Collection: Skincare - Lip Treatments and Balms

Decide whether you want relief or a change. A balm sits over the surface and buys a few hours, so the test is whether you will carry it. A treatment with acids or peptides works over weeks and asks for daily use.

A plain balm is wax and oil holding water in. An occlusive repair seals harder and suits cold and wind. A glossy treatment carries actives and a finish at once. A sleeping mask goes on thick and gets wiped off in the morning.

Three of these come from Japanese and Korean lines.

Lightest first: an olive oil balm that leaves a light shine is the everyday one, and a fragrance free version for lips that react does the same job without colourants. A glossy treatment that comes in four shades carries acids and peptides under the finish. An occlusive copper peptide balm for cold and wind seals hardest of the daytime options, and an overnight mask you wipe off in the morning goes on last.

The lip contour is shared ground, and two eye products that reach the lip contour sit one shelf over.

An overnight lip mask works like a sleep mask, and the overnight masks made for the rest of the face run on the same idea.

Lips are a small part of a routine, and the skincare shelves beyond the lip hold the rest.

How often should I reapply a lip balm?

As often as it wears off, which for a thin balm means every couple of hours and again after eating. Reaching for it constantly is a sign the formula is too light for the conditions, and an occlusive one holds longer.

Can I use a face serum or retinol on my lips?

Not the same way. The lip border is thinner and has no oil glands, so a face retinol taken there tends to flake and sting before it does anything. Products built for the lip carry the same actives at lower strengths in a heavier base.

Does a lip mask need to stay on all night?

No. Much of the benefit comes in the first hour or two under an occlusive layer, so an evening application that stays put until you wipe it away is enough. It is sold for the night since nothing rubs it off in bed.

Why do my lips get worse the more balm I use?

Often the formula rather than the habit. Balms built around a cooling or tingling sensation feel active and wear off fast, which starts the cycle again. A plain or fragrance free balm gives you nothing to feel, which is the point.