If you live in the Midwest or anywhere else that's been getting ridiculous amounts of snow and cold weather your lips have probably seen better days. Don't worry though. I'm here with some quick tips on how to help get some moisture back into your pretty pout!

1. If you don't have a lip scrub on hand, when you're done brushing your teeth use the wet bristles of your toothbrush to gently exfoliate any dry skin off your lips. Exfoliation is key when your lips are chapped and dry.

2. Before you start your makeup routine, apply a good conditioning lip balm so it can work on your lips while you're doing the rest of your makeup. I do this regardless of whether my lips are dry or not, but it's especially helpful on super dry lip days or days I want to wear matte lip products (which tend to exaggerate any dryness).

3. Use that same good conditioning lip balm or even an oil, like the beautifying composition oil I posted about earlier this week (click here to see that post), to apply a nice thick layer every night before bed. It'll help give your lips a deep hydration while you're sleeping!

4. Keep a lip balm in your coat pocket so you can apply it before you step into the cold as a guard from cold air, wind, and all the other yuckiness found outside these days. However, make sure you remember to take them out of your pockets before you wash them! R.I.P. to the 25,672 lip balms I've accidentally killed in the washing machine and dryer...

5. Drink more water. Drink more water. Drink more water.

Now for my favorite lip products. My favorite lip balms for awhile now have been the Nivea Lip Butters that come in pan form, but I highly recommend Aveda's Beautifying Composition Oil. I've also been loving my Maybelline Color Elixirs for days when my lips are dryer but I want some color. What do you like to use when your lips are chapped and dry?

Have a beautiful and more moisturized day,

Dre

I wouldn't consider myself a huge lipgloss fan. I'd say my lip product collection is easily a 5 to 1 ratio of lipsticks to lipgloss. Due to the fact that I like my bold lip colors to be matte 95% of the time, I simply don't own many lip glosses. However, recently I've been getting more into nude lip colors and the look of a glossy finish is growing on me. I decided to try out some of 'The Elixirs' by Maybelline because I've been hearing nonstop positive things since they came out, so here we are.

(L to R): Nude Illusion, Blush Essence, Captivating Carnation.

To say I'm in love with a lipgloss is an understatement. Never did I think I would use that sentence. I'm really picky when it comes to gloss, so for me to be this obsessed with one is insane. I don't like sticky at all and I want a good cremey and pigmented finish. I don't like a super sparkley or glittery gloss either, so before these my go-to glosses were the NYX Butter Glosses. I still love those, but these Elixirs are amazing! Extremely buttery and smooth, great pigmentation, and they smell nice. I think the color range is good too.

(L to R): Nude Illusion, Blush Essence, Captivating Carnation.

I purchased the shades Nude Illusion (060) and Blush Essence (095) the first time. After Nude Illusion created a new home in my pocket every single day, I went back and picked up Captivating Carnation (080). Nude Illusion is still my favorite but I love the other two as well. As you can see in the swatches below Nude Illusion and Captivating Carnation are both Creme glosses with no shimmer at all. Blush Essence (in the middle) has a slight shimmer to it but you can't feel it in the gloss and it's honestly not that noticeable. I really like the applicator as well because it's slightly slanted and the point at the tip makes it easy to be precise with your application.

Overall, I love these things. Watch your Rite Aides or Ultas because they will often have Buy One Get One 50% off sales for Maybelline (I know I will haha). At most locations around me I've been seeing them for $8.99 each!

What are your favorite lip glosses? Leave me a comment below if there's one you think I should try!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre