Fit Beauty: Is Your Lip Balm Right for Winter?

Keeping your lips in shape over the winter presents some unique challenges. During the summer you're slathering on lip balm with a high SPF, but in the winter you've also got to deal with the cold, dry air and chilly winter wind. Who among us hasn't come in from an exhilarating day of skiing or ice skating to find our lips have already cracked and split?

The right lip balm is essential to keep your lips from looking like a dry riverbed. But with so many out there -- what should you use? I talked to a few winter beauties and got some great suggestions.

Dermatone. This company supplied the U.S. Skiing and U.S. Snowboarding Teams with Winter Protection Kits for this year's Winter Olympics. Considering their Lips n' Face Protector (with SPF 23) is just $2 and is good enough for our Olympians, there's no doubt it's a great option for the rest of us! Plus, it's all natural.

Dessert Essence. Dessert Essence is another crowd favorite that also boasts natural ingredients. Their Lip Rescue doesn't provide any SPF, but is designed to protect lips from harsh weather and environmental pollutants. It goes on light and non-greasy and doesn't require constant reapplying. And it, too, is totally affordable -- just $2.99!

Blistex. I've been using Blistex Deep Renewal Lip Protectant/Sunscreen SPF 15 ($2.99) for some of my long runs during this recent cold front, and I've been really happy with it. It's thick enough to stay on for an hour or so, even while I'm sweating and swigging water, but it's not goopy. Also, the flavor is light, so it doesn't bother me to have that on while drinking water (this is a big problem for me -- water should taste like water, not lip balm!).

Carmex. Carmex Cold Sore Reliever and Lip Moisturizer ($2.49) is great for protecting your lips, but especially good for after your lips are already in rough shape. I find the flavor and scent particularly strong and medicinal, but most people I know absolutely love it. It does feel fabulous on super dry lips! There's no SPF, though, so be sure to layer it with something that offers you protection from the sun if you're outdoors.

Aquaphor. I think this one might actually be entering cult status. At a conference I attended this past summer, at least half the women had Aquaphor Healing Ointment in their purses. It's slightly pricier, at $5.99 for 1.75 ounces, but it can be used for a huge variety of things, far beyond the lips. Use it on areas that are chafing, itching, burned, dry, or even to tame eyebrows or under makeup to create a dewy complexion. And yes, it is awesome.

Honorable Mentions. There are plenty more great products out there, including Burt's Bees and, of course, Chapstick. Do you have an all-time favorite? Tell us all about it in the comments!

For more tips on how to avoid chapped lips altogether, check out StyleList's guide to smooth, soothed lips.