After one week, my lips are happy to report their fave…

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I usually reserve any thoughts about lip care for wintertime when, like clockwork, the harshness of wind and cold wreak havoc on my usually supple pucker.

This year, however, I’m putting my pout front and center, 24/7. Because —well, my lips have been so patient this past year (or more), and therefore undoubtedly deserve the attention.

So, for one entire week, I opted to test FIVE lip treatment options to see what they liked best: a classic drugstore balm, increasing my water intake, improving my overnight routine, dabbling in exfoliation, and a brand-spanking new Vegan Lip Balm.

To start, I revisited a staple from years past: a run-of-the-mill at-every-pharmacy-counter balm. On one hand, wearing it did feel briefly hydrating. But the reality of dry lips set in the moment it wore off. Turns out, these balms only build a barrier that doesn’t allow lips to breathe.

I turned to drinking more water next. As someone who’s probably more dehydrated than not, this proved to be a challenging feat, raising eyebrows amongst those privy to my normal “um-is-there-something-else-I-can-drink-besides-water” mentality. I forged on, however, and realized a noticeable difference in the plumpness of my pout. This one’s a keeper.

Next up: I heeded the advice of our beauty buyer, who touted the importance of salving lips overnight, which included wearing a lip mask before bedtime, turning on a humidifier and ensuring my sinuses were clear so I didn’t breathe out of my mouth. When I woke up, my lips felt admittedly more moisturized and I vowed to integrate the routine into my weekly ritual.

Then I tried a lip scrub. Massaging onto clean, dry skin in a circular motion, I exfoliated my lips, wiping the scrub away to reveal a soft and supple pout. In an effort to preserve my almost-perfect pucker, I couldn’t help but give Free People’s just-arrived Vegan Lip Balm a try.

My first thought: the sweet yet subtle flavors (coconut vanilla and watermelon basil) are an instant hit. My second thought: Wow, those ingredients. The plant-based, vegan (read: no beeswax) formula includes nourishing oils like olive fruit and grapeseed; candelilla wax to create a breathable barrier; plus, cocoa and shea butter to condition and protect. My third thought: watermelon basil even has a sheer pinkish tint to it — how FUN!

So imagine my surprise, then, when I found my lips feeling just a touch dry for my liking. What about the butters? What about the oils? I wondered. I took to the World Wide Internet Highway only to discover that lip detoxing is common when ditching some drugstore balms (like the one I tried earlier) for petroleum-free formulas, which may leave lips slightly parched before they’re able to reveal their new super-hydrated selves.

Lo and behold, just two days later — the final day of my experiment — my lips are the plumpest and most moisturized I’ve ever seen, and felt. It’s because this balm’s lightweight formula creates a breathable layer to keep moisture intact. For the first time in, well, ever, I won’t be plagued by chapped lips. Turns out, my week-long experiment did the trick, as I emerge with a newfound trove of protective rituals that will salve well into the ever-changing seasons ahead. To recap my favorites:

✓ Drinking water: With so many other benefits, how could I not?

✓ Moisturizing, scrubbing, and masking: Perfect for when I need extra oomph to perfect my pout.

✓ Vegan Lip Balm: The easiest to integrate into my everyday routine, this balm is my favorite chapped lip cure (and most sustainable, thanks to its 100% recyclable paper packaging). Pucker up, everyone!