Cold weather is unforgiving—especially to the lips . Between frigid air, indoor heat and constant dehydration, winter can turn even the most luxe lipstick into a cracked, fading afterthought. But the season doesn't call for less color; it calls for better formulas, smarter layering and intentional prep .
To separate what's trending from what truly performs, I spoke with celebrity makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran , Romero Jennings , M·A·C Global Director of Makeup Artistry and Rasa Gardiner, Senior Director of Global Education at Makeup by Mario , who shared their winter-tested techniques—and the exact products they rely on to keep lips hydrated, polished and long-wearing without constant touch-ups.
"Hydration always starts within," Jaikaran says. "If you're not drinking enough water, no lip product can fully save you."
Externally, she recommends a gentle exfoliation—never aggressive—followed by a nourishing balm that's allowed to absorb, not sit on the lips. Her pro move is letting balm sink in while completing the rest of the face, then blotting excess right before lipstick application.
"That way your lips are hydrated, not slippery," Jaikaran explains. "It gives lipstick something to grip onto without clinging to dry patches."
Gardiner takes a similarly refined approach, starting with a soft exfoliation using Makeup by Mario's Perfecting Lip Scrub , followed by a light layer of balm that's carefully blotted to preserve the finish of the lip color.
While ultra-matte and long-wear liquid lipsticks remain popular, Jaikaran warns they're often the biggest culprits for winter dryness due to alcohol and fast-drying agents that pull moisture from the lips over time. She's also cautious with aggressive plumping ingredients like menthol or camphor during colder months.
Jennings , emphasizes that cold-weather matte begins long before color is applied. "Cold weather can strip moisture from lips, so consistent care is key," Jennings urges.
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