The balming of the lips
My problem with dry lips has officially reached crisis level. Since turning 53, and if you’ve been following my recent articles, almost everything in my body has decided to dry up. My hair, my eyeballs, my throat, my skin, and now, quite dramatically, my lips.
I have a factory’s worth of lip balms scattered across my room, my bags, my office, my bathroom, and probably a few forgotten corners of my life. In the wee hours of the morning, when I wake up to tinkle, I usually stretch and yawn, but what truly annoys me is when the side of my mouth cracks because it dried out during sleep. That tiny sting is enough to wake me up completely.
What’s in my permanent beauty rotation
Gone are the days when I could wear those unforgiving matte lipsticks that last forever but give absolutely nothing back in terms of hydration. These days, I believe healthy, hydrated lips are far more appealing than any trendy finish. There are hundreds of lip balms out there, but over time, I have learned to be choosy. Only a few now make it into my permanent beauty rotation.
One of the newer ones that quietly worked its way into my routine comes from Febble Cosmetics. What drew me in was the playful packaging, but what made me keep using it was the texture and comfort. Their Hydration Lip Butter Balm sits on my bedside table for those middle-of-the-night wake-ups.
It’s glossy without being sticky, rich without feeling heavy, and it keeps my lips calm through the night. No drama, no big promises, just steady, reliable hydration.
Hydration, I have learned, is no longer optional. It is a full-time responsibility. For deeper repair days, I reach for Drunk Elephant. Its lip treatment is packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, cranberry seed oil, peptides, and sea fern algae. It gives my lips a slightly plumper look and a more defined lip line, something I have come to appreciate with age.
Green tea leaf and vitamin C help protect against daily environmental stress, and I love that it’s free of essential oils, silicones, fragrances, dyes, and drying alcohols. It’s dermatologist-tested, too, which gives me peace of mind.
When I want hydration with a hint of color and zero effort, I reach for Dior Addict Lip Glow. It comes in 24 shades, which means there is always one that matches my mood without requiring much thought. What I love is that it’s made with 97 percent natural-origin ingredients and keeps my lips hydrated for up to 24 hours. This is my “look alive without trying” lip product.
And then, there is the quiet polish of Chanel. Their lip balms are the ones I use when I want to feel instantly put together with minimal effort. Rouge Coco Baume gives that soft, shiny finish that makes lips look healthy and protected, while the subtle shades of the Les Beiges lip balm simply enhance your natural lip color.
These are the ones I swipe on when I don’t want anyone to notice my makeup, only that I look well.
Hydration is still key
But the truth is, the best way to take care of your lips is still the most basic one. Drink water. Lots of it. Hydration starts from the inside, and no lip balm in the world can fully rescue lips that are dehydrated from within.
And as tempting as it is, especially when your lips feel dry, try not to lick them. It might feel like instant relief, but it actually makes them even drier in the long run.
Dry lips may sound like a minor complaint, but anyone who lives with them daily knows how uncomfortable they can be. When something as simple as a lip balm, paired with good old-fashioned water intake and a few better habits, can restore comfort, add a hint of shine, and make you feel a little more like yourself, it earns its place in your routine.
At 53, I may be drying out in more ways than I’d like to admit, but at least now, my lips are no longer part of the problem.
