There are many things we love about the weather cooling down and autumn and winter arriving. Rugging up in layer upon layer of comfy clothing, snuggling down with a cup of tea and a good book and the festive falling of leaves – talk about cosy.
But with icy weather comes the dreaded dry and chapped lips of winter.
Our lips are extremely delicate, the thin skin dries out easily, is susceptible to sun and wind burn and can fall victim to dry weather. And when the icy winds of autumn and winter arrive, it is all too common to find yourself with sore, chapped lips.
What actually helps dry lips?
Founder and CEO of Australian cult-beauty brand Lanolips, Kirsten Carriol, knows her stuff when it comes to treating dry and dehydrated lips.
“The skin on your lips is fragile, very fragile. It is essentially an extension of the skin inside your cheeks. It doesn’t even have oil glands and as a result, needs lots of special attention”, she says.
“Hydrated skin is proven to be the number one way to plump skin cells and keep the skin looking smooth and healthy and functioning as it should. Healthy hydrated skin is also able to protect itself against environmental damage like cold winter temperatures and windburn!”
Keeping lips hydrated means keeping them happy once the weather turns, and finding a high-quality and intensely moisturising lip balm is the key to avoiding the discomfort, redness and pain of chapped lips.
And whatever you do, don’t lick your lips. We get it, it’s tempting! But according to Kirsten “the saliva causes evaporation, which dries them out even more”, making it the worst thing you could do for sore, dry lips!
If lip balm just isn’t cutting it, THE ICONIC‘s Head of Beauty, Sophie Howe, suggests taking a page out of the skincare book and trying out lip slugging.
“To try lip-slugging yourself, apply a thin and hydrating lip balm … followed by a thick, balmy product … to seal in moisture and hydration. Leave products on overnight and wake up to a baby soft pout”.
Ready to tackle your dry lips and head into winter with a stunning, pout-ready smile? Read on to find our top picks and some recommendations from experts for the best lip balms to keep on hand to keep your lips hydrated all season long.
2024’s Top 3 Best Lip Balms For Dry Lips
- The Original 101 Ointment Superbalm, $18.95, Lanolips
- Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, $33, Myer
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $31, Adore Beauty
The best lip balms for dry lips this winter 2024
The Original 101 Ointment Superbalm
$18.95 at Lanolips
This multi-award-winning ointment is a cult product for a reason. It holds up to 400 per cent of its weight in moisture meaning it’s a must for dry and dehydrated lips. Lanolin, which is the products super-ingredient, “is ‘semi-occlusive’, which means it is a brilliant breathe-able barrier – working to let your lips ‘self hydrate’ from within (your body is pretty magical if you give it the tools to let it fix itself)”, says Kirsten.
Key features:
- Multi-Award Winning
- Powerful multi-tasker
- Holds 400% of its weight in moisture
- Vegetarian
Available at:
- $19 from Sephora
- $18.95 from Adore Beauty
- $18.95 from David Jones
Aquaphor Lip Repair
$11.11 at iHerb
This little tube of magic is your ticket to soft, smooth, and kissable lips. It’s like a spa day for your pout – it moisturises, soothes, and rejuvenates your lips, leaving them looking and feeling their best. Plus, there are no fragrances to deal with, so you can enjoy all the benefits without any irritation.
Key features:
- Dermatologist-Recommended Lip Care Brand
- For Severely Dry Lips
- Proven to relieve dryness and soothe chapped, cracked lips
- With vitamins, shea butter and chamomile essence
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
$33 at Myer
This multi-purpose beauty balm is your secret weapon for keeping your skin soft, smooth, and protected. Its nourishing and hydrating formula can be used to soothe and heal dry, chapped lips and is great for soothing wind burnt skin around the mouth. With its legendary reputation for providing long-lasting moisture and protection, it’s a must-have in your winter beauty arsenal.
