How to Heal and Avoid Chapped Lips on Your Wedding Day

Everyone wants to look and feel their best on the wedding day, so prioritizing health, wellness, and skincare in the months leading up to the celebration tends to be key. One area brides- and grooms-to-be often overlook? Their lips. Since your lips are a focal facial feature that convey emotion and since your smile will be a widely photographed element in the majority of your wedding photos, many people focus on accentuating and defining this area, whether it’s with lipstick or lip fillers. Chapped lips are the antithesis of this plump and glossy look. When the lips become chapped, they appear flaky and cracked, which is a surefire way to undermine your overall beauty look when you tie the knot. Plus, dry lips are uncomfortable and irritating and can sometimes be downright painful, with sensations ranging from mildly itchy to full-on burning and bleeding.

Even though it’s undesirable, chapped lips are extremely common. The lips are a sensitive area of the face that are exposed to many harsh conditions. What's more, the lips don’t have any oil glands, so they lose water and dry out 10 times faster than the rest of the face and body. Several other factors further contribute to a rough and dehydrated feeling and appearance. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, exposure to cold air, dry air, and harsh winds can lead to chapping. On the other end of the spectrum, too much sun exposure can draw out moisture due to the sun’s UV rays, especially if you get a sunburn. There are additional personal habits and behaviors that can lead to or exacerbate dryness, such as frequently licking your lips, using dehydrating lip products, and not drinking enough water.

Luckily, achieving soft, plump lips by the time you say “I do” is within your control. We asked the experts to share some of their best tips to achieve this look, whether your lips are already cracked and flaky or you’re looking for ways to prevent unwanted dryness before your big day. Read on for expert-approved ways to heal and avoid chapped lips on your wedding day.

How to Heal Chapped Lips on Your Wedding Day

If your wedding day is fast approaching but you’re dealing with cracked lips, follow this advice from the professionals. Here, the experts unpack their top solutions to heal chapped lips, so you’ll replace a rough and brittle sensation with a soft and smooth one by the time you get married.

Apply Lip Balm

To treat dry and irritated lips, use a hydrating lip balm or lip moisturizer. Apply the product several times a day—especially before bed—in the days leading up to your wedding and numerous times on the day of. Petroleum jelly is one of the best remedies because the thick substance will lock in moisture longer than waxes or oils. Levin is also a fan of products with natural ingredients, like beeswax or shea butter, to moisturize and soften the lips. 

Exfoliate the Area

While a daily moisturizer will help alleviate much of the dryness, exfoliating your lips a day or two before the wedding will eliminate any redness and irritation on the big day, according to Levin. To properly exfoliate, the dermatologist advises using a soft toothbrush and a lip scrub, which will remove dead skin cells and lead to a smoother surface. If you’re looking for an at-home remedy, makeup artist Chiali Meng of Chiali Meng Artistry loves combining sugar with lanolin to combat flakiness.

Do an Overnight Treatment

The night before your nuptials, apply a lip mask or petroleum jelly to your lips and keep the formula on while you’re asleep. “This overnight treatment will deeply moisturize your lips and leave them soft and supple for your big day,” Levin notes. Meng swears by Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask to promote hydration and deliver ample antioxidants.

Consult Your Makeup Artist

If you wake up on the morning of your special day with a dry, brittle sensation and you’re in desperate need of a quick fix, express your grievances to your makeup artist. Meng suggests asking the cosmetic expert to apply a hydrating lip balm, followed by a lipstick or lip gloss to make your lips appear fuller and more hydrated in time for your vow exchange.

Properly Hydrate

Drinking enough water is a healthy habit everyone should adopt before trading vows, but it’s especially important on your wedding day. In the hours, days, and weeks leading up to your ceremony and reception, remember to stay hydrated. The National Academy of Medicine suggests an adequate fluid intake of nine to 13 cups per day. Following these recommendations will hydrate your skin, keeping chapped lips at bay.

How to Avoid Chapped Lips on Your Wedding Day

For those who don’t currently have flaky, brittle lips but are worried about the possibility of developing this pesky problem, the experts share must-know tips to avoid chapped lips on your wedding day.

Avoid Licking Your Lips

When lips feel dry, it’s tempting to introduce moisture by licking them, but this actually has an adverse effect. Levin explains that your saliva can strip away your lips’ natural oils, exacerbating the dryness. Whenever your lips become coarse and irritated, grab a hydrating lip balm instead.

Develop a Lip Care Routine

Most brides develop a pre-wedding beauty routine that they follow consistently in the months leading up to their nuptials, and lips should be one of your objects of focus. Every day, apply lip balm and moisturizing lip products to keep your lips healthy and hydrated by the time you marry your partner, according to Levin.

Ditch Irritating Ingredients

Even though lip balms are intended to lock in moisture, some items might contain ingredients that can irritate your lips. According to AAD, avoid products that list camphor, eucalyptus, fragrance, flavoring, menthol, oxybenzone, phenol, propyl gallate, or salicylic acid, which can actually dry out the skin. Instead, look for healing ingredients, such as castor seed oil, ceramides, dimethicone, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, petrolatum, shea butter, and white petroleum jelly. If you’re especially sensitive, make sure the products are fragrance free and hypoallergenic.

Wear Daily SPF

The sun’s UV rays can dehydrate the lips, so protect the area with a lip balm containing SPF. Apply a few coats of this product whenever you head outside to prevent sunburns and dryness from forming, Levin says. If you’re hosting an outdoor affair in the summer months, you should also wear this item beneath your lipstick or lip gloss during your event.

Use a Humidifier

Ahead of your celebration, both Levin and Meng recommend sleeping with a humidifier, especially if you’re in a dry or air-conditioned environment. This appliance will release water vapor, adding moisture to the air and preventing your lips from drying out. As an added bonus, your body will also feel softer. Levin also advises installing a humidifier in your bridal suite while getting ready for the function to amplify the effects.

Eat a Balanced Diet

A diet rich in vitamins and minerals will improve your skin health—including your lips. Levin notes that omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in certain fish, nuts, and seeds, will particularly moisturize your skin. Plus, a nutrient-rich diet will increase your energy, fueling you for a night of dancing.