The best lip balms for winter
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As the autumn/winter season is approaching, we’re putting the winter makeup bag staple to the test – lip balm. Scrolling through the aisles of Boots and Superdrug choosing the right lip balm can be daunting. There is always a multitude of balms that claim to keep sore, dry, cracked lips at bay, but do they actually do what they claim on the tin?
We know, it’s difficult. From somehow making your lips even drier, to leaving that sticky stuff in the corner of your mouth, finding the perfect lip balm seems the Herculean task.
To save your pockets, we’ve gathered some of the best tried and tested balms.
1. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume – £5.25 Feelunique
Image courtesy of guardian.com.sg
If you’re a fan of @MelissasWardrobe on Instagram you will have heard of this product. True to form, Melissa really showed up for everyone when she recommended this. If you want a no fuss, moisturising lip balm that works, this is the one for you. The brand state: ‘Cicaplast is a multi-purpose miracle cream that soothes, repairs and protects skin from infection all in one application. Can be used on dry, chapped or irritated skin and is suitable for use on rashes, grazes, eczema-lesions’. It doesn’t gather easily at the corner of your lips, and a little of this goes a long way. The fragrance is minimal, so if you’re fussy with flavours, there’s no need to worry and it’s a clear balm, so you don’t need to find one compatible to your skin tone.
2. Alex Steinherr X Primark Overnight Lip Mask – £4 Primark
Image courtesy of Popsugar.co.uk
Being a lip mask, this collaboration between Alex Steinherr (former beauty Director at Glamour Magazine) and Primark, is great if the colder weather is already taking a toll on your lips. You can apply a thick layer of this at night and when you wake up your lips are left feeling soothed and re-hydrated. This is also a multi-functional product, as not only would it be a great addition to your winter night-time skincare routine, due to it having a pink tint to it, it also looks great over a nude lip liner to give the illusion of naturally fuller lips. With a slanted applicator, this is a great option to leave in your handbag as you don’t have to worry about being left with sticky fingers. For only £4, you can’t go wrong!
3. Glossier Balm Dotcom – £10 or multi-buy deal
Image courtesy of glossier.com
If you’re looking for a winter lip balm that comes in all sorts of funky flavours, look no further! Glossier’s Balm Dotcom comes in flavours ranging from rose, birthday cake, and mint to cherry, coconut, and mango. These are also marketed as a ‘universal skin salve’ meaning they’re not restricted to just being used on your lips which is great as the natural emollients can treat chafed skin on areas such as your knuckles too. This lip balm ticks all our boxes – long lasting moisture, hypoallergenic, cruelty free and tasty too!
4. Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm – £1.99 Superdrug
Image courtesy of amazon.co.uk
This is a lovely winter lip balm if you’re shopping on a budget. This is a gentle lip balm is a great option for sore or wind-chafed lips. Although you wouldn’t necessarily consider it in the winter months, it is also important to protect your skin from the sun all year round, and this lip balm including SPF 15 is an added bonus that will accommodate this need. When speaking to students at The University of Kent, this lip balm was recommended as it is ‘heavy duty enough to treat my dry lips whilst also being small enough to fit in any pocket’.
5. Burt’s Bees £3.99 Boots
Image courtesy of amazon.co.uk
For the environment-conscious amongst you, why not try the Burt’s Bees lip balms? These lip balms are eco-friendly, paraben free and if you hate a lip balm that has a sickly sweet flavour, this could be for you, as you can opt for the simple bees wax lip balm. As far as finish, this balm also errs on the side of matte so if you’re not keen on the super glossy look, this is a great natural option. Because of this, this balm is a favourite amongst a lot of guys.
6. Clarins Lip Comfort Oil £19
Image courtesy of galleonpharmacy.co.za
If you’re looking to make more of an investment or try something a little different to your bog-standard lip balm, we love a lip oil. These are nourishing and can also be used alone or on top of a matte lipstick for more comfortable wear in the colder weather. The Clarins Lip Comfort Oil has got a thin consistency so doesn’t feel gloopy or sticky on the lips. It also comes in a range of colours and the Honey shade contains a fine glitter so is a fabulous night out product – especially for a Christmas do. If you think this could be the option for you but are not willing to splash the cash, the Barry M Coco Loco Lip Oil is a highly comparable high-street alternative.
If you try any of our lip balm recommendations for winter, let us know how you get on and get in touch at @inquirekent on Instagram.
