A confessed lip balm addict since my early teens, there’s no other type of product I enjoy testing more than those for lips. Since one of the myriad benefits of being a beauty writer is all the fun sampling I get to do, I’ve put together a list of my current favorite lip treatments for this week’s column. It just wouldn’t feel right to not share some of the awesome knowledge I’ve gained!
My all-time favorite is LipFusion XL, which I use every other night before bed, but it has garnered tons of press attention already, so I’m going to branch out into the unknown, starting with … Suggah, an ultra rich, conditioning formula that delivers instant moisture to smooth and soften lips. It feels like luxuriously rich butter when you apply it, and tastes like … you guessed it, sugar! Unlike other lip soothers on the market, whose main ingredient is petroleum or wax, Suggah’s main ingredient is shea butter, which we all know is one of nature’s most effective moisturizers. It’s also fortified with Maxi Lip, an ingredient specifically developed with intense hydration properties that result in a fuller appearance of the lip line. Your pout will be richly hydrated and look younger right away. www.sircuitskin.com
To keep your pout looking pretty and healthy, regular exfoliation and hydration is an absolute necessity. The smoother your lips are, the longer your lipstick and glosses will stay put. Leaf and Rusher have an impeccable product on the market called TX Lips. I am absolutely addicted to this stuff — it has to be the best anti-aging lip therapy I have ever come across. This natural exfoliant literally tastes like sugar and assertively removes dry flakes, yet has this rich emollient quality that makes your lips feel soft and moist. Your lip contour will look and feel smoother and more youthful. Ingredients include shea butter, jojoba seed oil and fruit from the exotic buriti palm, combined with natural hops and other humectant properties. TX Lips also provides natural SPF protection and plumps the lips. www.leafandrusher.com
Osmotics Cosmeceuticals Blue Copper 5 Lip & Tuck is a very cool conditioning gloss that promotes fuller, plumper and more youthful lips. It comes in a natural blue tint that turns into an elegant gloss that makes your teeth look whiter, and can be worn under lipstick or on its own. Packed with super hydrating hyaluronic acid particles that deeply penetrate and swell the lip tissue to add volume, Blue Copper 5 Lip & Tuck prevents and repairs signs of aging and vertical lip lines around the mouth area. Other effective ingredients include copper, hydrating macadamia nut oil, alon and two powerful anti-aging peptides that prevent the loss of collagen and elasticity. www.osmotics.com
Become Age Resistant Lip Treatment is a nourishing, stimulating lip treatment that aids in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Made with Palmitoyl, Oligopeptide and jojoba oil, it provides the perfect level of gloss without any stickiness and can be worn alone or over your favorite lip color. www.becomebeauty.com
SKINN has two awesome, fun to use products that will truly boost your pre-party beauty routine. In just 3-5 minutes, the 3 Minute Lip Party Rapid Volumizing Mask will increase in the volume of your lips. For occasional use, this baby is made with an extract of Chinese hot pepper that works to temporarily dilate the capillaries in your lips, resulting in a fuller, plumper and sexier pout for those special occasions. Follow with Lip Rejen – Lip & Laugh Line Smoothing Cream, an uber concentrated serum-strength cream that helps reduce the appearance of lip and laugh lines and maintains the look and feel of a smoother, more youthful texture. www.skinn.com
Pin Up Balm is a fun way to keep lips soft and supple. Made from natural ingredients such as avocado oil, beeswax, apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E, this moisture rich treatment protects and nourishes with the best. The standout factor is the adorable vintage tins featuring old school pin-up models. Available in fun flavors like raspberry and lemonade, Pin Up Balm makes the “green list” for its use of organic ingredients and its lack of parabens, petrochemicals, or any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Plus, they make you feel glamorous and retro all at once! www.pinupbalm.com
For the budget conscious beauty junkie, SoftLips offers a wide-ranging line that provides long-lasting coverage and SPF protection. The slim and feminine tubes can fit in the tiniest of purses, and are great for standalone sheen or under lipstick. SoftLips has just introduced a new line of organic balms, SoftLips Pure, in two delicious flavors, Pomegrenate and Honeywdew, as well as new sheer colors to its SoftLip Tints line of lip conditioners. A great inexpensive staple to buy five at a time! www.softlips.com
Another great alternative for cost-cutters is Athena’s Olive Tree Cocoa Butter Lip Balm. One hundred percent natural, this slick balm is made with super moisturizing avocado oil, cocoa butter and beeswax, and protects your lips from the elements. It’s another awesome base for lipstick, or for overnight hydration. www.shopaot.com
Chaton Anderson is a Writer and the Publicity Director for TheSavvyGal.com. A product and pop culture addict, she is always looking for the coolest, hippest things on the market, as well as the newest health and fitness trends to hit the scene. Email her at Chaton@TheSavvyGal.com with questions or leads on products and services on the cutting edge.