Key features:
- Dermatologist-tested and clinically shown to hydrate and protect skin for eight hours
- Create instant radiance wherever skin normally catches the light
- Deeply condition by working the formula into the palms and over the fingers
- Relieve weary feet by massaging the cream generously onto soles
Available at:
- $31.99 from Chemist Warehouse
- $33 from David Jones
- $32 from THE ICONIC
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
$31 at Adore Beauty
This cult-overnight treatment deeply moisturizes and nourishes your lips while you sleep, leaving them feeling soft, smooth, and rejuvenated in the morning. It also comes in a huge array of flavours to suit your taste!
Key features:
- Smoothes lips
- Plumps the appearance of lips
- Leaves lips feeling soft and supple in the morning
- Keeps lips hydrated while you sleep
- Reduces flakiness and dryness
- Rejuvenates lips
Available at:
- $31 from Sephora
Ultra Violette Sheen Screen lip balm
$27 at THE ICONIC
THE ICONIC‘s Sophie Howe recommends this balm for daytime wear “because it provides hydration, colour and protection from UVA and UVB rays”. Yes, your lips can get sunburnt, and yes they can get burnt year round – so pucker up and protect them!
Key features:
- Cocktail of lanolin, shea butter and cacao seed butter
- SPF 50 protection
- Ultimate hydration
- Keep lips hydrated and protected
Available at:
- $15 (usually $25) from Sephora
- $27 from Adore Beauty
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Levres Lip Repairing Balm
$18.45 at Adore Beauty
This nourishing and hydrating balm instantly soothes and repairs dry, cracked, and chapped lips caused by the biting winter winds. Its gentle and fragrance-free formula makes it perfect for even the most sensitive of lips.
Key features:
- Immediately hydrates and soothes dry lips
- Helps repair dry lips
- Protects against moisture loss
- Restores comfort
- Dermatologically tested
- Ideal for dry and sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free lip balm
Available at:
- $16.99 from Chemist Warehouse
Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment
$29 at Sephora
This advanced treatment for your lips includes skin-strengthening peptides, kokum butter and delicious mango seed butter to plump, smooth and hydrate.
Key features:
- Swipe onto lips for an instant boost of hydration that lasts
- Use after lip colour for added shine
- Alcohol and fragrance-free
Available at:
- $23.30 (usually $29) from Olehenriksen
- $29 from Adore Beauty
- $29 from THE ICONIC
Chubby Stick Intense Moisturising Lip Balm
$47 at THE ICONIC
“If your lips are too dry for lipstick but you don’t want to leave them bare, Clinique’s Chubby Stick Intense Moisturising Lip Colour Balm coats lips with a soft cushion of colour that’s comfortable to wear, even on chapped lips”, says Sophie. This moody chilli shade is going to be a purse staple for a pop of colour this winter.
Key features:
- Envelops lips with long-lasting moisture
- Moisturising formulas balance colour and hydration
- Easy to apply chubby stick form factor
Available at:
- $47 from Clinique
- $47 from Sephora
- $47 from Beauty Affairs
What is lip slugging?
“Lip slugging” is a beauty trend (thank you TikTok for introducing us to endless trends to try) that involves applying a thick layer of a hydrating or occlusive product, like a lip mask or heavy balm, to the lips before bedtime.
The idea was inspired by the Korean beauty concept of “slugging,” which involves applying a thick layer of petroleum jelly or a similar product to the face to lock in moisture overnight.
Lip slugging aims to deeply hydrate and repair the lips, especially useful for those with dry or chapped lips. If you want to try it out, look for thicker, mask-like products such as the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.
How often should you apply lip balm to hydrate your lips?
Generally, applying lip balm 2-3 times daily, or as needed, helps maintain lip hydration. Factors like weather conditions, indoor heating or air conditioning, and personal habits such as lip licking or smoking may increase the need for more frequent application. It’s essential to listen to your lips; if they feel dry or chapped, reapply lip balm. Opt for products with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or hyaluronic acid to effectively moisturise and protect the delicate skin on your lips.
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LEAD IMAGE: Instagram /@haileybieber
