The wait is finally over as we give a warm (chilly) welcome to our favorite time of year—Thanksgiving—and all its whimsical charms.

What is it about this special month that fills our hearts with so much joy?

Could it be the gathering of dearest family and friends? A bountiful feast of our favorite dishes? Or maybe it’s taking the time to reflect and give thanks for all that we’ve been blessed with.

Whatever it may be, we know one thing is for sure—the arrival of dry, cracked lips cannot be counted as one of them.

Whether it’s from dehydration or inclement weather, parched puckers can leave us feeling a little less than gourd-geous during the holiday months.

Read on to discover the leading causes for dry lips around the Thanksgiving holiday—and how to salve it.

Not Exfoliating

Like the start to a beautiful painting – a clean canvas is crucial. To get the most out of your lip treatments, you’ll want to make sure you’ve sloughed off any dead skin first. A smooth surface will allow balms and oils to penetrate deeper into the skin, leaving your lips looking supple and hydrated.

Solution: Using just a few products from your kitchen cupboards – create your own exfoliant by combining sugar with a couple drops of your favorite oil. We’re loving these: 100% Coconut Oil and 100% Almond Oil. Next, gently rub mixture in circular motions around your lips and rinse off with water.

Cooking

Whether you’re cooking up a feast for the whole family (we applaud you), or just helping mom with the pecan pie, Thanksgiving means spending ample time inside a hot kitchen. Hot air not only dries out your skin, but it also dries out your mucous membranes, leading to dry, chapped lips.

Solution: If your lips can’t stand the heat, then consider getting a humidifier. This will help replace the moisture in the air that gets sucked out by indoor heat. Also, try using an emollient (more on emollients below) to help seal in moisture and keep lips feeling smooth.

You’re Dehydrated

During the holidays we celebrate love and good company with copious amounts of food and alcohol. If you’ve ever noticed your skin and lips especially dry after a few drinks, it’s because alcohol acts a diuretic. As your body breaks down alcohol, it removes water from your blood through your urine, leaving our bodies parched.

Solution: Water is essential for keeping your skin and lips healthy. After all, our bodies are made up of 50-60 percent water. So, if you plan on having that extra glass of mulled wine after dinner, make sure you’re supplementing with plenty of H2O as well!

Wintry Weather

The cooler months seem to creep up on us quickly. Before we know it, were smacked with freezing winds and the moisture from our lips is suddenly sucked dry. When the humidity level outside drops, the water in your skin evaporates at a quicker rate, causing flaky, dry lips.

Solution: Use lip balms crafted with natural ingredients to protect delicate lip skin from harsh weather conditions. It’s important to choose products that are high in emollients (aka moisture-locking properties). Applying lip balm can also guarantee instant relief in times of drier need.

Look for ingredients that include:

• Cocoa Butter: Saturated fats found in cocoa butter are beneficial for healing damaged lips because they penetrate easier and remain in the skin for hours.
• Coconut Oil: Contains the powerful antioxidant vitamin E, which works to guard the lips and skin.
• Shea Butter: A vitamin-rich emollient that helps prevent dryness, cracking and softens.

Lip balm can also be a great moisturizing alternative for cracked cuticles, hands, elbows – you name it!

Not Using Vitamin E 

If you aren’t using vitamin E in your current skincare regimen, we suggest doing so ASAP. This powerful nutrient acts as an antioxidant to help fight against skin cell-damaging free radicals. Free radicals can wreak havoc on your cellular processes. This, in turn, can contribute to signs of aging.

Solution: Whenever possible, opt for skincare products that include this age-defying nutrient. When it comes to soothing chapped lips, choose a lip product that includes vitamin E for deep penetrating moisture.

As you count your blessings this Thanksgiving, remember to give your body (lips included!) the love and gratitude it deserves. For the health and protection of your lips, we hope you incorporate these tips into your daily lip care regime this season. Do you have any other favorite tips for lip care? We’d love to know your secrets in the comments section below!