There’s a new beauty trend on everyone’s lips—literally. Yes, glazed lips are the beauty trend du jour. But instead of the sticky glosses of the early aughts, we’re giving lip oils, balms, and treatments their time in the sun. Like the glowy glazed donut skin look or the coveted glass skin aesthetic, this new lip trend puts an emphasis on skin health. That’s right, the skin of your lips is just as important to take care of as the rest of your body. To get you started on this transformative trend, we found the best dermatologist recommended lip balms in the game.

Featured image of Babba Rivera by Belathée Photography.

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It’s the cycle of life: getting settled into one self-care routine then starting another. But this beauty trend isn’t one to skip. The glazed lip phenomenon can be an entry point into better lip health. For so long, many of us have been putting harmful chemicals on our lips, drying them out with matte lipsticks, and scrubbing off the pigment with harsh removers. But now, tinted lip products and nourishing lip oils are all the rage.

Dermatologists even approve of this trend—which is rare in the beauty world. Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades, MD, PhD says that your lips probably need the extra love. “Your lips are on their own,” she told me. “Their only outside source of moisture is your saliva, and that’s why they can easily become dry and chapped.”

But luckily, there’s a new and exciting market for dermatologist recommended lip balms that keep your lips hydrated and fashionably glazed. Shine on with these lip balms that’ll help you get through winter without chapped lips.

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Why is lip care important?

“Your lips don’t have any sebaceous glands,” says Dr. Alexiades. These are the glands that keep your skin moisturized. Instead, your lips rely on moisture from saliva or the water you drink. No wonder they get so chapped.

Your skin is also extra-thin on your lips. As a result, Dr. Alexiades notes that “you can lose fluid easily from the mucosal part of the lips when it is hot or there’s low humidity outside.” A good lip care routine replenishes your lips and provides a protective barrier to stop flaky lips before they start.

What ingredients are good for lips?

According to Dr. Alexiades, look for the “essential fatty acids necessary to build a complete barrier to stay plump and smooth and ensure your lips stay hydrated.”

Keep an eye out for the following ingredients:

• Sunflower seed oil
• Squalane
• Coconut oil
• Shea butter

Prioritize ceramides, too. “Ceramides help build your skin barrier and seal in moisture. These are very effective and employed in prescription products for eczema.”

What ingredients should be avoided in a lip care product?

For healthy lips, avoid menthol, camphor, phenol, or any sort of alcohol. “These ingredients may provide an immediate cooling sensation but can irritate the skin. In some cases, they even remove the outer layers of skin, leaving your lips unprotected and susceptible to environmental hazards.”

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