When the temperature drops this time of year, moisture is often zapped from skin and lips. With constant exposure to the elements lips are prone to become dry, chapped and cracked, resulting in discomfort and an uneven canvas for color application. Luckily with some TLC, intensive care and hydration, lips can be rescued and restored to their pre-fall luster. We asked to try the latest in lip care breakthroughs and have everything you need to maintain smooth, supple lips this winter. From anti-aging formulas to intensive conditioning plumpers, these products go beyond your ordinary chapstick/moisturizers with added beauty benefits.

If you’re anything like us, you tend to compulsively apply lip products to combat chapping when the cool weather hits. This can lead to unsightly build up and actually accentuate cracks. It’s important to start with a clean slate when applying lip treatments and color. To rid your lips of any flakes and product residue, try LUSH Lip Scrub. At only $8.95, the scrub effectively sloughs away dead skin cells and creates a perfectly smooth surface for product application. Just massage one of the delectable flavors over lips in the morning to reveal a soft, healthy pout. The scrub comes in four confections: Bon Bon, Sweet Lips, Bubblegum and Mint Julep. Our favorite flavors were the delicious Sweet Lips which has a rich milk chocolate scent (perfect for chocolate fanatics to get a no-calorie fix) and Mint Julep, an invigorating combination of peppermint oil and vanilla extract that will leave your lips tingling and refreshed. These are perfect for scrubbing and moisturizing your lips before you put your lipstick on.

After exfoliating, when lips are clean and primed, is a great time to use a super conditioning treatment packed with antioxidants like SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair. Vitamin E and silymarin, form a powerful antioxidant combination therapy that help ward against signs of aging by shielding lips from harsh environmental conditions including UV light and air pollution, while the formula smooths lip lines by gently exfoliating and promoting collagen production. Slather the super smooth, sheer treatment on under your favorite lip balm or gloss for added protection and conditioning throughout the day.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Lip is another super-power product, to layer underneath lipstick or gloss. The anti-aging lip treatment helps reduce the appearance of lines on the lips, increases volume and improves definition of the lip line while it smooths and hydrates. With an exclusive blend of eight powerful peptides and neuropeptides, the formulation glides on with a slight tingle and warming sensation as the active ingredients work their magic on parched lips. Antioxidants protect against free radical damage while hyaluronic acid improves hydration by retaining 1000 times its own weight in water. This concoction has nearly every lip complaint covered.

PCA Skin Peptide Lip Therapy has a unique gloss formulation with the slightest hint of exfoliating particles to reduce peeling, stop chapping and promote smoother, fuller lips with a fresh mint taste. Keep it at close hand in your bag or desk drawer to keep lips hydrated throughout the day with a subtle shine. The mint taste is a bonus and helps freshen breathe while conditioning your lips. Beyond being satisfying, soothing and delicious, this blend helps build collagen, defend against free radical damage and moisturize to combat cracking and chapping.

For on-the-go exfoliation emergencies, throw Jane Iredale Sugar&Butter Exfoliator/Plumper in your make-up case. The dual-sided stick contains a sugary exfoliation cylinder on one side and a buttery lip plumper on the other. Housed in a convenient, compact metallic wand, the duo solves midday product build-up and flaking disasters. On one end, the organic brown sugar stick removes dull, dry skin. Unlike most exfoliators that must be rinsed off, this can be used right at your desk. Simply put it on like chapstick, purse your lips together and lick off the sugar crystals to reveal a soft, shiny smile. On the other end, a pale pink tinted lip plumper, containing shea butter to moisten and peptides to stimulate collagen synthesis, glides on smoothly. This product is so all-purpose and infectious that we cannot stop applying it. The only caveat – this is product getting used up so quickly, we suggest stocking up. Use it alone for a natural but polished look or apply it as a base coat under lipstick to reduce fine lines and help hold color in place.

Dying for Angelina Jolie lips, but not ready for the commitment or cost of professional enhancement treatments? Look no further than DermaQuest C-Lipolic Lip Enhancer. This is not your average lip plumper. Packed with ingredients like Vitamin C and Alpha Lipolic Acid, the gloss not only drastically increases volume, but also hydrates and stimulates new cell growth for rosy, healthy lips – ideal for cool weather protection plus gorgeous results. You can actually feel the product working with a slight prickling sensation post application. Effects are visible almost immediately on and immediately around the lip area and lips appear noticeably fuller and more voluminous – think a sexy, bee-stung look. Use on its own or over your favorite lipstick for a high gloss sheen and distinctly plumper pout.

