Now that we've tackled dry hair and dry skin, let's move on to another trouble spot - the lips. Every winter my lips get incredibly dry and parched feeling, I'm sure no thanks in part to central heating and windy Oregon weather. Here's a look at some of the remedies I've been trying. If you have a favorite, let me know. We always like suggestions for new things to review!

Alchemy Refreshing Lip Gel ($16)
During a recent browsing visit to Sephora.com, I stumbled on this unique lip pencil from Alchemy. Unlike the opaque matte color that comes from most chunky lipstick pencils, this one is a light and sheer tinted lip treatment that comes in rose and orange, both with a peppermint taste. It's very smooth and gives just the right hint of color. The color wears almost like a stain, but it moisturizes like a lip balm. I would definitely buy this again (in rose, as I am not an orange kind of girl).

You can find Alchemy products online at Bigelow Chemists and Sephora.com.

Caudalie Grape-Seed Lip Conditioner ($15)
I hate liking this lip balm! Why? It's so smooth and feels terrific on the lips, but it's so expensive! At first it's hard to justify spending $15 on what looks from the outside like something you could get for $2. Examining the ingredients, though, you can see what you are, or rather, what you are not paying for - waxes, fillers and petrolatum. Caudalie's is just shea butter, vitamin E, grapeseed polyphenols (anti-oxidants) and sunscreen. If you like more natural products, this is a nice choice. The smooth texture feels nice and isn't thick or waxy. I'm not sure I would buy it again, but I will enjoy using up the tube I have.

You can find Caudalie products online at Caudalie.com and Sephora.com.

Blistex Complete Moisture Lip Balm SPF 15 ($1.99)
If you just want cheap and effective, Blistex works and this formula is a step up from the basic waxy stick. Complete Moisture feels cool going on and makes lips feel supple. It is full of microcrystalline wax, thickeners and petrolatum, so if natural is what you are after, this isn't it, but for lip relief on a budget, I think this is one of the better ones I've tried.

You can find Blistex products at your local supermarket, drugstore or discount store like Target or Costco, or online at Drugstore.com.

Philosophy Kiss Me Red ($10)
In terms of natural vs. petroleum based, this one is a mix of lanolin, petrolatum, vitamin E, kiwi oil, and sweet almond oil. It's thicker and more gooey than the others reviewed here, but it works well if your lips are really dry. Kiss Me also comes in clear, but the red is such a pretty tint, why not live a little? This is one of the few lipcolors I've been able to use that doesn't accentuate dry, flaky lips - it actually makes them look and feel better.

You can find Philosophy products online at Philosophy.com and Sephora.com.

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!