When your lips get that tightness to them, and you feel like your smile is going to give you stretch marks, everyone uses lip balm at some point. It’s uncomfortable, and maybe a little embarrassing, and so you whip out your lip stuff and bring them back to life.
We’ve all been there. Lip moisturizers are an essential. But at the same time, they’re a luxury.
This article is for those of us who are constantly reaching for our lip balm. For the ones who have a drawer filled with different brands of balm but still feel the need to buy more because there are just too many good ones on the market. For those of us that will walk out of the house with messy hair, a bare face and wrinkled clothes but never naked lips. To Little Miss Lip Balm, this one’s for you.
As a lip balm connoisseur, I’ve compiled my favorite products to share:
Glossier Balm Dotcom
This product is the holy grail of all lip balm. At just $12 on Glossier’s website, it has heavy-duty moisturizers such as Castor Oil, Beeswax and Lanolin. There are 10 flavors, including Rose, Cherry and the limited-edition Cookie Butter. This balm comes in a clean-aesthetic squeeze tube that can be used not only for your lips but for cuticles and other dry areas of your skin. It smells delicious, works wonders and lasts a long time. What more could you ask for in a lip balm? I give it a 5/5.
Summer Friday’s Lip Butter Balm
This is one of the more recent balms I’ve tried, and I love it. I will be honest, this is one of the more expensive splurge products. At $23, this balm is maybe better saved for your fancier occasions. It comes in four shades (Vanilla, Beige Vanille, Poppy and Brown Sugar) and is packaged in a matte, larger-than-most tube. I have the Poppy shade and absolutely love the orange-red tint it gives my lips. The formula is smooth and glossy and leaves your lips looking (and smelling) amazing. Definitely a solid 4.5/5.
Laneige (Lips Sleeping Mask & Lip Glowy Balm)
This brand is one of my favorites for lip care. The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask deserves an honorable mention, because it is a product that has become so ingrained in my bedtime routine that it’s as simple as brushing my teeth. This lip mask is so hydrating that you find yourself putting it on all throughout the day. It goes on as a lip balm but sinks deep into your skin to leave your lips soft for hours. It’s a little pricier at $24 but will last you for months, no joke. There is enough product in it to maybe even last you a year. 5/5 for sure.
The mask is amazing, but their Lip Glowy Balm is, too. This product is priced at $17 and comes in the following four flavors: Gummy Bear, Grapefruit, Berry and Peach. The formula definitely reminds me of the sleeping mask, though refined to act as more of a gloss than a hydrating mask. It’s one of my favorite lip balms to wear out because I love the dewy look it gives my lips. Each has a slight tint but nothing vibrant enough to look tacky. I’d give this product a 4.7/5.
Fresh: Sugar Lip Balm
This product is on the more expensive side at $24, too, but it’s been a favorite of mine ever since I started shopping in places other than the drugstore for makeup. It’s a 24-hour moisturizer but also offers color that you won’t find in most of the other products. There are over 10 shades available. I have a red shade called Icon that gives my lips the vibrancy that a red lipstick might. I’ll sometimes wear it out without any other top coats. This product is perfect for special occasions and for those of you looking for a higher-end lip balm. I’d rate it a 4.5/5.
Drunk Elephant: Lippe Balm
This brand has gained considerable popularity in recent years. The first product I tried through them was this balm, and it definitely gave me a good first impression. This little lip balm maneuvers like a fat, smushed chapstick. In other words, it’s packaged in a short but wide tube. It’s colorless and odorless, which is perfect for daily usage. It’s priced at $18 but lasts a decent amount of time. I had mine for about 4 months before having to buy another, and I used it several times a day. I’d give this one a 4/5.
A drugstore favorite: Aquaphor
Last but certainly not least, I wanted to mention a less pricey favorite of mine: Aquafor! While this product isn’t as glamorous as the others, it does the trick. I was an Aquafor fiend before I discovered the world of lip balm. At only $4.22 on Amazon, this product will rejuvenate your lips in a way that will have you addicted. No, it doesn’t smell like anything, and no, the packaging isn’t very pretty. But, it’s cheap and worth all the same. Lip balm collecting may be a hobby we all choose to indulge in, but there’s nothing wrong with balling on a budget. I give this one a 4.9/5.
Lip balm is a lifestyle choice. I never leave the house without a tube of my Glossier Balm Dotcom or my Laneige Lip Glowy Balm. It’s a skin-healthy addiction that may sometimes make a dent in your bank account — but one that none of us really ever regret. Having my lips feel both healthy and pretty is something I prioritize, and these products help to do just that.
So, to all my fellow Little Miss Lip Balms, I wish you the softest, glossiest, glowiest lips you’ve ever had. Get shopping!