After a long day of exposure to the elements, lips need a super intensive moisturizer with staying power to last the night. Blistex Deep Renewal moisturizes while you sleep and promotes lasting vitality and health. With SPF 15, it’s great for daytime wear as well. The formula is non-goopy/greasy and goes on seamlessly under your lip color while protecting from UV damage and preventing premature signs of aging.

And finally, the June Jacobs Lip Kit is your all in one lip rescue resource. The trio of products includes a Lip Scrub, Lip Masque and Lip Renewal gloss. Perfect to use after a long day of exposure to cold, dry air and a bevy of lipsticks and products, the kit offers everything you need to cleanse, repair and condition lips. Start off with the Lip Scrub to exfoliate lips and remove all traces of flakes and dead skin cells. Your lips will feel softer instantly and are ready for maximum moisturizing pampering with the super conditioning Lip Masque. Slather the lightly lemon scented treatment on and let sit for just 2-3 minutes, before washing it off and finishing the spa-like set off with the Lip Renewal conditioning treatment. This gloss is so light it can be used before bed or over your favorite lip color to lock in moisture. The products work in tandem to help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves lip contour in a three-step process, leaving lips instantly soft, smooth and protected.

Whether you use these products solo or in combination with one another, they will surely help solve your most pressing winter lip woes. What lip products are you currently obsessed with?

With New York Fashion Week over it’s time to step back, assess the trends and figure out how you can realistically recreate them at home. From tousled, bed head hair and blunt bangs to brown-toned lips, smudged eyes and muted nails, these are the trends that stood out to us this fall along with suggestions on how to duplicate the looks.

Nails – Cloudy gray, taupe and khaki tones from Chanel and butter LONDON ruled the runways this season. Vena Cava upped the drama with a striking half moon shape to compliment the collection’s geometric designs. Get the look with butter LONDON’s “Yummy Mummy” as a base coat and use their “Union Black Jack” to create the half moon.  A quick coat of one of the season’s hottest muddy polishes adds an instant element of chic to any look.

Vena Cava's dramatic nail impression

Hair – Reddish, copper shades are the hottest hue for fall. The shades can range from a subdued auburn to the edgy, bold statement red Rihanna has been seen sporting recently. Replicate the trend (to whatever degree you desire) with L’Oreal Healthy Look coloring kit. The color washes out in 28 shampoos and gives you the freedom to experiment without the commitment.

Long hair is back, but don’t worry if you haven’t grown out that bob just yet. You can replicate your favorite celebrity looks with lightweight, blendable extensions from hairdo. Duplicate the Snooki bump and achieve all that volume without the damaging effects of teasing with the Bump Up the Volume crown piece or add some glamour and length with the Styleable Extensions. Bangs are big this season too, but if you’re too nervous to make the cut, just clip in the brands clip-in bangs for a sultry look that’s totally temporary.

Lips – From nearly nude beiges to dark autumn browns, lip colors warmed up on the runways. Backstage at United Bamboo Dick Page used Shiseido’s Shimmering Rouge Lipstick in new color Alabaster to create a barely there, clean lip look. Similarly at Rag & Bone models sported the aptly named Fashion’s Night Pout Lipstick, a matte nude shade, developed by Gucci Westman for Revlon. The trend was more exaggerated at Derek Lam and Chris Benz where the models walked the runway in more saturated shades of 90’s era dark grunge inspired browns.

Eyes – While a smoky, dramatic eye is always a show stopping staple, Dick Page went a different direction at United Bamboo and aimed to create a natural, minimalist look with (gasp) no mascara. He used a light touch with Shiseido’s Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in Snow Shadow and slicked the brands shimmering lipgloss over lids. His approach encompasses the perfectly non-precise look of the season. Try a softer, less in-focus approach for fall and do away with any harsh, drastic lines. Blend, blend, blend!

Backstage at United Bamboo

Dick Page's eye combo at United Bamboo

Skin - Fresh, glowing skin is key to any look. Prep your skin with COVERGIRL and Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer. The breakthrough product firms skin while providing a perfectly smooth canvas for foundation application.

What trend are you most looking forward to testing out this season?