Cold winter weather can severely impact the delicate skin on your lips, often requiring an extra, targeted skincare step to keep them healthy and comfortable. Unlike the rest of your face, lips lack oil glands, which means they cannot naturally produce the protective oils needed to retain moisture. In winter, low humidity levels, frigid air, and indoor heating further strip away hydration, weakening the skin barrier and leading to dryness, flaking, cracking, and even painful splits. Wind exposure and frequent temperature changes only intensify this moisture loss. Because of this, simply applying a standard lip balm occasionally is often not enough. Adding an intentional step, such as gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin followed by a deeply hydrating, occlusive lip treatment, helps restore moisture, seal in hydration, and protect against ongoing environmental stressors. This extra layer of care supports the lips’ fragile barrier, preventing chronic chapping and keeping them smooth, supple, and better prepared to withstand harsh winter conditions.
Obagi’s latest release is a lip treatment duo designed to both smooth and protect your lips as you age. This two-step system works day and night to address dryness, texture, and signs of aging: a nourishing SPF-infused lip treatment for daytime defense and hydration, and a gentle AHA/PHA micro-peel for overnight renewal. Together, they help improve lip surface texture, lock in moisture, shield delicate lip skin from UV damage, and support a smoother, more youthful appearance over time.
Obagi Soothe & Protect Lip Treatment Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Product overview: A protective, hydrating lip treatment designed to soothe, plump, and defend the delicate lip area while providing broad-spectrum sun protection.
Winter weather dries out lips faster, and lips lack natural oil glands to replenish moisture. A daily SPF treatment with hydrators + barrier-supporting ingredients helps keep them supple and protected throughout the day.
Key benefits for dry lips:
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Hydration & barrier support: Contains hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) to attract and lock in moisture, helping prevent moisture loss that’s common in winter air.
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Soothing botanicals: Calendula extract helps calm and comfort dry or sensitive lips prone to cracking.
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Peptide complex: A plumping peptide complex supports smoother texture and visible fullness, which can make dry, flaky lips look healthier.
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Broad-spectrum SPF 30: Crucially protects lips from UVA/UVB exposure, which still affects lips year-round and can exacerbate dryness, discoloration, and fine lines.
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Environmental defense: Helps shield lips from wind, cold, and other stressors that strip hydration.
🌙 PM: Obagi AHA + PHA Smoothing Micro-Peel
Product overview: A gentle nightly micro-peel that resurfaces and smooths the delicate skin of the lips using a blend of exfoliating acids and hydrating ingredients.
Key benefits for dry lips:
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Gentle chemical exfoliation: AHA (like glycolic and lactic acids) and PHA (like gluconolactone) help remove dead, flaky skin without scrubbing, which can irritate already dry winter lips.
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Improved texture & smoothness: Exfoliating helps reveal fresh skin, making lips feel softer and smoother.
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Hydrating support: It also contains hyaluronic acid, which helps replenish moisture and visibly plump the lip surface.
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Preparation for AM product: By resurfacing dry, rough skin at night, your lips can better absorb and benefit from the morning SPF treatment.
Why it’s helpful in winter:
Winter dryness often leads to flaky buildup and cracked skin. Removing dead cells gently encourages better repair and absorption of hydrating and protective products — critical for lips that struggle to retain moisture in cold, dry air.
Why This Duo Works Together
Dry lips in colder months benefit from a two-step targeted approach:
1. Nightly renewal:
The AHA + PHA Micro-Peel clears away dead, dry skin and boosts hydration during a time when your skin naturally repairs itself.
2. Daily defense:
The SPF 30 lip treatment hydrates, soothes, and protects against UVA/UVB and environmental stressors while strengthening the delicate lip barrier.
Combined, these products address both the cause and the effect of winter lip dryness: improving texture and hydration at night, then locking in moisture and protecting lips throughout the day.
