3 Steps to Mistletoe-Ready Lips

Among the many inconveniences of the colder months—cold weather, harsh winds, and more time spent indoors—dry, flaky lips may be one of the very worst. To help beat a dry pout, there a few steps you can add to your regular skin care routine. Even if you don’t plan to lock lips under the mistletoe this holiday season, you’ll want to follow the steps listed below to achieve soft and smooth lips.

Step #1: Exfoliate Your Lip Skin 

Do you feel a lot of excess dead skin piling up on your lips? This can contribute to the flaky and rough texture. To help slough away those flakes and reveal softer, smoother lip skin, you’ll want to exfoliate gently. Reach for a lip scrub like the L’Oreal Paris Pure-Sugar Resurface & Energize Kona Coffee Scrub. The formula boasts real Kona Coffee Grounds sourced from Hawaii, as well as three pure sugars, to leave skin feeling smooth, energized, and invigorated. Another benefit to exfoliation is that it can allow subsequent skin care products to absorb more easily. That’s why you’ll want to immediately follow up your exfoliation routine by adding some moisture to your pout.

Step #2: Apply a Lip Mask

At this point you could just apply your favorite lip balm or salve, but set the stage for amped up moisture by using a lip mask first. Kiehl’s Buttermask for Lips is an intensely hydrating lip mask that helps to restore even the driest of pouts overnight. If you’re completing these steps during the day, apply a generous layer of Buttermask for Lips onto your pout and leave it on for 15 minutes. Blot away any excess.

To learn more about Buttermask for Lips, check out our full product review, here!

Step #3: Apply a Lip Balm  

There are plenty of lip balms out there, but not all are created equal. Choosing the right formula can make a big difference. One of our favorites is SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair, a restorative treatment for damaged or aging lips. You also can’t go wrong with Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1. It’s formulated with moisturizing ingredients like squalane, aloe vera, and vitamin E, and can help shield lips against the drying effects of winter weather.

Editor’s note: If you plan to complete your lip routine with lipstick, steer clear of matte formulas which can dry your pout out even further. Instead, reach for a hydrating lipstick with a satin finish or a shiny lip gloss.