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The best lip balms for skiing and cold weather
Living in the Alps, my lips take a battering every winter: cold, wind, high-altitude sun and very dry air. And with three kids, I’m doing it all while trying not to spend a fortune!
I’ve tried a LOT of lip balms over the years. There are four I come back to again and again, which work hard for me all winter (and all year round, really). The rest rotate round my handbag, my ski jacket and my salopette pockets, ready for a quick swipe on the chairlift. Here are all of them, starting with my four go-tos.
My lip balms for skiing at a glance
My four go-tos:
- For dry, chapped lips: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
- Creamy and luxurious: Nuxe Rêve de Miel
- For cracked or sore lips: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast
- Every night before bed: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Great for your ski jacket pocket:
- For sun protection: Piz Buin Mountain SPF30
- For the kids: Burt’s Bees multipack
- Budget buy: Carmex Classic
My top tip? Use an SPF lip balm during the day on the slopes, and a rich balm or mask at night.
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My four go-to lip balms
These are the four that live on my bedside table and in my bag all winter. If you only buy one or two, pick from these.
1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream lip repair balm: for dry, chapped lips
Winter winds can be harsh, but Elizabeth Arden's Intensive Lip Repair Balm is your secret weapon. This is the one recommended to me time and time again by the local French mums. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients, and it's a must-have for combating dry and chapped lips in the cold. This is one that I’ve bought 3 times over and used until the pot is empty!
Shop Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm here.
My top tip: get the stick version for the slopes if you can. It’s much easier to put on on a chairlift without taking your gloves off! The Eight Hour lip stick has SPF15 too, so it protects your lips from the sun as well.
2. Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm: creamy and luxurious
Nuxe Rêve de Miel honey lip balm, 15ml
I love this one. Nuxe Rêve de Miel is so creamy, and it feels really moisturising and luxurious every time I put it on. It’s a similar size pot to the Elizabeth Arden one, and these two are my favourite “nice” lip balms.
If I had to compare them, the Elizabeth Arden feels like it’s attacking dry skin and really doing something, while the Nuxe is more of a lovely, nourishing treat. I like having both! And it’s a classic French pharmacy brand, so you’ll spot it everywhere over here.
3. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast lip balm: for cracked or sore lips
For cracked, split or sore lips, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast lip balm is a game-changer. When my lips are really sore after a few days in the cold and wind, this is the one I reach for, and it’s absolutely amazing at repairing them. It’s a French pharmacy favourite and an absolute staple for most of my mum-friends here in La Plagne.
4. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: my overnight must-have
I’ve been using the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask for nearly a year now, and it’s absolutely amazing. I put it on every single night before bed, and my lips are soft and smooth by the morning. The air is so dry in the mountains that this has become a non-negotiable for me.
I started with the strawberry one, and I’ve already got the forest fruits one in my drawer as a backup for when it runs out. I cannot run out of it, especially in the run-up to winter! There are a few different scents, so pick your favourite.
The lip balms that rotate round my pockets
These are the ones that live in my handbag, my ski jacket and the kids’ salopette pockets. Good to have on the go, and some are lovely treats too.
5. Piz Buin Mountain lip balm SPF30: best for sun protection
Piz Buin Mountain Lipstick SPF30
This is the one so many people forget. The sun is much stronger at altitude, and it bounces back up off the snow, so lips burn really easily on the slopes. Sunburnt lips on day two of your ski holiday are no fun at all!
Piz Buin’s Mountain lip balm is made for exactly this, with SPF30 to protect from the sun, and it helps against the wind and cold too. It’s a small stick, so it fits in your ski jacket pocket. Pop it on every time you put on your sun cream.
For your face, here’s my guide to the best sun creams for ski holidays.
6. Burt’s Bees lip balm multipack: best for the kids’ pockets
Nature-inspired and cruelty-free, Burt's Bees Lip Balm Multipack is a winter essential. I’m a big fan of this company because of their eco-credentials and low prices. They are well-priced enough that I can get a multi-pack and pop one in the kids’ pockets.
Enriched with beeswax and Vitamin E, it provides long-lasting hydration for your lips. You can also pick up tinted versions for an extra pop if that takes your fancy.
7. Carmex Classic lip balm pot: best budget buy
Carmex Lip Balm Pot is a classic choice for combating winter dryness. Packed with menthol and camphor, I like it for the tingling sensation, which makes me feel like it really is protecting your lips from the elements. However, it’s not for everyone – my kids don’t like it, the flavour is too strong for them. But my husband loves it and gets the male seal of approval.
8. Lucas Papaw Ointment: best multi-tasker
An Australian gem, Lucas Papaw Ointment is a versatile remedy for dry lips. With a convenient lip applicator, it's easy to apply on the go, and it’s perfect for quick chairlifts or après ski applications. I’ve also used Lucas Pawpaw for my under eyes or for any super dry patches of skin after a particularly cold day on the mountain. I slather it on at night and let it do its thing – it’s also cooling for any sunburned skin.
9. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1
Kiehl’s is such a crowd-pleaser! Lip Balm #1 is their classic, with squalane, aloe vera and vitamin E to soothe chapped lips. It comes in a squeezy tube, so it’s easy to use with gloves on. They sometimes bring out a limited-edition cranberry version at Christmas too, if you spot it.
10. Typology lip oil and lip mask
This French brand brings you a duo that will become your go-to for combating winter dryness. I love Typology. All the products are vegan and cruelty-free, and they are a certified B Corp. The nourishing Typology Lip Oil and Lip Mask are fab, either separately or combined. I’ve been using the lip mask for almost a year and have ended up using it all the time as a lip balm. The tube lasts forever! For the lip oil, I went for the rose tint, and it’s a subtle pop.
That’s La Plagne and the best lip balms for skiing
Cold, wind and high-altitude sun are hard work for your lips, but a couple of good lip balms in your ski jacket pocket make all the difference. My advice: an SPF one for the slopes, a rich one or a mask for bedtime, and a multipack so there’s one in every pocket (and every kid’s pocket!).
Looking after the rest of your skin too? Here’s my winter skincare for ski holidays. And lip balms make brilliant stocking fillers, so have a look at my Christmas ski gifts for women too.
See you on the slopes!
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I am a lip balm addict and Burts Bees is my go to brand! They have so many great flavors and introduce new seasonal ones as well.
Yeah they are a great shout. I have them rattling round msot of my bags and ski pockets. Love their tinted ones as well for feeling like I’ve made a bit of effort but without bothering with make up!
What a unique & smart post! Everyone forgets about skin care in the winter, but it’s just as important. Especially on the ski hill.
I’m, obsessed! Every chairlift is a chance to top your up moisture up!
Thanks for sharing these lip balms! I take one with me every time I travel because the aircon on planes always dries my lips out so badly! I am also obsessed with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Lip Repair Balm – it is my go to! I’m going to try out some of the other suggestions on the list too.
Elizabeth Arden is always in my travel bag. It’s brilliant for flights and long journeys. Love it!
Lip balm is something that is always in my makeup bag, regardless of the time of year. I would love to try the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and the Typology Lip Oil & Lip Mask from your list. Thanks for sharing!
I am hooked on the Typology products. Especially becauer they are all vegan and a B Corp registered company. So you can feel good about using their products.