Some of the reasons our lips tend to lose their moisture is due to harsh weather conditions, vitamin deficiency, allergic reactions, smoking, excessive licking of lips and due to dehydration.
The skin on our lips is thinner than the rest of our body, this is why they are more prone to changes in weather conditions, increasing their chances of getting dry and chapped. Also, it’s very common to experience dry lips during winter states Dr Anuja Bodhare, MD (Ayurveda) in an earlier report in PharmEasy.
However, no matter what the season, you can get cracked lips any time of the year. Also, it is a common problem in people of all age groups regardless of gender.
And according to an earlier report in the Times of India, some of the reasons our lips tend to lose their moisture is due to harsh weather conditions, vitamin deficiency, allergic reactions, smoking, excessive licking of lips, and due to dehydration.
The skin on the lips begin to lift and flake when the lips get dry and chapped.
Exfoliating your lips gently can help to remove the dead skin cells. If you don’t exfoliate, your lip balm won’t be able to reach and moisturise the new skin that lies under the flaky areas.
It’s no secret that everyone loves to have soft, glossy lips. Therefore, let’s take a look at some simple and proven home remedies that can help to soothe chapped lips.
One of the most effective ways to help home remedies work effectively is to keep your lips hydrated by drinking adequate water. Experts inform that if you are dehydrated, no home remedies will work. So, ensure you hydrate yourself well.
Home remedies to heal dry and chapped lips
Honey
Honey is a natural moisturizer and has antibacterial properties which also prevents infections. It also helps to reduce swelling caused by infection. Honey can be either be directly applied to the lips or mixed with glycerin or vaseline.
Cucumber
Known for its hydrating properties, cucumber helps to remove all the dryness from your lips by providing it with essential vitamins and minerals. Either gently rub the cucumber slices on your lips or apply the juice of this hydrating vegetable. Leave the juice on for 10 minutes and then wash it off.
Aloe vera gel
The healing properties of Aloe vera can help in treating dry lips. Applying Aloe vera gel can remove dead skin cells on the lips. It also helps to protect the skin on the lips which is very delicate. Just apply the gel on your lips and leave it overnight – wash it off in the morning for effective results.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil can soothe your dry lips as it contains healthy fatty acids that can provide your lips with the required oil to help make them soft and supple. Information cited on WebMD states that coconut oil contains lauric acid which has nourishing properties that seep into the skin and thereby moisturises it. You can either mix coconut oil with some essential oil to help speed up the healing process or apply it as it is.
Sugar
Sugar works as a natural exfoliator. It can help to scrub your lips and clear up dead skin cells on the lips. This natural ingredient can also help to restore the natural colour of your lips. To exfoliate your lips, mix sugar with olive oil and apply it to your lips in circular motions.
Rose petals and milk
This is an extremely nourishing mixture as it contains vitamin E. This home remedy can also bring back the natural colour of your lips. Mash the rose petals and apply this paste to your lips or mix it with milk. The milk which is rich in lactic acid helps to remove dead skin cells from the lips and moisturises and hydrates them as well.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice can remove dead skin cells from the lips as it effectively exfoliates the skin on the lips. Since it is a natural bleach, it is used to treat both dark lips as well as dry lips, leading to rosy pink lips. Make a mix of lemon juice with castor oil and honey and apply it to your lips. Leave this mixture on for around 10 minutes and then rinse it off.
AN ASIAN writer has explained how his new book makes Britain’s imperial past “accessible, engaging and thought-provoking” for a younger audience.
Award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera’s new book, Journeys of Empire, explores empire through 10 journeys he described as being “extraordinary”. Sanghera said his book, published last month by Puffin UK, is “a way of helping children understand how Britain’s biggest story still shapes the world today.”
“We’re not taught this history very well,” he told Eastern Eye.
“The empire is morally complex – sometimes we were good, sometimes bad – so, how do you even begin talking about it? It’s also contentious. There are millions of us whose families were colonised, and millions whose families were the colonisers.”
Teachers cannot teach what they themselves were never taught, Sanghera pointed out.
“There are multiple layers to why British people are so bad at talking about this history. It touches on race, misogyny and geopolitics. It’s easier just not to talk about it.”
And , the cover of his book
Following the success of his bestselling children’s title Stolen History, Sanghera’s this latest work continues Sanghera’s mission to write for readers aged nine and above. With a focus on human experiences, Sanghera said he wanted show that history is not just a list of dates or conquests – it’s a tapestry of stories that connect people.
Born in Wolverhampton to Punjabi immigrant parents, he began school unable to speak English. Later he graduated with first-class honours in English language and literature from Christ’s College, Cambridge.
He has since built a career as a writer and journalist.
His memoir, The Boy with the Topknot, and his novel, Marriage Material, were both shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards. Empireland, Sanghera’s exploration of Britain’s colonial legacy, was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non- Fiction, named a Book of the Year at the 2022 National Book Awards, and inspired the Channel 4 documentary series Empire State of Mind.
His first children’s book, Stolen History, introduced young readers to the complex and often overlooked realities of empire. With Journeys of Empire, Sanghera aims to go further. “When I finally learned about the British empire, it changed how I saw myself, how I saw Britain, and how I saw India,” he said.
“It seemed obvious that you’d want to give this gift to young people – because your 40s is a bit late to be learning all this.”
Sanghera said the 10 journeys in the book take readers across continents and centuries, revealing both the ambition and the brutality of empire.
“The British empire covered a quarter of the world’s surface and a large portion of its population. It was seven times the size of the Roman empire,” he said.
Aiming to ensure diversity in both perspective and geography, Sanghera said he chose stories from various countries and different phases of the 400-year history.
Alongside India and Mahatma Gandhi, readers will learn about Guyana’s indentured labour system, Gertrude Bell’s adventures in Iraq, and the British invasion of Tibet led by Francis Younghusband.
“I wanted to highlight areas often left out of mainstream narratives,” the writer said. The stories are written with an accessible and honest tone, and with humour.
“Violence is a tricky area,” Sanghera said. “You can’t go into graphic detail, but you also shouldn’t whitewash it. The violence and racism of colonialism were intrinsic. “I tried to strike a balance - acknowledging the brutality without overwhelming young readers.”
Writing for children isn’t much different from writing for adults, Sanghera said.
“You still need engaging stories and to hold attention. The main thing is to avoid big words that might put them off.”
He pointed out how storytelling can counter the allure of digital screens.
“Kids are addicted to screens, and reading rates are falling globally. That’s disastrous for mental health, intellectual development, and politics,” he said.
“When you get news from screens, you’re in an echo chamber – you’re not being challenged or taught to think in a nuanced way.”
Sanghera’s hope is that stories of Journeys of Empire – from pirates to princes and explorers to rebels – will draw in young readers to a world of curiosity and reflection. He said, “The British empire is a complex story. Even the ‘good guys’ had flaws. That’s what makes it worth understanding.”
At the heart of his book is a message about complexity and contradiction. “The empire involved slavery and the abolition of slavery. It caused environmental destruction and inspired environmentalism. We live in a world that struggles with nuance, but that’s what makes us human,” Sanghera said.
“My hope is that readers – kids and adults – learn that opposite things can be true at the same time.”
After six years of writing about empire, Sanghera said he’s ready for a change. His next book will focus on the late pop star George Michael, due out in June next year.
“I thought George Michael would be a nice break from empire. But then I learned that his father came from Cyprus - which was under British rule. The reason he left Cyprus was because of the British. So, even George Michael’s story connects back to empire. You can’t escape it, wherever you go.”
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