Beauty | The Lip Balm Edition

If there’s one beauty product I can’t do without during winter, it has got to be lip balms. I stash them everywhere, from my beauty cabinet to the nightstand, from my purse to my desk at work, to make sure I never have to do without. Today’s post is a round-up of the lip balms I have been using lately, and what effects they have on dry or  in my case, damaged lips. 

Let’s start with what was probably the most hyped (lip) product of 2013; the Maybelline Baby Lips (I got to try the blue one aka Hydrate). First of all, let me correct my previous sentence by stating it’s OVERhyped. Sure, the packaging looks cute, it’s reasonably priced and it does an ok job for dry lips, but it’s definitely not as hydrating as the packaging promises. The only thing it does is put a layer on top of your lips to prevent moisture loss due to effects like harsh winter weather, indoor heating etc, but it doesn’t help it hydrate from the inside out. When your lips are really dry, the lip balm might actually make it worse after a while. If you already have chapped lips, it’s better to look somewhere else. A plus side though is that it has SPF20 and is easy to apply along the way thanks to the stick format. I bet this is loved by teens, but for me it didn’t score well enough to make me want to try some others from the range. It’s just not fit enough for my Winter survival kit, so I’ll just save this one for the Spring season.

Next up is a lip balm I’ve been using and loving for a while now; the Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1. As one of the brands most loved products, the Lip Balm #1 is known for its excellent hydrating & protecting qualities. The balm has the same consistency as vaseline, and becomes more liquid when it touches the skin. You can either leave it on in order for it to penetrate the lips after an hour or so, or you can use it to prep your lips before applying lipstick, or you can use it on top of the lipstick as a glossy finish. The only thing I don’t like is the packaging. The mouth of the tube is just like any other and is not designed for direct application to the lips, forcing you to put some on your fingers first.  It’s a little pricy too, but you can get it for free when you return some empty Kiehl’s product bottles.

As I was struggling with the design of the Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, along came the Vichy Nutri Extra Extraordinary balm for dry to damaged lips, this time with the perfect mouth for direct application. Again, this balm is very moisturising, yet slightly less glossy than #1, making it less apparent and therefore perhaps more suitable for men to use. I mostly apply this right before I go to bed, only to wake up with beautiful smooth lips. At a cheaper price point than #1, this has a well deserved #3 spot on my list. The only downside to this lip balm is that after each application, the leftover residue in the mouth dries up, making you lose product each time. Bummer.

So which one comes out on top? I have 2 favourites actually, each for their own reasons. First there’s the famous Smith’s Rosebud Salve which smells and looks incredible. Out of this bunch, it’s the only tinted lip balm and has a nice slightly rose glossy shade, making my lips look better without being too obvious. The balm is nice and thick, making it the perfect product to protect any bad infuences from the outside while giving the lips the time to recover. It’s not as suitable to use as a lipstick base though, but as the color looks already pretty, I don’t really mind. This balm is the one I keep in my purse so I can reapply it during the day. The only downside to this one beside the price point is that it’s not that easily to find. (I got mine at American Apparel)

My last purchase is the much-loved Rêve de Miel balm from Nuxe. The most expensive one out of the bunch, if I were to buy it in Belgium. If you’re going to France anytime soon, make sure to drop by a pharmacy and pick one up as it is a lot cheaper there. I’m usually not a fan of lip balms in jars – hygiene alert -, but since I’ve read so many good reviews I just had to give it a try.

The texture is unlike anything I have used up until now. It’s almost like a wax and needs a couple of rubs before it’s warm enough to give off some product. Again, it’s quite thick, creating the perfect balance of protection and hydration from within. The texture feels pretty gritty at first and takes some time to get used to, but once you see the results, you’ll never doubt it again. I usually apply this in the morning before I start my skin care routine. By the time I have to apply lipstick, my lips are already a lot smoother, without even having to use lip scrub. As the texture is again quite matte feeling, this one is also more suitable for men to use. It’s not that cheap, but 1 application will last you about 4 hours, which is longer than any of the other lip balms described above. I will add that I’d only use this if your lips are really chapped and/or during winter times. For anything else, it might be a little too much and you’re well off with something cheaper.

I’m the last person to say expensive is better, but in this case I think it’s worth it spending a little more money to get good quality. Especially since a little product does come a long way. In the meantime I’ll keep trying different ones in the hopes of finding some that are cheaper and even better!

Maybelline Baby Lips Hydrate lip balm (4,4 g)*  € 3,5
Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 (15 ml)   € 8
Vichy Nutri Extra Extraordinary Balm (15 ml)  € 6,5
Smith’s Rosebud Salve (15 ml)   € 11
Nuxe Rêve de Miel (15 ml)    € 9,50

Have you tried one of these before? What are your favourite lip balms?

*Products offered by a brand/store/PR company for review purposes.