13 Household Chapstick Alternatives That Will Make Your Lips Pop

What can I use if I don’t have chapstick or vaseline? We have all been there, haven’t we?

Why not try some of the best alternatives to lip balms and chapsticks that not only make your lips feel better but also make them healthier over time? These alternatives are all-natural, so you can keep your lips soft and protected!

So, let’s get to these best natural alternatives to chapstick and fix chapped lips!

Sweet Almond oil

A lightweight and non-greasy oil good for lips. Unlike other oils, it is non-comedogenic and does not clog pores. With its non-sticky formulation, you can apply it very quickly. A key ingredient in many lip care products, it is also rich in Vitamin E. Plus, it has a slightly sweet taste!

Pros

• The lightweight formula is convenient to apply at any time
• Vitamin-rich

Cons

• Might cause allergic reactions in some

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera hydrates wonderfully – your skin and lips! Delivers moisture without sitting on top of your lips like chapsticks or lip balms. Using aloe vera gel is amazing for dry lips and gives instant relief. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it feels cool. Take some of the gel and apply it moderately thickly to your lips. If you buy a store-bought one, be careful not to consume it. Optionally, seal it with vaseline.

This method, however, is not ideal for dehydrated, damaged lips since aloe penetrates the skin quickly.

Pros

• Easy to find and cheap
• Cooling and soothing on lips

Cons

• Doesn’t work on extremely chapped and peeling lips
• Store-bought aloe vera gel may not be healthy

Pure Lanolin

Lanolin is a yellow substance derived from the oil secreted by sheep’s wool. It’s effective in restoring and maintaining the natural moisture balance of the lips.

Having calming properties, it is beneficial for bleeding, chapped lips. It works as an emollient for cracked lips and protects them from external factors.

Pros

• Prevents the loss of hydration
• Emollient, relieves dry skin

Cons

• Because it’s animal-derived, it’s not vegan
• Is a common allergen
• Too thick and can transfer, especially if you wear it during sleep

Mango Butter

A rich, creamy butter that is derived from the mango seed. Its soft, non-greasy formula feels feather-light on the skin. In mango butter, you’ll find essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that keep lips from drying. It helps with healing damaged and cracked lips naturally.

Pros

• Healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals
• Suitable for vegans who don’t want to consume animal fat

Cons

• Natural mango butter is more expensive
• Most people don’t have it around

Shea Butter

An intensely moisturizing oil, shea butter is plant-based. Providing deep moisture, it replaces oils. Additionally, it contains a mix of vitamins – A, E, F, and K. Vitamin A helps heal chapped lips. You may need to warm it between your palms before applying it as it is solid at room temperature.

Pros

• Immensely moisturizing for lips
• Contains nutrients that help heal dry, chapped lips

Cons

• The smell isn’t great
• Hard to use since it hardens quickly

Butter

I know this sounds weird – but just hang in there. Household butter is amazing for immediate relief from cracked, bleeding lips. Butter is fatty, and these fats keep the moisture in, so it’s good for dry and chapped lips. So you can use it instead of chapstick anytime you desire instantly hydrated lips. Dab it on your lips and blot it away after 15-20 minutes.

Pros

• Accessible and inexpensive
• Because it’s animal-derived, it’s not vegan
• Intensely moisturizing

Cons

• Greasy and fatty; makes it uncomfortable to use
• Cannot be used overnight

Castor Oil

Oils are great for retaining moisture on lips and preventing dryness. Castor oil forms a thick barrier that prevents moisture from escaping. Great in dry and rough weather such as winters. Apply a thick layer before bed, and you are good to go. Use regularly for better lip care.

Pros

• You just need a drop or two
• There is no danger of ingesting it
• Softens dry lips

Cons

• More expensive than other oils such as coconut oil
• Most people don’t like having oil on their skin because it can transfer and leave a mess

Honey

You know honey is amazing for moisturizing, right? This is why it’s in almost all homemade face packs. The same benefits apply to lips too. Honey is a natural humectant, a reason why it’s so popular as a hydrating agent. So it’ll soak up moisture from the air and add it to your skin. Added bonus – it tastes good, unlike some other lip balm substitutes.

Apply it for a few minutes and then wash it away. Or, you could leave it on overnight to wake up to soft, plump lips.

Pros

• Works as a natural humectant
• Locks moisture in the lips
• Easily available

Cons

• Organic honey provides the best benefits, and store-bought might not be as effective
• A very sticky mess and a real challenge to clean up
• Having honey taste on your lips will not be to everyone’s taste

Cucumber

Putting one over your eyes isn’t the only way to use them for skin! Cucumbers, as we all know, are high in water. Cut them up or rub the slices on your lips. Vitamin B5 in it helps improve dry lips and is good for revitalizing sensitive lips. As well as soothing the skin, it helps with peeling cracked skin, but make sure you pick fresh cucumbers.

