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In the middle of yet another grueling Ottawa winter, lip balms are fast becoming as essential as your gloves and snow boots. Finding the perfect pick can be a long process –– sometimes satisfactory and other times a chap-lipped disaster.
Here is a list of my personal hits and misses:
1. Lanolips
Lano was founded in 2009 out of Australia, where it has since spread and become a multi-award-winning lip favourite — it has even been voted “The World’s Best” lip balm. It’s so popular that one tube sells every minute.
Summary: I tried the Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm ($23), the brand’s most popular and in-demand product. It is a tube filled with pure lanolin, a 100% natural alternative to common petroleum-based balms. And where does it come from? Sheep’s wool.
Now, here me out. This might make you scrunch your face a little, but lanolin oil has been scientifically proven to be closest to lipids in human skin more than any other ingredient. According to the Lano website, it is semi-occlusive and semi-permeable, which allows the skin to self-hydrate from within but still let it breathe. On top of this, it holds up to 400 per cent of its weight in moisture, making it the perfect moisture bank for your lips. And the kicker? It’s completely vegetarian and cruelty-free!
On top of this, it’s multipurpose, meaning you can also apply it to dry cuticles, cracked heels, windburned cheeks, paper cuts, insect bites, and so much more. As the Lano site suggests, you can even melt it into your moisturizer for an extra oomph or apply it to your foundation for a natural, dewy look!
My experience: I adored this product. I’ve always preferred balms that run a little thick (if I wake up with it still on, that’s the green flag I’m looking for). This one passed with flying colours. My lips are very prone to cracking, but this balm was so protective and healing that I didn’t experience a single crack for as long as I’ve been using it — it also leaves the most wonderful dewy shine! It’s a little expensive and needs to be applied by hand (rather than through a stick) but 100 per cent worth it IMO.
Final Rating: 5/5
2. Burt’s Bees
Burt’s Bees is a household name when it comes to their lip balms, most known for their insertion of honey into their product ingredients. I’ve tried their Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm ($8) as well as their classic Honey Lip Balm ($5), both of which are supposed to deliver a strong dose of hydration to your lips.
Strong emphasis on supposed to.
Summary: The Ultra Conditioning balm is infused with a mix of Kokum, Shea and Cocoa Butter that are meant to leave your lips feeling moisturized and soft. With a matte finish, it’s designed to glide on smoothly while nourishing and revitalizing dry, cracked lips.
Similarly, the honey balm is infused with various fruit extracts and beeswax to moisturize and soften your lips, with a mix of oils and butters formulated to make your lips feel plump and healthy. Just like the Ultra Conditioning balm, it also has a matte finish and a smooth glide targeted at dry, cracked lips.
My experience: I have one word to summarize these lip balms: Horrible. I am genuinely confused as to what the hype is about, as both of these balms did absolutely nothing to protect my lips or make them feel hydrated. They were absorbed almost instantly and somehow made my lips feel even drier and more chapped. It’s a no from me, chief.
Final rating: 0/5
3. Nuxe
NUXE is a Parisian brand founded in 1990, with all its products naturally formulated and manufactured in France. It combines what they call “sensory awakening” with the “marvels of nature and the prowess of science.” The application experience of scent and texture is considered just as important as the ingredients, with each product designed to have spiritual and bodily effects as well as an overall beautifying experience. This relaxation effect is so important that NUXE even opened their own spa in 2002, with locations now located across the world.
Summary: I tried two of NUXE’s products: the Lip Moisturizing Stick ($9) and the Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm ($14). The moisturizing stick is infused with honey and sunflower that combine to soften and soothe dry, chapped lips. Not only this, but it also includes various botanical oils such as rice bran, macadamia, sweet almond and argan, as well as barley extract, shea butter and vitamin E.
Unlike the stick, the Nourishing Balm comes in a jar that requires finger dipping. It is advertised as a “repairing” balm that combines honey and botanical oils, as well as propolis: A rare beehive ingredient that intensely soothes and nourishes dry, damaged lips. It also contains musk rose, shea butter and beeswax.
My experience: I just finished the moisturizing stick and loved it. It had a pleasant, creamy glide and its honey scent was incredibly soothing. While its application was light, it does manage to just barely stick it out until morning, so it’s a great product overall. As for the nourishing balm, it is intensely hydrating, which I LOVE. It’s definitely thick enough to fully stay until the morning, but it does have a bit of a grainy texture that I’m not totally in love with because it can clump up a little. Overall, both are great products.
Final Rating: 4/5
4. Laneige
While their water sleeping mask certainly leaves a lot to be desired, Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask ($26) is a crowd favourite — and for good reason. This 2019 Allure winner comes in a variety of delicious flavours, including berry, vanilla, candy, apple lime and even chocolate!
Summary: The mask I tried was the original berry flavour, which I got as part of their free birthday giveaway at Sephora last year. The product is designed to be an intensive leave-on lip mask that combines its “moisture wrap” technology (locking in moisture for prolonged hydration) and berry mix complex formula (filled with vitamin C and antioxidants) to deliver a strong burst of moisture while you sleep. When you wake up, you’ll find your lips completely renewed!
My experience: This product is 100 per cent worth the hype. I’ve been saving it for desperate times only because it truly is a miracle worker and I want to save up as much of it as I can. The flavour is lovely, the texture is velvety smooth and shiny and its effectiveness is long-lasting and truly impressive. Every time I feel my lips burning from intense chapped dryness, I put this on and I’m all healed after just two days. Definitely a must for rough winters!
Final rating: 5/5
5. Blistex
Simple but dependable, Blistex is the first chapstick I’ve ever tried and repurchased without any complaint. You can find literally dozens of different flavours from this brand at any drugstore or Walmart at a very affordable price, many of which even have SPF protection. If you like a brand that’s all business without any of the pomp and circumstance, this is the one for you.
Summary: The Blistex products I’ve tried are the Regular Lip Balm ($3) and Lip Medex ($5), both of which come in stick form. The regular balm is formulated with candelilla wax, cocoa butter and lanolin, all combined to seal in moisture and soothe/prevent dry, chapped lips — it’s also SPF 15!
The Lip Medex is a bit more heavy-duty, designed to give cold and fast cooling relief from itchy, sore lips. Its medical ingredients, such as camphor and menthol, immediately get to work to soothe painful chaps, cuts and even cold sores, creating a special barrier over your lips so your cells can regain their natural moisture balance.
My Experience: For a combined value of $7-ish, these lip balms are total underdogs for the work they deliver. Absolutely zero complaints and 100 per cent satisfaction here. I kept the regular balm in my coat pocket for, well, regular use, while I saved the Medex for really bad days — and trust me, there are plenty. Both are wonderful products, and yeah, they’re not pretty or have any spa-like scents, but they keep your lips hydrated at the end of the day and that’s what matters!
Final Rating: 5/5
So there you have it. This is my most noteworthy collection of lip products I’ve tried at different price points from various regions, so I hope it helped narrow things down so you can find your holy grail. Stay tuned for my next review which will cover cleansers!