balm in the middle also makes the colour look fresher.
If your lips are actually cracked or bleeding, give them a few days of balm only. Colour won't hide a crack, and any product can sting on broken skin.
Your cheeks need a little care too
A liquid cheek tint goes on most evenly over moisturised skin. In winter, put on your usual moisturiser, give it a minute to sink in, then dab the tint onto the apples of your cheeks and blend upward quickly, before it sets. On very dry patches, use less and blend with a damp sponge rather than a dry fingertip.
A simple winter routine
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Morning | Balm, then SPF lip balm if you'll be outdoors. Tint after a few minutes, blotted. |
| During the day | Balm after eating and drinking. Water bottle within reach. No licking. |
| Outdoors in wind | Scarf or dupatta over your mouth. Reapply SPF every two hours in the sun. |
| Night | Remove colour gently, then a thick layer of ointment or petroleum jelly. |
When to see a doctor
See a doctor or dermatologist if your lips don't improve after two to three weeks of good care, if cracks bleed often, if the corners of your mouth stay split and sore, or if you notice swelling, a rash or a scaly patch that doesn't heal. Cleveland Clinic notes that persistent chapped lips can sometimes be linked to allergies, infections, vitamin or iron deficiencies or other conditions that a doctor can check for.
One bottle for lips and cheeks
oli is an olive-infused, fragrance-free lip & cheek tint in Red, Dark Pink and Light Pink. Build it from a sheer flush to a bold colour in one to three layers. Rs 790, cash on delivery across Pakistan.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: 7 dermatologists' tips for healing dry, chapped lips
- Cleveland Clinic: Chapped lips (cheilitis)
- Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials: How to get rid of chapped lips
- Pakistan Meteorological Department (NAMC): Weekly agromet bulletin, 22–28 December 2025
- Charlotte Tilbury: How to use a lip tint
- Faces Canada: Dos and don'ts for lip and cheek tints
This article is general information, not medical advice. If your lips or skin stay sore, cracked or irritated for more than two to three weeks, or you have swelling or a rash, see a doctor or dermatologist.