Lip care 101: the products you need for soft, healthy lips – from balms to Kim Kardashian-recommended oils to masks

Lips need taking care of – they don’t have oil glands like other parts of the skin which means they’re more susceptible to drying out

Look for balms with SPF, lip oils like one seen in a Kim Kardashian Instagram story, and use a gentle exfoliant once or twice a week

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Dry, chapped lips are both uncomfortable and visually displeasing, and make you more vulnerable to painful and unsightly blisters. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:15am, 26 Oct 2021

It used to be that – other than a bold red lipstick – it was, frankly, a little difficult to get terribly excited about lip care products. A swipe of your trusty Chapstick and you could call it a day.

Now, as with all skincare categories, lip care has grown exponentially and includes such things as exfoliators, overnight masks, primers, lip oils and more.

Meanwhile, lip balms have moved well beyond the sweet Lip Smackers of the ’90s; the pinnacle these days is, perhaps, the incredibly chic (and refillable) Rouge Hermès lip balm. If you are seeking sweetness, though, Laneige’s Lip Glowy Balm in Gummy Bear is a delicious-smelling and super-nourishing option.

Anyway, lips deserve to be taken care of. For one, dry and chapped lips are both uncomfortable and visually displeasing, and make you more vulnerable to painful and unsightly blisters. What’s more, as our lips are delicate and don’t have oil glands like other parts of the skin, they’re more susceptible to drying out, so preventive care makes a lot of sense too.

The array of new lip care products can be bewildering, but as with any skincare routine it’s about finding something that works for you. Photo: Ipsum/Mimaree

Meanwhile, increased wearing of face masks can lead to dryer lips. Add to that the impact of weather and stress on lips, and well, investing in lip care feels like a sure bet.