Never thought we’d be so desperate for lip balm at this time of year. Normally a central heating thing. (Although let’s face it, the central heating was on for r-a-t-h-e-r a long time.)

No: the challenge to our lips, on an ongoing basis, is masks. Fabric ‘wicks’ moisture from lips, and as our lips brush against the inside of masks – whether silk, disposable surgical, nylon, cotton, whatever – the mask quite simply dries the lips out, rather as a sponge does.

The answer: a lavish coating of lip balm, regularly reapplied. So: these are lavish, and lovely, and new – and from Burt’s Bees, whose lip balms we have bigged up before.

Two versions: unscented (just as it sounds), and Cooling Eucalyptus, which not only has a tingling effect, but also definitely does cool and soothe the lips a bit. Both are infused with antioxidant-rich turmeric (not that it gives a taste or scent, BTW), while the lip-nurturing base includes sunflower, coconut, jojoba and castor oils, together with cocoa and shea butters, in a swivel-up stick. Mostly natural, too.

We’ve always believed in keeping a lip balm in every pocket. Not quite imagining, till the pandemic hit, that we’d need them in shorts, as well as winter coats. So it’s great these are very affordable.

Burt’s Bees Advanced Repair Lip Balm (Unscented) /£4.99 – buy here

Burt’s Bees Advanced Repair Lip Balm (Cooling Eucalyptus) /£4.99 – buy here 

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