You probably have a 10-step skin care routine, but your lips? Completely forgotten, right? I’ve been there too. Actually, not so long ago, I’d slap some lip balm on out of desperation when my lips would begin to crack. and that was the whole of my lip care routine.
But here’s the thing: your lips are worth more.
Whether you’re a daily lipstick user or someone who’s always licking your lips because you just can’t help it (guilty!), this guide is your ultimate cheat sheet to soft, healthy, and irresistibly smooth lips—365 days a year.
Why Do We Even Need a Lip Care Routine?
I just posed this question to Dr. Aarti Bhandari, a dermatologist in Mumbai. Why, I asked her, was lip health so frequently overlooked? Her response was straightforward but eye-opening:
“Everybody worries so much about facial skincare, but lips are skin as well—and even more so. Regular lip care will defend against premature wrinkling, pigmentation, and dryness.”
The Science Behind Lip Damage
Okay, now let’s go:
- Environmental Stressors: Wind, UV rays, and pollution drain the moisture from your lips.
- Bad Habits: Too much lip-licking, picking, or wearing abrasive lipsticks removes the natural barrier.
- Dehydration: When you’re not drinking sufficient water, your lips are usually the first area where it manifests.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiency in B-vitamins or iron results in peeling and discoloration of the lips.
- Having covered the why, let’s now discuss the how—your entire lip care routine!
Step 1: Begin Your Day With Hydration
My mornings began with coffee… and chapped lips. Today, I have a glass of water as soon as I wake up, and voila. Instant difference.
Derm Tip: Dr. Bhandari once again stresses the importance of drinking 8–10 glasses of water every day. “Internal hydration from the inside out is the building block of any good lip care regimen,” she says.
Step 2: Gentle Lip Cleansing
Before you apply anything, clean. You don’t need a special lip cleaner—you can use your face cleaner, but a fragrance-free, non-drying one.
Real Talk: I was in the habit of omitting this step and being perplexed as to why my lips felt sticky underneath balm. Ever since I began cleansing my lips as well as my face, everything went on more smoothly.
Step 3: Exfoliate (But Not Every Day!)
Dead skin buildup = dry lips. Exfoliate 2–3 times a week with a gentle scrub.
Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe:
- ½ tsp honey
- A few drops of coconut oil
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Massage softly for 30 seconds and wash.
Note: Avoid over exfoliating. Exfoliation daily will only make the lips drier.
Step 4: Sun Protection is Non-Negotiable
This may be one of the least used aspects of a lip regimen, but it’s important. Lips are very susceptible to sunburn, which causes darkening and even elevated lip cancer risk.
Find a lip balm with at least an SPF of 15. My favorite? A tinted SPF balm—it serves as a protective foundation and gives your lips a rosy look.
Derm Tip: “Sun damage accumulates. Even 10 minutes daily over years,” says Dr. Bhandari.
Step 5: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Your secret to lip care routine is moisturizing. However, not all lip balms are equal.
Look for:
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Shea Butter
- Beeswax
- Vitamin E
- Lanolin
Avoid
- Menthol
- Camphor
- Strong fragrance
- Petroleum-based balms (they just accumulate on the surface)
Personal Favorite: I use a hyaluronic acid-rich lip serum at night. Within one week, my lips were fuller and less parched.
Step 6: Overnight Lip Mask = Magic
Don’t sleep on overnight treatments (literally). A moisturizing lip mask seals in moisture overnight.
Try using:
- A heavy-duty balm (such as Laneige or Vaseline with cocoa butter)
- A dollop of straight-up ghee (yes, old-school, but it works!)
I used ghee one night as a last resort after a winter hike, and by morning—no more cracks.
Step 7: Watch Your Lipstick Game
Lipsticks, especially matte lipsticks, dry out your lips. If you love makeup, this part of your lip care routine is actually very important.
Tips
- Pre-treat with a balm each time.
- Avoid using long-wear lipsticks daily.
- Remove lip color using micellar water or a gentle remover (not face wipes!).
Personal Trick: Apply lip balm over lipstick if you want added moisture without sacrificing the color.
Step 8: What You Eat Shows on Your Lips
A healthy diet is the behind-the-scenes star of an amazing lip care routine.
Eat more:
- Leafy greens
- Walnuts and almonds (Vitamin E)
- Eggs and legumes (Biotin)
- Citrus fruits (Vitamin C)
- Avoid: Too much spicy, salty, or acidic food—these dry up and irritate your lip care routine.
Step 9: Change With the Seasons
Your lip care routine regimen is not one-size-fits-all. Just like your closet does, your regimen has to adapt with the season.
- Winter: Thicker balms and re-applying multiple times.
- Summer: SPF + minimal moisture.
- Monsoon: Anti-bacterial formula to prevent fungal infection.
Step 10: Break Free From These Unhealthy Habits
Certain so-called harmless habits destroy your lip care routine
- Lip-licking dehydrates lips.
- Peeling off flakes results in bleeding and scarring.
- Opening old lip product packaging can lead to infection.
My lip bloopiest mistake? Using a 2-year-old lip gloss during winter. Huge mistake. My lips took a week to recover.
Bonus Step: Lip Serums and Tools
- Lip regimens of advanced skin tend to include serums or tools:
- Lip rollers stimulate blood flow and plumping.
- Serums with peptides or niacinamide treat fine lines.
- LED lip devices (pricey, but fabulous for pigmentation).
Real People, Real Routines
Radhika, 26, Pune
“I dreaded my dark lips until I began applying a turmeric lip mask every two weeks. Within one month, lightening was observable.”
Aman, 33, Delhi:
“Biking also meant sun-scorched lips were always guaranteed. Using SPF lip balm and aloe vera gel afterwards totally turned everything around.”
Must-Haves Nodded Along By Dermatologists
Three dermatologists have shared with us what they swear by on their lip care routine and the following is their take:
- Dr. Meera Shah (Mumbai): “A night-time minimalist SPF balm and coconut oil. “
- Dr. Varun Kumar (Bangalore): “Twice a week, broken vitamin E capsules applied directly.”
- Dr. Aarti Bhandari (Mumbai): “Always a shea butter balm, and licking my lips is strictly avoided at all costs.”
TL;DR – The Lip Care Routine Checklist
Hydrate daily
Clean your lips
Exfoliate 2–3x/week
Apply SPF lip balm
- Use lip-friendly makeup
Apply a night mask
Eat a balanced diet
Change routine per season
Break bad habits
Discover advanced tools
Last Words
Caring for your lips isn’t a indulgence—it’s self-indulgence.
Learning to maintain good lip health can seem trivial, but the payoff is monumental. No more covering up with lipstick, no more wincing cracks, and no more repeated reapplication of balm that will not.
Trust us. When you’ve experienced how smooth, hydrated, and touchably silky your lips become, you’ll ask yourself why you didn’t start sooner.
So go ahead—treat those lips like the loved ones they are the lip care routine