How to protect lips in winter

Excuse me a moment … my lips are talking to me. Well, not so much talking as screaming.

They are not happy. It’s been at least 35 minutes and 23 seconds since my last lip balm application.

They are at cracking point and they want me to do something about it.

Let me silence them quickly with one of many lip balms I have within arms’ distance.

Yes, my name is Nikki and I’m addicted to keeping my lips balmy and pucker-ready all day, every day – but especially in winter.

If you’re looking for some tips on how to protect your lips in winter then you’ve come to the right place.

You could also look in my handbag, on my desk, on my bedside table, in my car and in my bathroom.

I feel naked without some kind of something on my lips and in between adding pops of colour – when I’m working at my desk, exercising or heading off to sleep for the night – it’s always a balm that I reach for.

Clockwise from left: NIVEA Pure & Natural Olive & Lemon lip balm $3.98 | People for Plants Organic Lip Balm Pink Grapefruit and Sweet Fennel $9.99 | Caroline’s Lip Balm $11.50 | Go-To Skincare Lips! $14.95 | Lanolips Banana Balm $15.95 (exclusive to Priceline from July 3, other stockists August 3) | Burt’s Bees Hydrating Lip Balm with Coconut & Pear $6.95 | Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm with Dark Chocolate and Cherry $3.49

How to protect lips in winter

1. Drink lots of water. Or herbal tea. In summer I have no problem in keeping up my water intake. I’m hot and sweaty and water cools me down. In winter I have to force the habit a little and if it’s cold I find making a pot of herbal tea (peppermint or lemon and ginger during the day; chamomile at night) helps.

2. Cleanse your lips if wearing lipstick throughout the day. I love a pop of lippy as much as the next person but most lippies do not have the nourishing power of a balm. They are mostly on hand for their good looks and that’s ok. The key is – like the rest of your make up – to take it off thoroughly at the end of the day. A face cleansing wipe usually works for me but stubborn, long-lasting lipstick may need a helping hand with an oil-based eye makeup remover or something as simple as coconut or olive oil.

3. Exfoliate your lips. You can do this once a week as a way to help shift any dead skin cells on your lips and make your balms work better or it might be something you need to do more frequently because no matter how much water you drink, the outside elements might prove too much for your lips, leaving them flakey and in need of some immediate TLC. Some people use their toothbrush to exfoliate (when lips are wet). I prefer to gently use the corner of a face washer on wet lips. Gently rub and then pat dry before applying a super nourishing balm. This is best done at night before heading off to bed.

4. Make it a mission to find a lip balm that loves your lips as much as you love it. This is a highly subjective process and comes down to personal preference plus what conditions your lips might find themselves exposed to. You might prefer a tube balm (Go-To Skincare Lips!, Caroline’s Lip Balm, Lanolips Banana Balm) over a stick balm (NIVEA Pure & Natural Olive and Lemon, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate and Cherry or People for Plants Pink Grapefruit and Sweet Fennel, Burt’s Bees Hydrating Lip Balm with Coconut & Pear). You might only have lips for an all-natural product (Caroline’s Lip Balm, Go-To Skincare Lips!, People for Plants Organic Pink Grapefruit and Sweet Fennel lip balm, Burt’s Bees Hydrating Lip Balm with Coconut & Pear). You might like a thicker formulation that sits on your lips. You might prefer a lighter balm that soaks its goodness into your lips. You might like a little flavour on your lips (Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate, Lanolips Banana Balm, Cherry or People for Plants Pink Grapefruit and Sweet Fennel). Keep playing and trying until you find your perfect lip match.

5. If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors with your lips then an SPF is a must. Outdoors lips also need a lip balm formula that offers super nourishing qualities. You want that balm to step up and buffer what the elements dish up to your lips. Out of the above, I’d opt for Lanolips Banana Balm – it’s also a great one for treating your lips overnight.

So tell me … how do you look after your lips? What’s your favourite lip balm and why do you like it?

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