Give dry lips the kiss-off…

If, like me, you suffer from dry lips, then the launch from skin expert may be of interest. Our lips, she points out, ‘go through a lot in the day’. Plus they can suffer if you use active ingredients in your skincare – ‘there’s a good chance that they’re going to get irritated’. And because lips have few sebaceous glands, ‘it’s almost as if they were designed to dry out’.

So she’s created her own treatment,

(£12, drsambunting.com), a blend of lanolin and ceramides, which are good for retaining moisture. ‘It’s a great emollient,’ says Sam, ‘so it seals water in and smooths the surface beautifully. What’s more, it provides cholesterol, which actually promotes barrier repair, hence lips become healthier as you use it.’

The treatment has a balmy sort of consistency – in cold weather the tube needs a bit of a squeeze. But using it I have found that it doesn’t have to be constantly reapplied. It looks like a clear gloss when it’s on, and it does leave lips in great condition.

Flawless Lip Dr Sam Bunting …and a hydrating colour pop Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil, £28, debenhams.com

This is part super-gloss and part treatment (thanks to cherry oil for hydrating dry skin), but is also tinted and comes in six shades. I like Rosewood (shade number 012), which gives a very natural-looking hue. Wear it alone or use it as a shiny topcoat.

NYX Lingerie Push-Up Long-Lasting Lipstick, £9, nyxcosmetics.co.uk

This lasts well, and because it has a creamy texture it doesn’t feel dehydrating at all. The retractable pencil-style bullet also makes it easier to apply around the lip outline. There are 12 shades but my favourite is Embellishment, a deep berry nude.