Ask Belle: Best Lip Balms
Sep 29, 2014
Hi Belle,
Stupid question, what chapstick or lip balm do you use?
Charlie
First, I know it was meant in a light-hearted way, but it’s not a good idea to preface phrases with “stupid question.” It’s like saying, “Don’t take me seriously.” Especially in school or in the workplace (which this is obviously not, but it’s a good lesson regardless), you should feel empowered to ask any question that isn’t gratuitous and will improve your understanding or knowledge.
Now, back to your actual question..
I use two different lip products. I like Blistex Lip Medex when my lips are really dry. For a more natural choice, I like Lucas’ Papaw Ointment. Some of my friends use the un-tinted Maybelline Babylips chapstick.
I swear by Burt’s Bees chapstick at night – I’ve tried many others, but none prevent my lips from cracking like Burt’s Bees.
I can’t live w/out aquaphor
Not related to lips, but I just had to mention that Lucas’ Papaw Ointment is FANTASTIC and life-saver if you like to be out in the sun. Australians swear by it to use on sunburns. I have a medium olive complexion but got the worst sunburn I have ever had a few years ago while traveling around Australia. Used this stuff and within hours my burn was noticeably less red.
It might sound frivolous, but The Lip Balm by La Mer is a MUST for winter. Nothing even comes close when my lips get dry and bonus – it lasts a really long time!
At $55 a jar, how long are we talking?
Using it on a nightly basis, it will last 5-6 months min. I keep one in my handbag for when I’m feeling a bit chapped but obviously use it more in winter. I bought my last one in December and have at least half left. It’s potent – you don’t need much.
I have very dry skin and lips, and Cococare Cocoa Butter has been my favorite for YEARS. It costs about 75 cents and sits up by the register at CVS in a big bowl. (The packaging is bright yellow). I buy them by the handful.
More expensive online, but here is a link:
https://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=413681&catid=183854
Fresh Sugar Lip treatment. I always buy a full sized untinted and get the sample sizes of the tinted ones from Sephora.
Seconded!
If you like Burt’s Bees but wish it were more moisturizing, you might like this new lip balm I picked up at Walgreens. It’s called Lypsyl, and it has an adorable bee that you push up to dispense more of the stick. The scent and flavor (and minty tingle) is almost identical to Burt’s original, imo.
Have you stopped using the Fresh Sugar lip treatments? After reading your past reviews, I fell in love and use them for fall/autumn/spring. Though at night I use Nuxe Reve de Miel – stick version in summer, and the more moisturizing pot version the rest of the year. I find it absorbs faster and moisturizes better.
I think of those more as a lip color than a balm, though they’re both.
For overnight (when no SPF required): Bag Balm. (A one-inch-cubed tin applied nightly lasts years and is a few dollars.)
For any time I am out of the house and SPF is therefore required, something with at least SPF 20. Currently using Rite Aid Lip Care Moisturizer Skin Protectant SPF 30 (stick).
I do not understand how people make lip balm and lip stick without SPF (for UVA and UVB) — I certainly don’t want to develop lines around my lips any sooner than I can avoid it!
Thank you for your words regarding “stupid question”. As women, we tend to sell ourselves short way before society does. We apologize for our very existence!
I constantly tell my staff “The ONLY stupid question is the one that you do not ask!” I want them to step up, demand information, and stride through life with confidence.
+100 to your opening comment. I once started a question in con law the same way, and my professor stopped me and said essentially the same thing. He also said that research showed that women and people of color were more likely to preface a question with “stupid question,” or “I’m sorry for asking this,” or something similar, and that you should never, ever apologize for asking a question that you need to ask.
It was probably the most important thing a professor has ever said to me, and it one of many reasons why Kenji Yoshino, in my view, walks on water.
Agreed! Thanks for the advice, Belle!
+1
Completely agree!
Thank you Belle for recognizing this and speaking to it.
And Charlie- thank you for your question. Bases on replies… it’s an engaging topic.
YES. My college roommate once started a presentation with “This isn’t going to be any good…” and I could have killed him for setting the whole room up to think that it was crappy.
Burts Bees! I use their colored kind, both the chapstick and the lip gloss, and it’s fantastic!
Style by Joules
The best lip balm I’ve ever tried is by NUXE Paris: Reve de Miel Lip Balm. I keep it at my desk at work and I’ve been using it for over a year. It’s a little bit of luxury at work, and I’ve never lost it!
The opener to your answer made me really happy. I’ve been making a conscious effort to just ask and not apologize first and it’s not always easy. Thank you for passing along the message!
Belle-
Any idea on where to find the long gold necklace with bulletin shaped healing crystal that Emily wore on last Sundays premier on “Revenge”. She had it on early in the show with a sleeveless light colored chiffon top.
Oops, Lyn here..I meant bullet shaped not “bulletin”!!!
Belle, thanks for addressing the “stupid question” intro – women and anyone else for that matter, but especially women, shouldn’t handicap themselves from the get-go, and It’s not stupid!
I keep a mini tub of Vaseline in my purse and use it religiously every night and morning, and I find I rarely need touchups during the day. It’s so simple, and so useful! A little bit goes a long way. Rosebud salve, sold at Anthro and Sephora is also great and smells wonderful, and lasts longer than any chapstick I’ve ever used.