The 9 lip balms our style contributors swear by — including several $6 drugstore faves

Chapped, dry lips are a constant scourge for many of us during the cold winter months, when there are extreme temperature swings and staying hydrated can be a challenge. Of course, the easy remedy is the regular, almost vigilant application of a soothing, moisturizing lip balm throughout the day and before bed (it helps to keep an applicator handy in every coat pocket and purse that you use).

But, not all balms are created equal. Particularly when it comes to important features such as texture, fragrance and the quality of ingredients, there are certain brands and products that stand out from the rest. Here, CBC Life's style contributors and editors share their go-to picks and expert advice.

"My go to winter lip balm is Pö Derma's Luscious Refined Lip Balm. I literally can't go a day without it. My lips feel supple and conditioned, but never greasy when I wear it. I love the quality ingredients like hemp seed oil, grape seed oil and pomegranate (which smells awesome). Plus, it has UV protection, lasts a long time and Pö Derma is a Canadian brand." — Nneka Elliott

Luscious Refined Lip Balm, $35, poderma.com

"Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatment has been a staple in my makeup kit for years. They often released limited editions — like last year's horoscope collection, which I love — but the tinted balms are, well, the bomb! I love the berry tints and always reach for the beige nudes in the summertime." — Michelle Bilodeau

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, $29, sephora.com

"Lip balms are a utilitarian beauty product, so I favour the practical: it must be in a swipe-able tube for easy use on the go (no to sticky fingers in sticky pots), and it just has to do the job. I like this Burt's Bees in Cucumber Mint because it's moisturizing but not goopy or waxy, and it's sensibly priced, as a lip balm should be. It's lip balm!" — Wing Sze Tang

Burt's Bees Cucumber Mint 100% Natural Lip Balm, $5.99, beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca

"Just like the weather, my lips are a sad shade of grey and look even more dull in the winter months. I love Burt's Bees tinted lip balms because they work double duty, giving a soft hint of colour while the shea butter and botanical waxes provide ultra nourishment and hydration all day long. Made with 100% natural ingredients, these tinted lip balms are the perfect pick-me-up for my pale pout." — Meera Solanki Estrada

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, $5.97, walmart.ca

"I, like everyone else on Instagram it seems, am obsessed with the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. It's super thick so I leave one on my nightstand to use before bed, and wake up to super soft lips in the morning. It also smells amazing and a little goes a long way, so it'll last forever." — Souzan Michael Galway

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $24, sephora.com

"My all-time favourite lip balm is the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. It has a super-thick formula so it leaves your lips hydrated for hours. I can even go to bed with this on and wake up with product still left over. Double bonus: I use this on my dry knuckles and eczema patches, and it immediately soothes the skin because of its intensive moisture." — Julia Dantas

Agave Lip Mask, $26, bitebeauty.com

"I've got dueling drugstore favourites; in the day I use Nivea's Lip Butter (in Vanilla & Macadamia) but for the evening, it's Polysporin's Visible Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy. I keep giving my pocket-size tubs away to friends in urgent need, particularly during the winter, so I stock up whenever I see them on sale. And, when you're in real dry territory, seal it all off with some good old Vaseline." — Jamey Ordolis

Polysporin Visible Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy, $5.99, well.ca

"I've been loyal to made-in-Toronto, all-natural beauty brand Crawford Street's lip balms for years. In the worst winter weather, I might have to re-apply in the late afternoon (probably only because I wipe if all off at lunch). It seems to act a a primer — which maybe you shouldn't hold me to; for me, after a minute, I can apply a heavily pigmented lipstick over top of the lip balm, without the lipstick straying, or creasing. My favourite is Lime-Bergamot, and the scent is both subtle and even nicer than it sounds." — Yasmin Seneviratne

Lip Balm, $6.00, crawfordskincare.com

"I recently discovered Artifact's Skin Co.'s lip balm tins at the opening of a small boutique called Some of the Parts, and it's quickly become my daily go-to product. Made with 100% natural ingredients like virgin coconut oil and rosemary extract, it also smells delicious and doesn't get sticky or gooey even when I leave the tin near a radiator." — Truc Nguyen

Mint Clementine Lip Balm, $12, artifactskinco.ca and Some of the Parts, Toronto

Truc Nguyen is a Toronto-based writer, editor and stylist. Follow her at @trucnguyen.