Even if you’re not a lipstick wearer, chances are there is one lip product you’ll always have with you – we’re talking about a lip balm. A good lip balm ensures our lips remain hydrated and soft while we’re in an air-conditioned environment. And if you’re a lipstick wearer, you’ll be familiar with this scenario: just as you are about to apply a generous coat of your favourite lip colour, you realise that those lips require urgent TLC – tender lip-loving care.
Our lips aren’t all the same, so we should find something unique for our problem. No matter what lip situation you are in, you can find something that can help you.
1. Chapped lips that are peeling
When it comes to lips, most women desire kissable, luscious-looking, juicy ones that will turn heads. But when you’ve got dry lips, the only attention you’d get is from the cashier who’s wondering if there’s something dreadfully wrong with your pout.
Lip balm is a lifesaver when it comes to dry lips. It helps to keep one in your purse, to be whipped out every so often as soon as your lips feel the slightest bit dehydrated.
Himalaya Lip Balm (SGD2.75)
Made up of natural active ingredients like castor oil and coconut oil, this helps relieve chapped lips, and can even hydrate lips in winter climate.
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (SGD10)
Contains peppermint oil for a cooling sensation. Beeswax seals in ingredients such as coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, vitamins, and fatty acids.
2. Dull, lifeless-looking lips
We all know how we look the first minutes after we wake up. Messy hair, morning breath, and – let’s face it – often dull colourless lips. This is something that calls for sugar. Take some honey and put a spoonful of sugar in, and mix well. The result is a thick paste which you can use as a form of lip scrub. This improves blood circulation, and after a good rinse, leaves your lips well massaged and dead skin-free.
And after that, if you want to add more colour to your lips but don’t like the texture of lipsticks, try one of these tinted lip balms.
Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment (SGD34)
In 13 different shades ranging from nude to berry, this lip balm from Fresh is also a heavy duty worker that nourishes your lips with sugar, precious oils, and polyphenols. On top of these, it also provides sun protection and delivers up to six hours of moisture.
Benebalm Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm (SGD31)
This lip balm from Benefit conditions and hydrates your lips with mango butter and sodium hyaluronate to deliver a kissable pout. Benebalm gives a red tint; you can also check out the other variants in the range, in pink, purple and coral – your choice!
3. For something “tasty”
You might want something that smells good; after all, our lips are so close to our nose, you’d want something that doesn’t smell too funky. Moreover, the product does get ingested, so you may want something that is pleasant enough to be consumed. Not that we advocate eating your lip balms, but if it comes to the taste-test, we’d pick these two out of the lot.
Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm Strawberry (SGD4.10)
With a light strawberry scent and a non-sticky texture, this balm contains Castor seed oil and shea butter to moisturise your lips. Besides the pleasant scent that lingers on the lips, we also like how easy it is on our wallets.
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Lip Balm (SGD15.50)
Fortified with shea butter, known for its great moisturising properties, this balm moisturise lips so they feel soft and smooth. It also contains a cherry extract from Luberon, Provence in France, giving it a delicate scent.
4. Keep lips wrinkle-free
Our lips don’t produce oil on their own nor melanin, making the skin on our lips more delicate compared to the rest of our face. Given that we move our lips more frequently than the other parts of our face too, it is no surprise that this is one of the areas most susceptible to signs of ageing. Age-proo your lips with these recommendations.
Lancome Absolue Precious Cells Lip Balm (SGD70)
This lip balm is formulated with Pro-Xylane, an ingredient with powerful anti-ageing properties, as well as skin stem cells to further protect lips. The texture is rich and nourishing, and it is lightly scented for an even more pleasant usage experience.
Sulwhasoo Essential Lip Serum Stick (SGD50)
Available in two natural-looking shades – Apricot and Blossom – this is enriched with skin-loving ingredients that wrap your lips snugly so it can remain conditioned. This can be used on its own or as a primer for your lipstick so lips will appear smoother.