Winter time.  It’s not only the toughest season to get in shape (and stay in shape!) but it’s also naturally rough on your body.  Cold winds, freezing temperatures and frigid air don’t just cause us to shiver and bundle up, it also causes dry skin and worst of all…chapped lips!

If you’re anything like me, I absolutely hate it when my lips are chapped.  When I look my best, I don’t just want a rocking body and a great tan.  I always want to complete my look and that always includes a pair of smooth, luscious lips.  But it’s tough to keep our lips moisturized in the winter.  So what should you do?

Pay attention to these 5 steps that prevent chapped lips this winter:

1.      Drink water!

The number one way to prevent dry, chapped lips in the winter is by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.  Dehydration can quickly cause dryness of the lips, so increasing your water intake during the winter can keep your lips moisturized and fresh.

2.      Chapstick

Perhaps the quickest way to moisturize your lips is with chapstick, of course!  Chapstick should be used daily throughout the winter months.  Always use Chapstick that is infused with shea butter, emu butter, Vitamin E oil, etc.  Why?  Standard lip balm without these ingredients actually causes a “chapstick addiction”—standard lip balm only “wets” our lips, it does not moisture them.  You must use a chapstick that allows for the lips to absorb additional moisture from the air.  In addition, most lip balms contain some type of SPF and will save your lips from sun damage (which also has a drying effect!).

3.      Use a wet cloth

No chapstick in sight?  Apply a cool, wet cloth to hydrate your lips.  Not only will this feel refreshing, but it will soothe your lips with moisture.  Just don’t do it too often! Only use this technique when you haven’t had a lot of water to drink or if you don’t have access to chapstick.

4.      Use a toothbrush

Before bedtime, use a soft toothbrush to buff your lips.  This will remove the deposit of dead cells that often cause drying and flaking on the lips.

5.      Vaseline at night 

Ordinary Vaseline works wonders—especially overnight!  Before bed, dab Vaseline across your lips.  When you wake up, your lips will be completely hydrated and silky smooth!  In addition, Vaseline prevents sun blisters if applied before venturing into the sun.  Keep this in mind if you’re headed outside for sledding or skiing this winter!

There are plenty of ways to keep your lips and skin hydrated in the winter months.  Just pay attention to these little details and perform the small steps it takes to keep your body healthy.  Just these 5 steps alone will help you complete your total body transformation!