Cracked, Chapped Lips Don't Stand a Chance Against My Arsenal of Balms and Masks
Make this step a part of your skincare routine.
As someone who grew up in the Caribbean, there are quite a few things I simply could not have anticipated when I moved to the United States. The lack of readily available mango trees. The fact that winter lasts much, much longer than the one magical day that is December 25th. The reality that cold weather can basically upend my carefully curated skincare routine. But you know what really got me? That cold air basically zaps the life out of my lips—and don't get me started on how that affects my liners and lipsticks.
Never could I have been prepared for the fact that from around early December through March, my chapped lips would feel like rubbing sawdust on my mouth. On top of this, it felt like no matter what I did, none of the products I used actually helped address the issue.
It has been well over two decades since I truly began to understand the effects of cold weather on my skin. In the past 20 years, not only has the beauty industry made significant strides in innovation, inclusivity, and ingenuity, but the lip care category in particular has seen jaw-dropping development, with it forecasted to grow into a 3.48 billion-dollar category by 2030. In short, the lip products of yesteryear are nowhere near what they are today, and I thank my lucky stars every day that my chronically dry, winter-chapped lips are around to witness the growth.
If you’re still using random products you find in your parents’ medicine cabinets, first off, I’m not judging. That said, you deserve better. Now, take a look at the list below to refresh your stash. Your holy grail chapped-lip treatments are much more attainable than you may think.
I have gifted this Eadem lip balm to all of my best friends, and every single one of them loves it as much as I do (so consider this a stamp of approval times six). Hibiscus enzymes and lactic acid exfoliate dead skin, while Brazilian açaí and African mongongo butters bathe your skin in a wash of moisture. Collagen peptides smooth lip lines and make my lips look plump and juicy—just like a traditional gloss.
Another fan favorite in my group chat is Ole Henricksen’s Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment. Not only does it give a stunning shine but kokum and mango seed butter, along with cloudberry oil, add an extra shot of moisture. Plus, the hydration lasts, and I don’t feel like I have to keep reapplying every 20 minutes.
Fenty’s Plush Puddin’ is one of those formulas I keep everywhere—bags, nightstands, or that little middle section between the front seats in the car—thanks in part to the super-hygienic twist-up packaging.
Every holiday season, I buy one of Tatcha’s lip masks, and it tends to last me at least six months. It’s perfect for getting you through winter with glossy, plump lips. Plus, the packaging just screams luxury.
This mask is a thick salve specially formulated for people who deal with chronically cracked, dry lips. I can’t state enough how many times it has saved my life as I’ve trudged through New York City winters to get to work.
A formula that completely took me by surprise is Outset’s Lip Oasis. While it’s not as thick as a lip mask, it feels just as moisturizing, and to my surprise, it lasts for hours on my lips. With four shades to choose from, you can use it as a standalone lip look or over a full lip combination.
This Paula's Choice balm is one of the most underrated lip treatments of all time. Your skin drinks up the combination of hyaluronic acid and squalane, and that hydration lasts until your next application.
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