Credit: best-lip-balm-cold-weather
The skin on lips is more fragile and sensitive than anywhere else, so it pays to ramp up protection in the winter months with Stylist’s pick of the best luxury lip balms.
When temperatures plummet into minus numbers, lips are often one of the first things to feel the full wind-ravaging, moisture-sucking effects, which leads to flaking, splitting and swelling – ouch.
“Harsh environments like cold weather provoke a local inflammatory response in the lips,” says Dr Marie-Louise Daly, consultant dermatologist at The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic. “This inflammation promotes moisture loss and leads to cell damage in the lips. In turn this makes the lips look scaly and fissured and red, which may also extend to the skin above and below the lips.”
But there’s an obvious way to stop it from ruining your look.
“One of the best ways to prevent this is to create an artificial barrier with an emollient preparation, which helps to protect lips,” says Dr Daly. “Well-hydrated lips are less vulnerable to harsh environments.”
Below, you’ll find our picks of the best luxury lip balms to banish chapping this winter.
By Terry Baume de Rose
Not only does this smell like a freshly cut bouquet (in other words, absolutely divine) but it plumps, smooths and accentuates the natural colour of your lips thanks to a mega-mix of waxes, oils, butters and vitamin E, which is proven to act like a barrier against environmental aggressors. You’ll want to keep one in every handbag.
By Terry Baume de Rose, £40
Glossier Birthday Balm Dot Com
The subtle iridescent particles suspended in Glossier’s emollient-rich balm impart the prettiest lustre. The salve may feel a little sticky on application, but it melts into the lips instantly and delivers a surge of hydration that lasts for hours on end.
Glossier Birthday Balm Dot Com, £10
Jo Malone English Mint & Ginger Lip Care
A contender for one of the most luxurious lip balms ever, this brand new Jo Malone offering combines a trio of vitamin-packed moringa butter, intensely nourishing kukui seed oil and rose flower wax to keep moisture on lock-down. The fusion of invigorating mint and fiery ginger make it a treat for the senses as well as the lips.
Jo Malone English Mint & Ginger Lip Care, £20
Le Labo Lip Balm
When Le Labo debuted their Instagram-worthy body, hair and face range in October, this matte lip balm was one of the best-selling products – and still is. Plant-based ingredients like shea butter, olive oil and jojoba seed infuse moisture into parched lips in seconds without leaving behind a sticky, greasy residue.
Le Labo Lip Balm, £11
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lip Lock Moisture Balm
You’re probably used to smashing it on toast, but Marc Jacobs’ luxe lip balm uses avocado to quench rough skin in a single swipe. The added SPF 15 works like a shield against the effects of UV, which can ravage your lips even in the winter.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Lip Lock Moisture Balm, £18
Nuxe Rêve De Miel Lip Balm
In our opinion, the ultimate lip balm should be thick enough to protect against harsh weather and filled to bursting with vitamins to repair broken skin – with the added ability to lend lips a delicate, understated sheen. This does all three and smells amazing.
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm, £10.50
Tata Harper Be True Lip Treatment
One sweep of Tata Harper’s 100% natural lip treatment yields a blanket of moisture that irons away lines and makes dry, shrunken lips perfectly pillowy. It’s silky, not sticky, and the packaging is ultra-sleek.
Tata Harper Be True Lip Treatment, £28
Main image: Taylor Hernandez
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