Pros

• Inexpensive and available easily
• Contains Vitamin C and folic acid
• Filled with antioxidants

Cons

• Works only with fresh, juicy cucumbers
• Not helpful for dehydrated, already chapped lips

Lip serum

The market is buzzing with lip serums. Basically, they nourish the inside of your lips. As a result, your lips become healthy and supple as a result of an increase in moisture. Different serums exist today to treat discoloration, dryness, and sensitivity. As a bonus, these serums work long-term to get rid of chapped lips without chapsticks.

Pros

• Designed to nourish and improve lips overall
• Some lip serums come with UV protection
• The lightweight texture is ideal for daily wear

Cons

• An expensive option
• Using a low-quality product can irritate your lips
• Not natural

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is amazing for your body – hair, skin, or even lips. It is incredibly moisturizing, and the thick consistency also ensures that it locks moisture in. Also, it works as an antioxidant and prevents the skin from drying out as it ages. They’re easy to find in capsules at most drugstores. Poke a hole in the capsule and apply it directly to your lips.

Pros

• Nourishing and keeps your lips moist
• Contains antioxidants
• Inexpensive and easily available

Cons

• Thick texture makes it uncomfortable to wear for a long time
• Tastes and smells weird

Vaseline

It’s hard to imagine life without petroleum jelly. Glycerin is present within what is essentially petroleum jelly plus panthenol. Vaseline can be helpful for healing and repairing the skin, providing instant relief to lips that are chapped. Due to its jelly structure and glycerin content, it locks moisture on the thick. It’s why some beauty trends show everyone slapping it on their skin.

Pros

• Cheap and most people have it
• Adds moisture while sealing it
• Prevent chapped, cracking lips

Cons

• Sticky texture
• Not everyone prefers its texture, taste, or smell

Tip: if you want to buy a lip balm from vaseline, be sure to check out their Lip Therapy lip balms.

Drink more water

The bottom line, parched lips need nourishment. And what’s the best hydrating agent than water itself? When your body is properly hydrated, it’s easier for your lips to retain moisture, especially in the winter when the skin gets really dry. Plus, water can help to flush out any toxins that might be contributing to dryness. So drink up and enjoy those soft, kissable lips!

Pros

• Helps prevent chapped lips from forming in the first place
• Helps your skin all over
• Literally the most inexpensive method. Ever.

Cons

• None

How to choose the best chapstick alternative for your needs?

This depends on a number of factors:

• Would you like a readily available ingredient?
• Do you want an inexpensive option?
• Do you want to moisturize your lip or just trap moisture in them?
• Is your lip skin very chapped or just dry?
• How long can you wear them comfortably?

When picking a natural lip balm substitute, we should consider the following factors. Items like honey, aloe vera, butter, beeswax, or a teaspoon of coconut oil, are inexpensive and readily available in every house. But castor oil or pure lanolin isn’t always readily available in your pantry.

Also, butter such as mango butter and shea butter require you to rub them on your lips, making them more expensive but more effective. Another essential factor is comfort. You might find it easier to wear lip serum instead of vitamin E oil while working.

Consider the texture, taste, and odor before you choose what to use instead of lip balm.

What to avoid when using these alternatives?

• Consider your allergies. Certain oils or vegetables may cause allergies in some people.
• When using these replacements, make sure that they are naturally extracted. Chemical products may not work as well as natural ones.
• Avoid putting essential oils in undiluted forms because they can burn you.
• Address the underlying cause rather than seek temporary relief from dry lips.

How to Prevent Chapped and Dry Lips

• Use a humidifier. Especially in the winter, the dry air can suck the moisture right out of your lips. You can prevent this by using a humidifier in your home or office.
• Don’t pick at or lick your lips. We know it’s tempting to lick and pick at that dry, flaky skin. But resist the urge! Picking can actually damage your lips and make them more susceptible to chapping.
• Don’t use lotion. While lotion can make your lips hydrated, it’s typically thicker and can dry them. Moreover, it leaves the lips feeling sticky.
• Make a lip scrub with sugar and olive oil. Using this mixture, gently scrub your lips to exfoliate and buff away dead skin.

Bottom line

Whether you’ve used one in school or still do it now, chapsticks can often leave your lips dry. If you want something that will actually make your lips worse, then chapstick is the way to go!

However, if you’re looking for alternatives for chapped lips, these options can you a healthy, DIY lip therapy.

So try these chapstick alternatives the next time you want to ditch your lip balm. Or to spice it up on a day you dig natural treatments!