Body & beauty

Jo Fairley: Pay Lip Service

Our columnist reveals the very best lip treatments to see us through the season

One of the best beauty tips I’ve heard in a long, long time was to apply lip balm straight after brushing my teeth. Result: instant comfort. But lips are challenged constantly, between morning tooth-brushing and going to bed at night: by central heating, wind, drying lip formulations, salty crisps and even saliva. My recommendation? An arsenal of lip products. Here are some of my favourites.

Lanolips Lanostick

‘Coconutter’ is brand new addition to the Lanolips line-up, this swivel-up balm is lightly fragranced with coconut, an oil that features alongside their signature ingredient lanolin, mango butter and candelilla wax, in the protective blend. As lanolin is a by-product of wool production, it’s not vegan – but cruelty-free, they promise. (Also available in unscented Natural and Minty versions.)

Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil

Lip oils are a new category; they don’t tend to stay put for as long as a waxy balm, but I like the subtle glossiness and the immediate, cushion-y feeling of relief. Here’s a great example, with lashings of hyaluronic acid, hydrating botanicals and a citrusy flavour, in a choice of six sheer, plumptious shades that swipe onto lips via a soft, doe-foot wand.

Burt’s Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment

I love that Burt’s Bees balms are inexpensive enough to be able to slip one in every coat pocket, meaning they’re always at hand for protection on a wind-whipped walk. But this is one for the bedside: a slightly minty ‘night cream’ for lips, powered by ceramides and plant waxes, to fight lines and repair the lips’ natural barrier function.

Henné Organics Lip Exfoliator

Lip care isn’t only about what you apply, but about removing flakes of dead skin cells from lips’ surface that can prevent products from sinking in. These flakes should never, ever be tugged at, but a dedicated scrub – like this gentle exfoliator – will buff lip skin in the gentlest of ways, in this case, leaving behind a layer of moisturisation from organic coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E, flavoured with organic berries and vanilla.

Kure Bazaar À La Rose Lip & Nail Balm

One you’ll always find in my own handbag, because it multi-tasks as a fab cuticle treatment, too. (You will invariably find me smoothing this on when being kept waiting for a meeting). There’s a lovely scent of rose, from the flower infusion that features alongside organic cocoa and shea butters, vitamin E, beeswax and squalene. A slightly decadent price, for sure – but the little screw-top jar lasts for absolutely ages, so I have soft lips, no matter what weather and central heating wants to chuck at me.

Jo Fairley is the co-founder of Green & Blacks and author of The Beauty Bible. Head online to see her latest projects at josephinefairley.com

Article by

Jo Fairley

Co-founder of Greem & Blacks and author of The Beauty Bible

Jo Fairley is the co-founder of Green & Blacks and author of The Beauty Bible. Head online to see her latest projects at josephinefairley.com

Discover more

Article by

Jo Fairley

Co-founder of Greem & Blacks and author of The Beauty Bible

Jo Fairley is the co-founder of Green & Blacks and author of The Beauty Bible. Head online to see her latest projects at josephinefairley.com

Discover more