What Does Coconut Oil Do For Your Lips?

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Does coconut oil moisturize lips? In short, yes - coconut oil for lips is one of the most common natural remedies for dryness, and for good reason. It's classified as an emollient (a skin-softener), which is used in many products in the skincare industry, such as in moisturizers, because it helps to seal moisture into your skin. It has restorative and protective properties that can also help repair dry, cracked lips when it's used as a lip balm throughout the day.

Benefits of Using Coconut Oil

In a nutshell (pun intended), coconut oil is a great product for your skin because it's incredibly moisturizing and creates a thick barrier that keeps moisture in the skin while protecting your lips against the elements. Coconut oil has also long been used in traditional and alternative medicine for minor burns, valued for its moisturizing and soothing qualities - though this isn't a substitute for proper medical care for burns, and more serious burns should always be seen by a doctor. These moisturizing perks are also useful for healing dry skin and cracked lips.

Other benefits of coconut oil include potential disinfecting and antimicrobial effects. Such benefits may keep your lips germ-free and subsequently help protect any cracked skin from becoming infected, too. Further, coconut oil is an anti-inflammatory, which means it may also help reduce swelling.

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How To Use Coconut Oil For Your Lips

Coconut oil is a natural emollient that can transform dry, cracked lips into soft, hydrated skin with its powerful moisturizing and protective properties. This versatile ingredient creates a thick barrier that seals in moisture while defending your lips against harsh weather, and its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits help prevent infection and reduce swelling. Whether you're applying it directly as a quick daytime treatment, using it as an overnight lip mask, or creating your own DIY lip balm with shea butter and beeswax, coconut oil offers an affordable, edible, and highly effective solution for maintaining healthy, supple lips year-round.

Daytime Skincare

For your daytime skincare routine, all you need to do is apply a few drops of liquid coconut oil to your chapped lips, making sure you tap the oil gently with your fingers into your skin to fully reap the benefits of the product. If your coconut oil product is solid, just scoop out enough to lightly coat the tip of your finger and warm it up between your fingers before applying it to your lips. You can reapply coconut oil to your lips throughout the day for consistent moisture retention and to help restore chapped lips.

Nighttime Skincare

You can use a touch more of coconut oil as an overnight mask for your lips, giving the oil plenty of time to condition your lips and keep them hydrated.

Note:Coconut oil is very comedogenic, which means it can easily clog up your pores around your lips, plus it traps in dirt and acne-causing bacteria. So, if you have acne-prone skin or your skin falls under the combination-to-oily category, make sure you use coconut oil sparingly. If your skin breaks out or if irritation occurs on or around your lips, make sure to stop using coconut oil.

Another benefit of coconut oil is that its moisture means it makes a great carrier oil for many products. For example, if you wanted to exfoliate your lips, you could create a lip scrub. All you need to do is add equal parts coconut oil and an exfoliator ingredient like sugar, ground turmeric, or both, since turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is traditionally used to help even out the look of skin (keep in mind turmeric does stain clothing). Mix these ingredients to form a thick paste and gently massage it into your lips to exfoliate any dead skin from your chapped lips.

Bonus: it's completely edible, cruelty-free, vegan, and cost-effective compared to traditional lip scrubs, and it's easily accessible!

If you wanted even more calming and cooling effects, you can also add in aloe vera, but be sure the aloe vera is not a skincare product because it is not edible. If you still want aloe vera, make sure it's as pure as possible (bonus points if you grow your own) because then you don't have to worry about consuming it since it's completely edible!

You can even use coconut oil as part of a homemade lip balm to restore and protect chapped lips. All you have to do is add equal parts coconut oil and shea butter or cocoa butter, and beeswax or a vegan-friendly wax such as carnauba wax. Its benefits are endless!

How to Make Your Own Coconut Oil Lip Balm

You can make your own homemade lip balm products with coconut oil as its base, making for a moisturizing, protective, and delicious skincare product for your lips. All you need is three ingredients: lip balm containers or tins, a glass bowl that can withstand direct heat, a saucepan, and a heat source.

Ingredients

2 tbsp shea butter, cocoa butter, or mango butter
2 tbsp virgin coconut oil
2-3 tsp beeswax pellets (or wax of choice)

Note: you can customize this recipe even further by adding in your favourite essential oils like chamomile or lavender for their calming and anti-inflammatory properties for your lips.

Instructions

In a glass bowl, combine your shea butter/cocoa butter/mango butter, coconut oil, and beeswax pellets.
Place the glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Heat until the beeswax and butter are melted, stirring occasionally. At this point, add in a few drops of your chosen essential oil.
Turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the pot. As the mixture cools, the lip balm will set, so it's important to work quickly. Pour the mixture into lip balm containers (tubes or cases), and allow the balm to sit for a few minutes until formed. The lip balm will last for the life of the ingredients, generally 6-12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is coconut oil good for lips? Yes. Coconut oil for lips works well as a natural moisturizer because it seals in existing moisture and forms a protective barrier against wind, cold, and dry air.

Is coconut oil good for chapped lips? Yes - coconut oil for chapped lips can help soften and rehydrate the skin's surface, and its antimicrobial properties may help protect any cracked skin from infection while it heals.

Can you put coconut oil on your lips? Yes, coconut oil is safe to apply directly to your lips, either as a quick daytime touch-up or a heavier overnight treatment. The one caveat: it's comedogenic, so if you're acne-prone, use it sparingly around the mouth.

What's a simple coconut oil lip balm recipe? Melt equal parts coconut oil and shea, cocoa, or mango butter with 2–3 tsp beeswax pellets, then pour into lip balm tins to set. See the full step-by-step recipe above for exact measurements and instructions.

Is coconut oil a good lip balm? Yes, used on its own, coconut oil works as a simple one-ingredient lip balm - it seals in moisture and softens the skin's surface. It's not as long-lasting as a wax-based balm, so for all-day wear in cold or windy weather, many people prefer blending it with beeswax and a butter (see the recipe above) rather than using it alone.

Can you use coconut oil as chapstick? Yes. Scoop a small amount onto your fingertip, warm it between your fingers if it's solid, and apply directly to your lips the same way you'd use a stick chapstick. Keep in mind it comes in a jar, not a tube, so it's a bit less portable - though you can spoon some into an empty lip balm tin to carry with you.

The Takeaway

So, does coconut oil moisturize lips? Yes - used in your daily skincare routine, coconut oil for chapped lips can help restore your lips' natural moisture while protecting them from the dry, cold weather of winter. It's simple, affordable, and something almost everyone already has in their kitchen. Coconut oil is beloved by so many around the world, and for good reason.

Furthermore, coconut oil is most loved for its ability to protect, restore, and maintain your lips throughout the day. It's also ideal for making your own lip products because coconut oil is so easy to find in nearly any grocery store or online. Its two-year shelf life means that you have lots of time to make as many lip balms as your heart desires, which makes a lovely gift for friends and family alike. We are just starting to fully understand and appreciate the benefits of coconut and coconut oil.