14 Late January Lip Care Moves That Stop the Constant Reapplying
As winter rolls on, your lips can start feeling the effects of the cold, dry air, leaving them cracked and uncomfortable. Constantly reapplying lip balm can be frustrating, especially when it feels like the relief doesn’t last long. But with the right approach, you can keep your lips smooth and hydrated without the need for frequent touch-ups. There are a variety of products and techniques that can help lock in moisture and protect your lips from the harsh winter elements. Whether it’s nourishing lip masks, balms with added SPF, or simple hydration tips, taking a few extra steps can make a big difference. With the right care, you can enjoy long-lasting comfort and healthier lips all season long.
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Use Lip Masks Overnight
Lip masks are an excellent way to provide intense hydration and nourishment to your lips, especially during the colder months when lips tend to dry out more easily. These masks are designed to be applied before bed and left on overnight, creating a barrier that locks in moisture and allows your lips to absorb all the nutrients. Most lip masks contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps your lips retain moisture, and shea butter or oils, which provide deep hydration and restore softness.
One of the most popular lip masks is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, priced at around $22. Its rich formula, packed with antioxidants and moisture-boosting ingredients, has earned praise for leaving lips feeling hydrated, soft, and plump by morning. You can apply a generous amount before bedtime, and by morning, your lips will feel nourished and less prone to chapping throughout the day. With consistent use, your lips will be in much better condition, requiring fewer touch-ups.
Opt for Lip Balms with SPF
The importance of sun protection for your lips cannot be overstated, even during the winter months. Sunburn is not just an issue in the summer; harmful UV rays can still affect your skin, including your lips, during the colder months. Choosing a lip balm with SPF ensures that your lips are protected from the sun’s rays, preventing them from becoming dry, cracked, or sunburned.
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm with SPF 15, priced at about $3, offers natural ingredients like beeswax and vitamin E while providing protection against UV rays. It’s a natural and affordable option that not only hydrates your lips but also keeps them shielded from the sun. Whether you’re skiing, walking in the sun, or simply enjoying a winter day, this lip balm can help keep your lips smooth, moisturized, and protected.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is a key step in any lip care routine. When your lips are dry, they can accumulate dead skin, leading to a rough texture and making it difficult for lip balm to absorb properly. Regularly exfoliating your lips helps to slough off this dead skin, leaving your lips feeling smooth and soft. Lip exfoliation is gentle and typically involves using a sugar-based scrub that contains moisturizing oils to prevent dryness.
Lush Lip Scrub, priced at around $10, is an excellent option. It uses natural sugar crystals to exfoliate and jojoba oil to moisturize, leaving your lips soft and refreshed. Gently scrub your lips in small circles for a minute or two, and then follow up with a nourishing lip balm to lock in moisture. Exfoliating just once or twice a week can dramatically improve the texture and health of your lips, helping to prevent the need for frequent reapplications of lip care products.
Apply Lip Balm Before Bed
For long-lasting hydration, apply a high-quality lip balm before going to sleep. During the night, your skin is in repair mode, and applying a moisturizing lip balm helps seal in hydration and prevents moisture loss. By applying balm before bed, you give your lips the opportunity to absorb all the nourishing ingredients without the interference of daytime activities.
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Moisturizer, priced at about $3, is a great option. It’s designed to be extra moisturizing and provides relief for dry, cracked lips. The lip balm’s formula is designed to provide long-lasting hydration and has been proven to keep lips feeling soft and smooth overnight.
Choose a Lip Balm with Natural Oils
Lip balms containing natural oils are an excellent choice for providing long-lasting hydration. Natural oils like coconut oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil are known for their deep moisturizing properties, and they penetrate the skin to provide lasting moisture. These oils help restore the skin’s moisture barrier and protect against further dryness. Choosing lip balms with these natural ingredients ensures that your lips stay moisturized without relying on chemical-laden formulas.
The Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm, priced at around $8, is one of the best products available. It contains a blend of shea butter and avocado oil, which provide both moisture and protection. This balm absorbs easily into the skin, leaving your lips feeling smooth without any greasy residue. Using a balm like this not only helps to moisturize your lips but also prevents dryness and cracks, keeping you from constantly needing to reapply balm throughout the day.
Keep a Lip Balm in Your Pocket
Keeping lip balm in your pocket or bag ensures you can quickly address any dryness throughout the day. Having it readily available means you are less likely to forget to apply it when you need it most. Opt for a compact, easy-to-carry balm that you can take anywhere, whether you’re running errands, working, or traveling.
The Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment, available for around $4, is an ideal product for on-the-go hydration. It provides fast relief for dry, cracked lips and helps prevent further damage. This ointment creates a protective barrier, locking in moisture and allowing the skin to heal. Its small size fits easily into your pocket or purse, making it easy to carry with you wherever you go.
