If your lips are looking like little raisins right now, you are not alone. Thanks for calling the winter lips hot line, help is on the way. Flaky, dry, uncomfortable lips. This is what winter means to me; so this year I did my research. I’ve tried the products. I was consistent with the routine. Below you’ll find my tested and approved winter lip care that will restore your lips to the plump ‘lil grapes they once were. Here are the four essential products for keeping your lips hydrated this winter.
Raisin lips be gone!
Two things I can confidently tell you after weeks of testing lip products and routines: 1) expensive does not mean better working and 2) consistency is key to plump, happy lips.
Here are the lip products that have really worked their magic for me. We have pricey, we have bargain, we have balms and we have ointments.
The E.L.F ride or die lip balm | $6USD
This is an affordable, nourishing lip balm that helps keep lips soft, hydrated, and protected against environmental stressors. It is enriched with shea butter to help moisturize and nourish dry lips and enriched with vitamins C and E to provide antioxidant protection. This lip balm is perfect for anyone looking to keep their lips feeling soft and hydrated all winter long without breaking the bank. For me – this is the closest to the holy grail of lip balms – the original BITE beauty lip balms they no longer make (iykyk).
La Mer The Lip Balm | $95
With a hint of mint this luxe balm calms, restores and conditions lips. Containing the brand’s signature Miracle Broth, which helps to provide deep hydration and improve the texture of dry lips, other ingredients like sea kelp extract and avocado oil nourish and protect against environmental damage. As this is pricey, I use this before bed and apply this to my lips as I’m putting my makeup on.
Burt’s Bees Advanced Relief Lip Repair | $12
This is a brand new release that I am loving. Burt’s Bees Advanced Relief Lip Repair is the perfect lip care solution for winter months. This natural, cruelty-free formula is packed with nutrients and ingredients that help to soothe, hydrate and repair lips. It’s formulated with nourishing oils that condition and protect lips from harsh winter weather. With a lovely long-lasting formula that is gentle enough for everyday use, you can trust Burt’s Bees Advanced Relief Lip Repair to provide your lips with the advanced care they need during the winter season.
Aquaphor multi-purpose healing ointment | $20
This is a big bang for your buck (the tub of ointment is massive) and it’s an excellent choice for winter lip care due to its unique blend of ingredients. The ointment is made with glycerin, mineral oil, and panthenol, which help to protect and soothe dry, chapped lips while locking in moisture. Additionally, the Aquaphor Healing Ointment contains lanolin, which helps to reduce the appearance of lip wrinkles and lines. Its petrolatum base also provides a protective barrier that helps to keep lips hydrated and prevents them from becoming further damaged due to cold winter temperatures. The Aquaphor Healing Ointment is free of fragrances and dyes, making it an ideal choice for winter lip care. So I don’t pack around the giant tub with me, I depot the ointment into smaller, old eye cream or lip balm jars (cleaned and sanitized, of course;).
Now, let’s talk about general care, routines, and other factors that can impact your lips.
First – you need to prep your lips, if you are applying balm overtop dry, cracked skin – it won’t work. You need to exfoliate your lips, just like you do with your face.
One tip I learned was something called ‘Lip Basting’ and boy, does this work! First you apply a glycolic acid to your lips, letting it sink in while you do your make-up, then apply a very thick layer of moisturizer over top – like (my fave) the Weleda Skin Food, or something as thick as that. Let that sink in. Then, embrace the natural peel that will happen. Its satisfying and kind of marvellous. Make sure you wear SPF on your lips if you do this technique during the day – I recommend doing this once per week as part of your nighttime routine.
Winter is a time of year when keeping your skin and lips hydrated is essential. But while many people reach for matte lipsticks to create a bold and beautiful look, these products can be particularly damaging in the winter months.
Here’s why you should be careful with matte lipsticks in the winter and what you can do to keep your lips looking and feeling their best. Matte lipsticks are designed to be long-lasting, which is great for creating a look that will stay in place all day. However, these lipsticks tend to be quite drying, as they contain very little oil or emollients. This can be especially damaging in the winter months, when the air is already dry and your lips are more prone to chapping and cracking.
To keep your lips looking and feeling their best this winter, it’s best to opt for more hydrating lip products. Look for lipsticks that contain nourishing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. These will give you the color and staying power of a matte lipstick, without the drying effects. You can also opt for lip glosses or lip tints, which are more hydrating and will provide a beautiful, glossy finish. A good combo of hydrating ingredients is key – think a humectant (like an HA) that draws water into the skin plus an occlusive or emollient (like ceramides or shea butter) – which help retain moisture.
I hope you liked reading about my four essential products for keeping your lips hydrated this winter. If you’re looking to learn more about winter skin care, not just lip care, this story I wrote last year is a treasure trove of tips, products, and tricks.
MFabastedLips
