Chapped lips might just be the bane of our existence. They make it nearly impossible to wear our favorite lipstick without looking like some sort of scaled creature from the bottom of some black lagoon. In order to perfect our pouts and achieve soft lips, the skin on our lips needs the same amount of attention and care as the skin on our face—if not more. Here are five tips to help soften and hydrate your lips:  Drink Plenty of WaterMake sure that you are drinking enough water to keep your body, skin, and lips hydrated. Lips may show signs of dehydration with a chapped, cracking pout—so for the sake of your lips, don’t skip the H2O.Moisturize OftenDrinking water is a great way to keep your skin from looking dehydrated, but to keep it from drying out, you’ll have to moisturize. For lips, reach for hydrating lip balms, salves, and butters—and reapply often. We love Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1. This balm contains ingredients like vitamin E and wheat germ oil, which can help sooth dry skin and may even help prevent moisture loss.    Exfoliate Once a WeekAlready reaping the rewards of exfoliating your body and face? It’s time to extend the benefits of exfoliation to your lips. Gentle exfoliation may help rid lips of dry skin cells, which can promote a smoother, healthier-looking pout. Try using a DIY sugar scrub or reach for The Body Shop’s Lip Scuff, which exfoliates and moisturizes simultaneously with its blend of crushed fig stone and macadamia nut oil. Protect Your Pout with SPFYou’re probably sick of hearing that you should wear sunscreen every day, but you should. And you should be applying SPF to your lips, as well. To make remembering the SPF a little easier, look for a lip balm that has SPF in it like, the Vitamin E Lip Care Stick from The Body Shop—that way you can moisturize and protect at the same time.  Break Up with Bad HabitsWe know old habits die hard, but smacking, licking, or biting your lips may be hurting—not helping—your chapped lip situation. It’s time to make yourself aware of these bad habits and knock it off!  
