Lip Balm

Eos lovers, rejoice: your favorite lip-balm brand has released a flavor that is perfect for Spring. Eos Lemon Drop Lip Balm ($3) is tucked into the brand's signature spherical container and delivers a deliciously sweet flavor that will have you reapplying throughout the day. Soothing and smoothing, the lip balm also contains SPF 15, making it an ace product to wear in the warmer months. And since it's not super greasy, you can layer it under your lipsticks without fear of smudging. Eos's lemony lip balm will make your lips pucker . . . in more ways than one.

Elizabeth Arden's cult favorite Eight Hour Cream has been around since the 1930s, but recently a new Intensive Lip Repair Balm ($33) was added to the Eight Hour lineup. Nestled in this portable jar are shea butter and arnica flower oil, which combine to bolster the moisture in your lips. But what has us most impressed is this product's staying power. Hours after applying the menthol-infused balm, you'll be surprised to find your lips are still supple and soft. While the instructions recommend overnight use, consider it an all-day essential to kiss chapped lips goodbye.

Lip balm may be the most-used beauty product during the Winter months, as dry, chapped, peeling, flaky (and even bleeding) lips are a trademark of the season. Enter Rodial Glam Balm Lip ($25), which will protect your mouth from whipping winds, plummeting temperatures, and then some. You might ask, though, why you would spend extra money on this particular lip product when others can be easily procured at the local grocery store for practically pennies.

Usually it requires multiple, strategically placed products to keep lips supple (one at work, one in every handbag, another on the vanity). But the creamy consistency of this glam balm will break your dependence on other greasy sticks and pots. Rose wax and shea butter gets under the cracks for a smoothed-out appearance, and vitamin E provides long-lasting moisture. Plus, the high-shine finish eliminates the need for gloss. Ski bunnies and slope enthusiasts everywhere will rejoice.

Nothing screams natural beauty quite like luscious lips with a hint of I-was-born-with-it color. Aussie actress Bella Heathcote proved that a tinted lip look is quite lovely because it gives you a healthier-looking flush than standard lipstick. You can easily get this pretty pout with products already in your makeup bag. Before applying any lip color, apply a thin layer of lip balm to your lips, like Smith's Rosebud Salve ($6). Next, use your ring finger to press in a rosy-pink shade of lipstick. Blot with a tissue and then press a little bit of balm on top of your lip color for a hint of shine. Simple, see?

We've all seen it and been victims of it: dry, cracked lips. Between cold air and the moisture-sucking effects of indoor heating, the delicate skin of your lips gets chapped fast. You can keep your lips hydrated and supple all through the Winter with these helpful tips.

Whenever the cooler months come around, men and women alike start reaching for their favorite balms to soothe their chapped lips. Regardless of what kind of lip balm you use, however, you've probably heard of so-called "lip-balm dependency." While you may just love the feeling of swiping that cooling balm over your dry lips, people have gone so far as to suggest that certain balms contain ingredients that actually dry out your lips, making it difficult for you to ever stop using them.

Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, codirector of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington DC, is quick to blow the lid off these rumors. "There is no truth to this at all," she says. "ChapSticks and lip hydrators have waxes or emollients in them to create a barrier to keep lips hydrated." The barrier prevents dryness caused by the elements, so it's practically impossible for balms to actually dry your lips out. So it turns out that lip-balm addiction is only in your head. But excessive dryness could be caused by a bigger issue, so you should check in with your dermatologist if your lips refuse to smooth out.

Not only does a lip conditioner help soften lips, but it creates a smoother surface, allowing your lipstick to wear longer. This means a reduction in your lip color feathering, caking, and settling into fine lines. And if that wasn't enough, some conditioners are even formulated with SPF. For maximum impact:

1. Think of a lip conditioner as if it were a primer or base coat. And for extra staying power, sweep over it with a lightly powdered brush, which will also help your lip color to adhere better.
2. Use your lip conditioner alone for a subtle sheen. This is especially nice if you're not into glossy finishes.
3. Wear overnight as a hydrating treatment, and wake up with a new lease on life.