DR NICK LOWE, a consultant dermatologist, picks out the best products to keep your lips soft and supple and, much more importantly, kissable the whole year round

1. EVERYDAY USE

There’s no point spending lots of money on an everyday balm, as the cheaper ones are just as effective. Lip balm should be worn all the time, even under lipstick. Vaseline’s lip therapy helps to maintain the skin’s natural moisture, and the sun protection factor guards against UVA damage, which can cause wrinkling later in life.

Buy this Vaseline Lip Therapy SPF 15, 99p for 20g.

2. SEVERE CHAPPING

Severe chapping is the external sign of lip damage, from simple overdryness to injury to the delicate lip lining. Carmex is particularly good as it contains petrolatum and beeswax, which are particularly good moisturisers, and cetyl esters, a natural skin moisturiser. The menthol within the balm also leaves your lips with a wonderful tingly feeling.

Buy this Carmex, £2.49 for 10g.

3. BEST FOR SPORT

Protecting your lips while you’re pursuing outdoor sports such as skiing and sailing is very important, as you are not only dealing with direct sun exposure, but also reflection from the snow/water. Use a high-SPF sunscreen with extra waterproofing and containing zinc oxide paste. The zinc oxide helps to block harmful rays.

Buy this Zinc & Aloe Sunscreen Sunblock, £4.50 for 28g (www.blockshop.co.uk).

4. OVERNIGHT LIP BALM

It is best to go for a lip balm without sunscreen, and focus on the intensive moisturisers. The prime purpose is to repair damage done during the day, so ingredients such as shea butter and jojoba oil, both of which moisturise, and Hydramine and grapeseed extract, which repair antioxidant damage, are all very effective.

Buy this Nivea Lip Care Essential Balm, £1.75 for 4.8g.

5. CHILDREN

It is particularly important for children to protect their lips, as not only is their skin less robust than adults’, but there is evidence that early UV damage is less easy to repair later on. Prolonged exposure to the sun will leave the child more vulnerable to skin/lip cancer, so start early, if possible from when he or she is six months old.

Buy this Blistex Daily Conditioner, £2.25 for 7g.

6. BEST FOR MEN

The only difference between simple, everyday lip care for men and for women is that it is harder to persuade men to wear balm. Packaging is therefore very important – the manlier the better! Choose one with sunscreen, such as Tesco SPF15 lip balm. Wrinkled lips may not be a problem; skin cancer will be.

Buy this Tesco SPF15 lip balm, £2.47 for 40g.

7. ECZEMA

If your eczema is mild, try E45 Lipcare. It is perfume-free and contains a natural skin moisturiser, which your lips will be desperately lacking. See a dermatologist if your eczema is very severe, as you may need something such as a protopic ointment to help to reduce the inflammation and relieve the symptoms. Avoid creams containing cortisone or hydrocortisone, as they thin the skin.

Buy this E45 Lipcare, £2.05 for 20g. HARRIET ADDISON

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