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Image @maddiesalute; Featured: Good Pick Cream Cable Knit Balloon Sleeve Cardigan Sweater

Winter brings a lot of things we love, like cozy sweaters, chic outerwear, and holiday everything, but it also comes with some major downsides. When the colder months creep up, that inevitably means dry skin. Not only dry skin but flaky, chapped lips that seem impossible not to bite and pick at. Your initial reaction might be to lick them, but there’s actually nothing worse that you can do.

To find how best to treat those flaky, cracked lips, we spoke with NYC-based dermatologist, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. (If anyone knows how best to treat dry, chapped lips, it’s Dr. Zeichner–NYC winters are long and brutal.)  Follow the tips below to keep your lips healthy and hydrated throughout the winter months.

1. Stop licking your lips

It may feel instinctual to lick and bite your lips when they’re dry and flaking, but that’s only going to make things worse. When you lick your lips, it coats them in a layer of your saliva, which contains enzymes and chemicals used to digest food in your mouth. This can lead to additional dryness that will work against you.

2. Exfoliate once a week, only

If you have flaky skin that just won’t budge, it’s OK to exfoliate, but try to keep it to a minimum. Dr. Zeichner recommends gently exfoliating once a week with a sugar-based scrub to help remove dry skin. “The best way to tell if you need to exfoliate is to watch your lips. If they’re still flaky after applying a moisturizer, it’s time to exfoliate,” says Dr. Zeichner. After a satisfying sugar scrub, follow-up with a moisturizing lip treatment to help calm and restore hydration.

3. Use a humidifier at night

Wind or low humidity is going to work hard against keeping your lips hydrated. To help combat the harsh outdoor weather, try sleeping with a humidifier. “Using a cool mist humidifier while you sleep will help restore the moisture in the air. Avoid using a hot steam one which can burn your skin if you get too close,” says Dr. Zeichner. Try using a Hey Dewy humidifier: It emits cool mist and is compact so you can easily travel with it to ensure you’re keeping your lips and face hydrated.

4. Avoid products that contain camphor, menthol, or exfoliators like salicylic acid

“I recommend sticking to heavy, occlusive ointments for the best protection,” says Dr. Zeichner. Products that contain camphor, menthol, or exfoliators like salicylic acid are going to irritate your lips and make the dryness and flakes worse.

Did these tips help your chapped lips? Tell us in the comments! For more self-care options, shop our Beauty and Wellness selection.

The information included in this article should not be used in lieu of professional treatment. All beauty and wellness products should be used strictly in accordance with their instructions, precautions, and guidelines.