It was too good to be true. We almost went a winter without crazy snowstorms and frigid temperatures. But, nope. Here we are in New York burying ourselves under as many blankets as possible to stay warm since it is literally in snowing outside. Sure, our brains, bodies, and lack of motivation suffer from the cold weather, but like, so do our lips. Chapped lips are the actual worst and they hurt. Chapped lips are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and honestly, a little unattractive. Like, we’ve all seen someone whose lips were drier than the Sahara and fought back the urge to offer them our lip balm. Lip balms are your solution keeping your lips hydrated and not cracked this winter. But since we can’t have nice things, some lip balms will actually dry out your lips more. It’s evil, but true—some balms contain drying ingredients so you keep using them more and more. Should be illegal tbh. But luckily, I’ve found lip balms that don’t dry out your lips.
1. Nivea Smoothness Lip Balm
This is one of the many, many things I grab whenever I’m at Target. I have used it every year and it has never betrayed me. The formula consists of shea butter, aloe, and SPF 15 to leave your lips feeling lusciously soft, hydrated, and smooth. Why get one when you can get two for legit less than $4?
2. Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 30
This one is a splurge, but I love it because it’s free of all the toxic ingredients you should avoid like oxybenzone, parabens, and triclosan, to name a few, but it also comes in an array of nudes for protection with color. It’s supposed to provide hydration for more than 10 hours and keep lips nourished with coconut oil and lemon butter.
3. Glossier Balm Dotcom
Everyone is talking about it and it’s not just because it’s popping up all over your Instagram feed. Glossier’s balm dotcom lip balms don’t dry out your lips and are totally worth the hype and the $12 price tag. Glossier’s balms come in six options (or flavors, as they call it) from the original to the bestselling birthday (pictured below), to other classics like coconut or mint. Each of them contain ~mood-enhancing~ scents, natural plant extract, protective beeswax, and organic antioxidants for long-lasting moisture.
4. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy
This First Aid Beauty balm has a great consistency and antioxidant booster to help fend off aggressors such as annoying UV rays or gross pollution. Your lips will feel so smooth that you’ll want to apply often throughout the day and even layer under your favorite lipstick afterwards.
This brand is loved by many celebs, so that’s kind of saying something about the quality of their products as it is. This balm is super hydrating and leaves a natural-looking shine on your lips after applying. It has SPF 20 for sun protection and contains a formula that’s non-greasy as well as non-sticky. Praise be.
Since unfortunately winter is here to stay, that means so are chapped, cracked lips. These lip balms that don’t dry out your lips will keep your lips smooth and silky until spring gets here.
Images: Septian Simon / Unsplash; Target; Sephora (2); Glossier; Ulta Beauty
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