Our Lips are Sealed

As the leaves change and begin to drop, my lips immediately take a turn for the worse. You could say my lips become as dry and flaky as the leaves crunching underfoot.

As the elements become harsher, we pile on the sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves to protect and insulate ourselves against the weather, but we often forget to do a little extra for our skin—especially our lips. Add to this the combination of dry outdoor air and the lack of humidity indoors and—yes, your mom was right—licking, and it all adds up to dry, dehydrated lips. And once lips become fragile, they develop tiny cracks and tears, which equal chapped lips.

So what to do? Well here's the good news: There are so many great moisturizers for lips that act as a protective layer to keep moisture in and dryness out.

My two favorites right now:

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
I love the lightweight texture and the deliciously sublime fragrance of this lip product. It moisturizes and protects, and it's formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, and phthalates. The only downside: I find I need to reapply fairly often. On the positive side, it also comes in some tinted shades, of which Rose is my absolute favorite.

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The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick
This lip product is a little heavier and has a very nice, almost cushy, texture. It's formulated with a combination of oils and waxes, including coconut oil, beeswax, and olive oil. It almost feels like it melts on the lips, and it stays put.

So if you want to keep lips looking their best fall through winter, keep lips protected, drink plenty of water, and for goodness sake, don't lick your lips!

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