The cold air is always trying to suck the moisture out of our skin and that doesn't exclude lips. In a season where everyone wants to snuggle up close to someone special, a pair of dry, chapped lips will ruin the moment every time. Avoid a pitiful pout with these five do's and don'ts, and check out our picks in the above slideshow for a few great lip balms to choose from.

Do exfoliate lips. If you're suffering from dry, flaky lips, slough off the dead skin with an at-home DIY scrub before you try to soften them up. You can use a combination of a teaspoon of honey and a sprinkle of sugar to get lips soft again, or even use your handheld exfoliator, gently rubbing it across lips. Reveal the new softer skin beneath that old unsightly layer, to start fresh again.

Don't lick lips. This may look and feel like a quick fix to lips that feel dry and uncomfortable, but all it does is make your mouth look and feel worse. Keeping lips hydrated this way will have you licking them practically every minute and that shiny sheen will soon dry, leaving you with a gross layer of saliva around your mouth that can further irritate skin.

Do keep a moisturizer handy. When it comes to lip balm, don't leave home without it! To truly treat lips that have been prone to sever dryness, help them recover by applying moisture and healthy hydration throughout the day. Lip balms with aloe, vitamin E, and our beloved essential oils are the key to keeping lips looking healthy and infused with the right kind of emollients that keep chapped skin at bay.

Don't taint your formula. We recommend using lip balms that keep fingers free of the formula. Using lip hydrators that force you to dip your finger into the moisturizer to apply it can run the risk of getting contaminated with germs that can lead to breakouts, cold sores, and irritated skin. It's cold, and cold season is in full swing, so either make sure your hands are always clean, or just stick to sticks and handheld applicators.

Do layer your lips. With so many fabulous lip colors in need of wearing, layer your lip balm underneath your lip color to ensure their well taken care of. This tip is especially vital if you love wearing matte lip finishes. A matte lip can reveal every flake and dry spot, so be sure to apply your lip balm first, then do all your other makeup and leaves lips last. By the time you're ready for your lipstick, you pout will be puckered up and ready.

Which lip balm do you swear by? Tell us with a note below!