The beauty spot: lip balms

My lips are sore. It usually starts around now – my fingers drift towards my mouth, where they worry the dry skin of my bottom lip until it bleeds. The dream is a balm that is light, non-sticky, long-lasting and not flavoured like antibacterial candy floss. The reality is often the waxy (if effective) Chapstick you've had since 1999. I wanted something new – so sue me. What's lovely is Super Lush Lips (£14, boots.com ), which feels like a refined coconut milk and lasts for years. And Laura Mercier's Lip Silk (£16, selfridges.com ) is perfume-free, gorgeously light and matt, and helps smooth the fine lines around your lips, too. My lips are no longer sore. Alternatively… Givenchy £20, 01932 233 824 Carmex £2.65, Boots Fresh £14.50, 020 7486 4100 Korres Quince lip butter £6, Harvey Nichols Lush £5.25, Lush Burt's Bees £3.75, Harvey Nichols Refresh Coca Cola , £6, Boots Laura Mercier £16, Selfridges