Unfortunately, the colder months expose a few of us who haven’t caught onto a key part of skincare — the lips. They’re constantly used for everything from sipping on coffee to chatting up a date, so perhaps it’s time to move on from licking them every few minutes, and invest in a protective, nourishing layer for one of the most sensitive and eye-catching parts of your visage.With the ever-growing beauty and grooming culture, lip care has evolved, and it doesn’t just mean using Vaseline. Think lip oils, lip exfoliators, sleeping masks, serums. The category is widening day by day.

Dr Ankur Sarin believes that the common problem with Indian lips is pigmentation. “Start with kojic acid 2% cream, which is safe, and helps in depigmentation. Once a week, exfoliation is enough. I am against physical exfoliation of lips as it causes pigmentation. Resistant pigmentation can be treated with Q switch lasers and chemical peels. Using a good lip balm with SPF is the first step in lip care. In the morning, use an SPF and at night, apply a moisturiser that can be sealed up,” he suggests. “Since men have thicker skin than women, they have more layers of skin to hydrate as compared to women, and the same goes for lips. This also makes men more prone to chapping. Look for lip balms with white petroleum, lanolin, shea butter, beeswax and ceramides, because they all lock in moisture,” recommends Dr Jushya Bhatia.

Apart from regular lip treatments, dermatology lip treatments also Keep lips healthy. “Lips are the most sensitive part of your body, and are often forgotten about during skincare routines. We have peels, fillers, lasers, and other treatments. I highly recommended an oral antioxidant such as age defy and crystallite tomato to keep your lips healthy,” opines Dr Monica Jacob, founder & director of Bodyz Wellness. Let’s look at some of popular and luxurious lip care essentials worth checking out:

DIOR LIP OIL

A personal favourite, Dior’s Lip Oil is anything but oil. It offers hydrating lip care infused with cherry oil, which instantly nourishes and softens your lips. A non-greasy and non-sticky formula brings out the shine by creating a smooth finish on the lips, simultaneously bringing out your natural lip colour.

BOBBI BROWN LIP BALM-SPF 15

Bobbi Brown’s hydrating lip balm is boosted by skin-nourishing botanicals and extracts to help smooth, soften, and condition lips, as well as help protect from sun damage with an SPF 15 rating. Containing beeswax, avocado, aloe vera, and wheat germ oil, this formula helps condition and smoothen lips, acting as a perfect barrier.

LANEIGE LIP SLEEPING MASK

A cult-favourite in skincare, Laneige’s leave-on mask acts as an add-on moisturiser. All you need to do is layer it on your lips before going to bed, and you’ll wake up with hydrated lips less prone to chapping.

PILGRIM SQUALANE LIP SERUM

Like masks, serums are a new addition to the lip world. Pilgrim’s latest lip care range includes a squalane lip serum in flavours such as bubble gum and peppermint that keep the moisture locked in and target dryness. In addition, the serum has a gliding roll-on applicator that makes it easy to apply.

ESTÉE LAUDER PURE COLOR ENVY REPLENISH LIP BALM

Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Envy Replenish Lip Balm is a unique balm that matches the chemistry of your lips to reveal a shade that’s perfectly your lip colour. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, this lightweight lip balm melts on your lips, giving you an extra dose of hydration and skin elasticity while going about your day.

HOW TO PICK THE CORRECT LIP TREATMENT By Dr Jushya Bhatia

Lips have no oil glands, and hence, produce no oil of their own, they need constant hydration from the top. The products you choose for the lip need to be free of colour and fragrances

• Use a lip product with SPF

• Lip ointments are preferable over lip balm and chap sticks as the former is free of preservatives • Ingredients to watch out for: SPF, a moisturiser containing beeswax, propylene glycol, and glycerine