Your lips deserve some special treatment, and we’re not just talking about a fun new lipstick color! Since the skin on your lips is thinner than the skin on your body, it tends to dry out more quickly—especially during the cold winter months. It also lacks the sebaceous glands the rest of your face and body have to provide natural nourishment. Wondering how to make your lips soft and smooth? With a few trusty lip products on hand and a little time investment, you can keep your lips looking smooth, soft and full every day of the week. Here are the four steps that will help you achieve smoother and softer lips:

• Exfoliate once or twice weekly

• Treat dry lips with healing hydrocortisone

• Plump lips with a hyaluronic acid product

• Prevent future damage with sunscreen and antioxidants

How to make your lips soft and smooth in four steps

1) Exfoliate once or twice weekly

When it comes to how to make your lips smoother, the first step is to clear away dead skin cells so that subsequent treatments can really do their job. Once or twice weekly, use a sugar-based lip scrub such as iS Clinical Lip Polish, which buffs away dry skin with fine grains of sugar and plant glycogen granules. Botanical butters such as shea and cocoa, plus jojoba seed oil, help to smooth and soften skin with every use. Apply the polish to the lips, gently rubbing in a circular motion and finish with a rinse of warm water.

2) Treat dry lips with healing hydrocortisone

First thing in the morning—before you apply lip color or head out the door—is just the right time for a healing lip treatment. If your lips are dry or irritated, FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Lip Balm in Vanilla can be a lifesaver, and it can also be used on other parts of the body, such as around the eyes and nails. “Hydrocortisone is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent, so if you’re struggling with cracked lips or irritation, this medicated balm will really help heal that damage,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. More powerful than your everyday lip balm, it helps achieve a smooth, soft surface to apply your favorite lip color.

3) Plump lips with a hyaluronic acid product

Keeping a plumping lip product tucked into your bag or desk drawer is a great way to keep your lips looking full throughout the day. We’re big fans of Revision Skincare YouthFull Lip Replenisher, which contains hyaluronic acid to bind moisture to visibly volumize and plump your lips as well as shea butter and jojoba esters to help smooth and soften. A cooling ceramic applicator combined with a minty flavor makes for a refreshing experience every time you use it. It also has a glossy finish that enhances the natural hue of your lips.

For plumping power and lip color all in one, give Clinicians Complex Lip Enhancer a try. This sheer gloss comes in seven hues—from Cherry Red to Crystal Rose—as well as clear. Formulated with peptides and a vitamin B derivative, this gloss provides a temporary plumping effect that lasts for hours. It also contains retinol and vitamin E to help soften lips and prevent the development of fine lines.

4) Prevent future damage with sunscreen and antioxidants

Wondering how else to get softer lips? Complement your regimen by practicing line-prevention habits around the clock. Many people forget that lips need sun care as well! During periods of long sun exposure, be sure to apply a sun protection-powered balm such as EltaMD UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36. This sunscreen balm provides broad-spectrum sun protection with zinc oxide and octinoxate, and it comes in a two pack so you can keep one at home and another stashed in your bag to use when you’re out and about.

Another fantastic option to have in your lip-care arsenal is SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair. This lip treatment helps repair existing signs of aging and protect against future fine lines and wrinkles with silymarin and vitamin E, two powerful antioxidants.

Now that you know how to make your lips soft and smooth, find out how to pick the best shade of red lipstick for your skin tone on the LovelySkin Blog.