Is there anything worse than painful, chapped lips during the winter? I’m not sure if it’s the dry air or the frigid weather, but my lips get destroyed during the colder months. I hate having to avoid smiling out of fear that my lips will crack and bleed. Not to mention, applying any kind of lip color over chapping is a nightmare.
I’ve gotten much better throughout the years of regularly applying hydrating lip balms and keeping up with a lip care routine. Seeing as we are now in January and the weather will only get more wintery from here on out, I thought it might be helpful to share the products I use and love to help protect my lips and keep them soft. They’re all available from Sephora, and they will be linked with each of their descriptions as well as at the bottom of the post in the carousel for easy shopping.
Daytime Lip Balms
During the day, I prefer to use a lighter lip balm formula. I find that if I wear anything thick or sticky, my hair gets stuck in it. I hate that! Instead, I opt for products that are still super moisturizing but are lightweight on the lips.
Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Treatment Lip Balm – Fresh lip balms have been some of my favorites to use for years now. I love the subtle lemon scent, twist-on caps and gorgeous array of shades. This particular lip balm is clear and is perfect for no-makeup days when you are just looking for hydration. The Advanced Therapy line has moisturizing properties that work for up to 24 hours on extra dry lips. It helps soothe peeling lips and quickly improves the appearance of chapping.
Fresh Sugar Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 15 – The regular Fresh Sugar lip balms are my go-to for days when I want to wear color, but my lips are a little worse for wear. This version of the product is just as moisturizing as the Advanced Therapy range but offer far more color selections. The two shades I have photographed in this post are Rose, a soft rosy pink, and Petal, a neutral pink blossom. Both are very wearable and are flattering on any skin tone. I also love that this lip balm has added SPF – you do still need sunscreen in the winter, even if it’s cloudy! I have the mini versions, which you can find here.
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm – Laneige has an amazing range of lip care products, and I absolutely adore the Lip Glowy Balm. It’s the perfect marriage between a moisturizing lip balm and a shiny lip gloss. If I need to go somewhere with a full face of makeup but my lips are in disrepair, this is what I reach for. It adds glamorous shine and hides the appearance of chapping while also providing relief from painful dryness. It comes in a few different color choices, but the berry is a lovely natural pink.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter – This velvety soft lip balm is one that I ran out of and need to repurchase very soon. If you are familiar with other Sol de Janeiro products, then you’ll know how heavenly they smell. This lip balm is no exception. Every time I use it, it transports me mentally from frosty Pittsburgh to a tropical vacation. One of my favorite things about this lip balm besides how soft it makes my lips feel is the physical size of the product. It’s a chunkier lip balm, meaning it’s harder to misplace as winter drags on.
Nuxe Lip Stick Reve de Miel – This is the only product I’ve included that isn’t actually from Sephora, but it’s by-far my favorite lip balm I’ve ever tried. I ran out of it and need to reorder another, which is why it’s not photographed. I picked it up for the first time when I visited Paris in college, and it’s just superb. At under $10, this should be the one product you buy from this list if you can only get one! Over 90 percent of the ingredients are of natural origin including honey, sunflower and Argan oil. This lip balm is very hydrating and has a waxier consistency than the others I’ve listed. It feels so light on the lips, you almost forget you are wearing it. It works wonders to reduce chapping, almost instantaneously.
Nighttime Lip Balms
At nighttime is when I bust out my rich, luxurious lip masks and thicker, ultra-moisturizing lip balms. I tend to apply these right before I go to bed, so that they can sink in and work their magic overnight. I always do this with my skincare routine so I don’t forget.
Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve – I think the vintage-inspired tin this lip balm comes in is just darling. I leave it out on my vanity sometimes because it’s too pretty to keep in my makeup drawer. This is technically a salve that you can use on any extremely dry body part, including your cuticles. The formula is lush and you get quite a lot of product for only $7. While not too thick to use during the day, I tend to save this for nighttime since the tin makes it a bit messy to apply. It also comes in a tube version if you prefer, but I think I get better results with the one in the tin.
Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask – If you are looking for a truly lavish product to use before you get some beauty sleep, this is it. The packaging is to die for, and the formula includes Japanese peach and olive to cure any dryness, chapping or cracking overnight. It comes with the cutest little spatula to apply the mask with, as well. This is definitely my favorite lip mask and the one I reach for when I want to give my lips a little extra care. I will typically use this first and then finish with the Rosebud Salve.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is another fantastic option for a lip mask, and you can often find them in mini versions if you just want to try it before getting a full size. This mask has such a great watermelon-candy scent to it that it’s a little bit addicting. I keep wanting to open it and use it just so I can smell it! This is another mask that will significantly reduce any dryness and physical appearance of chapping while you sleep.
Lip Scrubs
If you are applying lip balm and lip masks regularly but are still dealing with some dry skin, a lip scrub will do wonders for creating that soft, pillow-y look. I have linked a few products below that are great options, but don’t be afraid to DIY your own. There are so many great Pinterest recipes for easy sugar scrubs that you can make with items already in your pantry. Or, you can try my VERY lazy girl method. Simply take a dry toothbrush (preferably a separate one from the one you use daily) and gently scrub it back and forth across your lips to slough off any dry skin. This is a great in-a-pinch hack for when you are late running out the door. I would not recommend it if you are having severe chapping or bleeding though, as it (or any other scrub) may further irritate your skin.
Fresh Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator – This lip scrub is made with brown sugar crystals. I’ve tried this in the past and really enjoyed the formula. It’s exfoliating without being rough or gritty. And, it’s pretty impressive – clinical results found that 100% of people reported healthier-looking, softer lips after one use.
LUSH Mint Juleps Lip Scrub – LUSH makes sooooo many fun-flavored lip scrubs, but this one is my favorite. It’s minty fresh and does a great job at exfoliating your lips. It also has Jojoba oil to add hydration and avoid irritation.
