Even for the most dedicated of lip care enthusiasts, you’ll have noticed the effects of the autumn and winter seasons on your lips and will want to up your lip balm game. Cold weather outside and the heating we put on indoors to combat it, both have a real effect on your skin. Especially the very delicate skin on your lips. Harsh winds, freezing air and dry indoor heat causes lip to chap and crack, unless you are constantly keeping them moisturised with an effective lip balm or lip treatment.
The quality of lip balms, masks and serums vary greatly, as does the price. I’ve selected 11 excellent ones from mid to high-end brands. Some will make a noticeable dent on your wallet, and some are an absolute steal. If you take a look at my Instagram, you’ll see more lip balms I adore.
Fresh Sugar Coconut Hydrating Lip Balm – £15 from Cult Beauty
The scent of this is exactly right. Not too overpowering and not too sweet. The pot is fairly thin, so you don’t get as much product as with other brands, but the formula is incredible and you don’t need to apply a huge amount. A blend of skin-softening oils, including apricot kernel, blackcurrant seed and grapeseed, condition and hydrate the lips, whilst Vitamin E nourishes and protects this delicate skin.
Biossance Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm – £12 from SpaceNK
This used to come in a jar, but now it’s in this less messy and more environmentally-friendly tube made from 100% recyclable sugarcane. Hyaluronic Acid and sugarcane-derived Squalane hydrate and moisturise the lips, whilst rose wax and ceramides envelop the lips to keep moisture locked in and fortify that skin barrier. The scent is so very subtle – something that other rose lips balms often get wrong.
Dr.PAWPAW Overnight Lip Mask – £8.95 from Dr.PAWPAW
Another lip mask, this formula is 99% natural, as well as being cruelty-free, ethically-sourced and Vegan. It’s a thick formula and I feel this one does work best as a more intensive treatment at night. Apply a generous layer before you go to sleep. It’s very much a no-frills product, but it does it’s job incredibly well. The star ingredient is their signature Paw Paw fruit to soften and soothe, there’s also soothing aloe vera and moisturising olive oil.
BITE Agave+ Intensive Lip Mask – $28 from BITE
This is a thicker formula, which is why it’s called a lip mask. Lots of people apply at night, but I like lip masks as everyday lip balms. This is a great one for if your lips are already dry, chapped or cracked as it offers really intense recovery, restoring comfort back to your lips. Another Vegan formula, it contains agave nectar to soothe and comfort the lips, antioxidant-rich Mangosteen extract and Acai, and soothing oat flour. A real treat for the lips to aid repair.
Algenist Genius Liquid Collagen Lip – £36 from SpaceNK
This is definitely a more boujie lip treatment; but it’s glorious. It contains the same collagen and encapsulated microalgae oil as the cult serum, but with a cooling, ceramic applicator, and packaging that’s small enough to carry around in your pocket. There’s also some extra botanical lip enhancers in there, to help define the contours of your lips. The plant collagen plumps and diminishes lines, whilst the microalgae oil deeply conditions and hydrates.
Cle de Peau Beaute Lip Serum – £68 from Cult Beauty
This is really up there with the priciest lip balms, but it is dreamy. Luxury skincare brand Cle de Peau’s Lip Serum is weightless and silky in texture. It conditions and hydrates your lips and makes them look plump and dewy. It evens makes your lips look fuller, especially if you massage it into your lips, due to some scientific wizardry to do with your cellular ion channel system. Theanine, silk and pearl extracts moisturise, soften and smooth, as well as protect the lips from environmental agressors.
Huda Beauty Silk Balm Hydra-Plumping Lip Balm – £18 from Feel Unique
A more liquid balm texture, this delight from Huda Beauty really boosts hydration, plumps and softens the lips. It feels so comfortable and nice to wear too. Hyaluronic Filling Spheres hydrate and plump into fine lines, whilst Soybean Licorice Extract work by getting right into those fine lines where they swell and give a plumping effect without any annoying tingling sensation. Hydration overload!
Sensai Total Lip Gloss – £37 from Sensai
Another excellent lip treatment with a higher price point is Sensai’s Total Lip Gloss. A crossover between makeup and skincare. It gives you that luscious glossy look with a hint of shimmer, but also deeply conditions the lips too. The texture is a liquid balm and it gives an intensive dose of hydration. It’s formulated with Koishimaru Silk and Sensai’s own Lip Care Complex, to continuously hydrates, smooth fine and vertical lines, and leave lips feeling silky soft and smooth.
Kiehls Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 30 in Simply Rose – £19.75 from Kiehls
If you want to combine your lip treatment with a hint of colour, these last three products are for you. The Kiehls Butterstick Lip Treatment comes un-tinted or in a range of four colours. It has a luxurious buttery texture that melts on the lips and feels very indulgent to use. Formulated with coconut and lemon butter, it conditions, soothes and moisturises, as well as giving that SPF 30 broad-spectrum protection. It continues to hydrate your lips for 12 hours after application too.
NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Deep Throat – £23 from NARS
The NARS Afterglow lip balms come in a range of colours and finishes, from shimmery to matte. The formula is a joy and it makes lips feel instantly comfortable, soft and hydrated. It features NARS’ special Monoi Hydrating Complex to make lips feel supple and conditioned. The perfect lip care alternative to a lip stick.
MILK Kush Tinted Lip Balm in Nug – £18 from Selfridges
This lip balm comes with an extremely satisfying magnetic-close bullet, and the packaging feels weighty and luxurious. It’s made with plant-derived oils to hydrate and soothe skin. Shea, Cocoa and Mango Butters increase the moisturisation and make your lips feel incredibly soft. As well as this, antioxidant-rich olive and jojoba oils protect the lips against free radicals and environmental aggressors; giving you an all-round excellent comforting package. Nug is a universally flattering nude shade.
You can see more of what I’m loving over on my Instagram @lpearsonsmith
