The hunt for the perfect lip balm is over. Our Editorial Director (and resident lip balm addict) Liz Hambleton, handpicks her five favourite lip-saving super balms and reveals why each one is a hero in its own right. Soothing sun-burn, nourishing neglected lips, plumping and protecting pouts from the great outdoors, read on to find out which is right for you and why using the wrong one could actually make your dry lips even worse…
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1 Lanolips 101 Ointment Apple, £7.99
Best for: overly sensitive and dry lips
‘My lips dry out faster than you can say lip balm and because of this I need to top up on hydration at several points throughout the day. That’s a whole lot of lip balm. Lanolips is my personal life saver and I really can’t imagine how I managed before I discovered it. An Aussie brand through and through, this deeply nourishing salve is loaded with medical grade Lanolin, an ingredient found in sheep’s wool that mimics the lipids in your skin. This is the only product i’ve tried that really makes a difference to my chronically dry lips. Word to the wise – I also dab it on my eyelids and my cheekbones for dewy glow.’
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2 Vaseline Rosy Lips, £1.95
Best for: protection on a budget
You can’t beat a bit of Vaseline. If you’re an outdoorsy sort of girl like me, you’ll know that the elements can work against you and quickly strip your lips of moisture. Apply a protective layer of Vaseline and you create a barrier that keeps moisture in and stops the sun, wind and cold attacking your lips. It also happens to make a fantastic brow and lash gel. I keep a stash of these handy tins in my house, car, desk and handbags at all times.
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3 Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm, £44
Best for: plumping & anti-aging
Consider this the ultimate in status lip balms. It doesn’t come cheap at £44, but use it sparingly and cost per wear is really quite reasonable! I swear by the plumping effects of this luxe formula and find it makes the perfect base for lipstick. Not too greasy, not too thick and with a level of hydration that makes a real difference to the condition of your lips; would I recommend this to people with severely chapped lips? Probably not, however I would highly recommend it for those with thinner, more mature lips or avid lipstick wearers.
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4 Frank Bod Lip Balm, £11.95
Best for: lips lacking in life
If you’ve lost the natural lustre of your lips then this is the product for you. Although it’s not technically tinted, I find this balm injects a much-needed touch of warmth into my natural lip colour. It’s free from petroleum (An ingredient that some people find drying) and is loaded with natural ingredients. When you buy this product it comes with a brilliant coffee-based lip scrub, use the scrub followed by the balm and you won't recognise your lips.
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5 Nuxe Reve de Miel, £9.50
Best for: nourishing post-holiday lips
Hands up if you've ever burnt your lips on holiday? Red, raw and cracked – it's not a good look and can takes months to recover from. Having been through it once (And never again) I discovered that not all lip balms can calm inflammation and repair sun damage in equal measures. An overnight application of Nuxe Reve De Meil is a miracle worker, I put it down to a restorative combination of honey and shea butter.