How to Wear Lipstick With Dry, Chapped Lips in Winter
Prep 10 minutes ahead: balm first, then blot it off so color can grip. If lips are flaky but not cracked, buff gently with a damp washcloth. Choose a creamy or satin formula over matte, line the full lip in a matching pencil, and press color on with a finger rather than dragging the bullet.
“Matte lipstick on winter lips is like suede on a wet day: beautiful in theory, a mess in practice. Switch to something creamier for a few months and your lips will look smoother the moment you put it on.”Her take
Flaky or cracked? It changes what you should do
Flaky lips have dry patches on the surface but the skin underneath is intact. These can be buffed gently and covered well. Cracked lips have splits or sore spots. Don't scrub them; focus on balm, choose a tinted balm or sheer color, and give them time.
If cracks are painful, bleeding or not healing after a couple of weeks, have a doctor or pharmacist take a look rather than covering them up.
How to prep dry lips before lipstick
Prep works best when it's done ahead, not right before color.
- The night before, apply a thick layer of balm before bed.
- In the morning, if lips are flaky but not cracked, rub gently with a warm, damp washcloth in small circles to lift loose flakes. No hard scrubbing.
- Apply a thin layer of balm and let it sit while you do the rest of your makeup.
- Blot it off with a tissue just before lipstick, leaving a soft, smooth surface rather than a slippery one.
Which lipstick formulas work best on dry lips?
Creamy and satin lipsticks contain more oils and glide over texture. Sheer balms and tinted balms are the most forgiving and look best on very dry days. Classic flat mattes and liquid mattes tend to cling to dry patches and settle into lines, so save them for when your lips are back to normal.
If you love a matte look, apply a creamy lipstick and blot it with a tissue for a soft-matte finish instead.
Apply it so dry patches don't show
Line the whole lip, not just the edge, with a pencil that matches the lipstick or your natural lip color. The pencil fills texture and gives the lipstick something to hold onto.
Press the lipstick on with your fingertip or a lip brush in light taps, building color in thin layers. Dragging the bullet across dry lips catches on flakes. Bold and bright colors show texture more than soft rosy or berry shades, so on a rough day choose a slightly sheerer version of your color.
Keep it smooth through the day
Cold air, wind and heated rooms all dry lips further. Wear balm outdoors and reapply color once you arrive, the way you'd change into indoor shoes. Carry the lipstick and a small balm together.
Don't lick your lips, which dries them more, and be careful with lip products that tingle; ingredients that feel cooling can feel irritating on already dry lips.
Questions people ask
Can I wear matte lipstick on chapped lips?
It will usually cling to dry patches. Switch to a cream or satin formula, or blot a creamy lipstick for a soft-matte look until your lips recover.
Should I exfoliate chapped lips?
Only gently, and only if the skin isn't cracked. A warm damp washcloth is enough; skip scrubbing on sore or split lips.
Does lip balm under lipstick make it slide off?
It can if you leave too much. Apply balm early, then blot before lipstick so the surface is smooth but not slippery.
Is lip liner necessary on dry lips?
It helps a lot. Lining and filling the whole lip gives color a smoother base and keeps edges crisp.
The takeaway
Balm early and blot, buff only if not cracked, trade matte for cream until spring, fill with liner, and tap color on in thin layers.
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