As the weather turns cooler, lips are often the first to feel it, turning dry, flaky and a little sore. A gentle exfoliating step followed by a nourishing, protective balm keeps them smooth and comfortable. From a melt-on-contact sugar scrub to a honey-rich balm, here are four picks for soft, kissable lips this October.

1. NUXE Rêve de Miel Lip Balm 15ml

The comforting pick for dry, chapped lips, a nourishing honey balm that works well as the step after you exfoliate.

• Formula: Made with honey, shea butter and sweet almond oil to hydrate and condition, with a luxurious grapefruit scent.
• Finish: Soft, smooth and comfortable lips with a non-greasy feel that defends against environmental aggressors all year round.
• Good to know: It contains honey, beeswax and propolis, so it isn’t suitable for vegans, and it’s scented, so patch test first if your lips are easily irritated.

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2. Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Sugar Melt Lip Scrub 8g

The easy, one-step pick for flaky lips, a twist-up scrub that melts on contact so there’s nothing to wipe or rinse away.

• Formula: Granulated sugar gently retexturises the surface, while kokum, cocoa and shea butters nourish and coconut and sunflower oils condition.
• Finish: Smoother-looking, visibly hydrated lips and a soft base for any lipstick or gloss that follows.
• Good to know: Twist up, massage over lips to smooth, then leave it on to condition. It’s shown here in Strawberry Sorbet.

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3. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Stick SPF15

The classic pick for protecting freshly smoothed lips, a portable stick version of the brand’s iconic Eight Hour Cream.

• Formula: Infused with emollients, sunscreen and antioxidant vitamin E to keep lips moisturised and shielded from external aggressors, including UV rays.
• Finish: Soft, supple lips with a delicate hint of colour, available in Blush, Clear and Honey.
• Good to know: It glides on easily and can be worn alone or under lipstick. The formula contains lanolin and fragrance, so skip it if either irritates your lips.

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4. The Ordinary PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum 15ml

The budget-friendly pick for a no-scrub approach, a gentle overnight serum that smooths lips without any gritty particles.

• Formula: Combines 5% gluconolactone and 1.5% alpha hydroxy acids to sweep away dry, dull skin, with over 50% glycerin and ectoin to hydrate and support the skin barrier.
• Finish: Smoother-looking lips with a more radiant shine and plumper, more hydrated bare lips.
• Good to know: Apply a thin layer to clean, dry lips on alternate evenings, let it dry, then follow with a balm. Wear sunscreen or an SPF lip balm before sun exposure.

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Whether you go for a sugar scrub, a gentle exfoliating serum or a protective balm, these four picks make it easy to keep lips soft, smooth and comfortable this October.