Avoid Lip Products with Artificial Fragrances
When choosing lip care products, opt for those that are free from artificial fragrances and dyes. These added ingredients can cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin or lips. Fragrances in lip balms may also dry out your lips over time, leading to the need for more frequent applications. Instead, look for products that are fragrance-free and formulated with nourishing ingredients.
The Vanicream Lip Protectant, priced at around $6, is a perfect choice for those with sensitive skin. It is free of fragrances, dyes, and preservatives, providing a gentle and effective way to protect and hydrate your lips. The Vanicream balm forms a protective barrier that helps to seal in moisture and prevent chapping, without causing irritation or dryness.
Try a Lip Oil for Hydration
Lip oils are becoming a popular alternative to traditional lip balms, offering deep hydration while leaving a glossy finish. These oils are often enriched with nourishing oils like argan oil, almond oil, and jojoba oil, which help keep your lips moisturized without feeling heavy. Unlike some balms, lip oils can penetrate deeply into the skin, providing long-lasting hydration.
The Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil, priced at about $26, is a great choice for those who want to add some luxury to their lip care routine. This oil hydrates your lips while giving them a subtle, natural shine. The oil is non-sticky and absorbs quickly, ensuring that your lips stay hydrated and smooth throughout the day without the need for frequent reapplications.
Invest in a Hydrating Lipstick
If you love wearing lipstick but struggle with dry lips, a hydrating lipstick might be just what you need. These lipsticks are formulated to provide long-lasting color while also delivering moisture to your lips. Many hydrating lipsticks contain ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter, and natural oils, which help keep your lips moisturized while enhancing the color.
The Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick, priced at around $7, is a fantastic option that combines rich color with moisturizing benefits. It’s available in a wide range of shades and provides long-lasting color without drying out your lips. This lipstick can be worn throughout the day without the need for constant reapplications, making it an excellent choice for those who want both color and hydration.
Try a Lip Balm with Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids that help to form the skin’s protective barrier. Lip balms that contain ceramides can help repair and maintain the skin’s moisture barrier, preventing water loss and keeping your lips hydrated. Ceramide-based balms are especially beneficial for those with sensitive or chapped lips.
The CeraVe Healing Lip Balm, priced at around $4, is a perfect example of a product that incorporates ceramides to restore hydration. This balm also contains hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture into the skin. The combination of ceramides and hyaluronic acid helps protect your lips from dryness and irritation, so you won’t need to constantly reapply.
Try a Lip Balm with Collagen
Lip balms with collagen are formulated to support the skin’s structure and elasticity, helping to prevent dryness and cracking. Collagen is known for its ability to promote skin regeneration, making it an excellent ingredient for keeping lips youthful and plump. Using a lip balm with collagen can help your lips look and feel fuller while maintaining moisture.
The Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen Lip, priced at about $28, contains a blend of collagen, peptides, and botanical oils to deeply nourish the lips. This balm not only hydrates but also helps restore volume, making it an ideal product for those looking to add some extra care to their lip routine. The use of collagen helps keep your lips smooth and hydrated, reducing the need for constant reapplications.
Use a Lip Balm with Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps nourish and protect the skin. When used in lip balms, it can help repair damaged skin, soothe inflammation, and prevent further dryness. Lip balms containing vitamin E are great for chapped lips, as they provide moisture and create a protective barrier against environmental stressors.
The Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm with Vitamin E, priced at about $2, is an affordable yet effective choice. This balm is rich in both cocoa butter and vitamin E, which work together to deeply hydrate and soften your lips. With regular use, you’ll notice smoother, healthier lips, and fewer instances of needing to reapply throughout the day.
Consider a Lip Balm with Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is rich in vitamins and fatty acids that help hydrate and heal dry, cracked lips. This oil is known for its deep penetration, which means it provides long-lasting hydration while nourishing the lips from within. A lip balm with avocado oil can help repair damaged lips and prevent further dryness.
The Kiehl’s Buttermask for Lips, priced at around $24, is an excellent option. It contains avocado oil, as well as coconut oil and shea butter, to deeply hydrate and soothe lips. This mask can be used overnight or as a quick treatment during the day for instant relief from dryness. With regular use, you’ll find that your lips stay hydrated longer, with less need for frequent reapplications.
Use a Lip Balm with Honey
Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin, making it an excellent ingredient for lip care. Lip balms containing honey can help keep your lips hydrated and plump by locking in moisture and preventing water loss. Honey also has healing properties that help to repair cracked and irritated lips.
The Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm, priced at around $3, is a popular choice. This balm contains both honey and beeswax, providing deep moisture while also forming a protective layer over your lips. By using a honey-infused lip balm, you can keep your lips smooth and hydrated without needing to reapply every few hours.
This article originally appeared on Avocadu.