Gimme a smooch: Lip balm review
Happy Valentine's day! Are you feeling smoochable? I've had the WORST chapped lips this winter (I know that you really wanted to hear that) and I've been on a Quest to find the Best Lip Balm Ever. And since I've not been shopping for clothes or shoes or handbags, I have had plenty of time to obsess about carefully consider my skin care options. Starting with those chapped lips. And now I will share what I have learned! Consider this my Valentine's day gift to you.
You're welcome!
I'm a huge fan of products with SPF in them, for the whole body but especially for the face. I wear an SPF 40 sunscreen every single day (yes, really!) and I'm always on the lookout for lip balm with any sort of SPF. So of course Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15 seemed like a perfect solution, particularly since it comes untinted or with a hint of red or peach color.
I hated it, from the moment I put it on. The consistency is very thin, to the point where it doesn't seem to be moisturizing my lips at all (which is the whole POINT of a lip balm, don't you think?) and it smells weird, kind of like Carmex (remember Carmex? in the white pot with the yellow lid? do they still make that?). I was hoping that this would be a balm that I could wear under a lip gloss, for the SPF and also to keep my poor chapped lips from cracking, but no. Save your $9.50 for something else.
Or! Spend your $9.50 on FOUR tubes of Aquaphor and STILL have money left over! When my kids were babies, we bought big tubs of Aquaphor and used it as diaper cream, because it was completely color and scent free, and left their little tushes protected and soft. I bought some recently for my son to use on HIS lips, because he licks them when he's nervous and they are always a mess, but he wanted Vaseline instead, so I would up with the cute little tube of Aquaphor. And you know what? It is the Best Lip Balm EVER.
Aquaphor is completely colorless and odorless; it goes on nicely under lip gloss or lipstick (although because it's petroleum-based, your lipstick will probably not last as long as it would alone). It also makes a nice cuticle cream, for those of you with dry winter hands. Like me.
See? I test, you learn, it's all good. Happy Valentine's day -- stop at the drugstore and get some Aquaphor for extra kissable lips.
You're welcome!
I'm a huge fan of products with SPF in them, for the whole body but especially for the face. I wear an SPF 40 sunscreen every single day (yes, really!) and I'm always on the lookout for lip balm with any sort of SPF. So of course Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15 seemed like a perfect solution, particularly since it comes untinted or with a hint of red or peach color.
I hated it, from the moment I put it on. The consistency is very thin, to the point where it doesn't seem to be moisturizing my lips at all (which is the whole POINT of a lip balm, don't you think?) and it smells weird, kind of like Carmex (remember Carmex? in the white pot with the yellow lid? do they still make that?). I was hoping that this would be a balm that I could wear under a lip gloss, for the SPF and also to keep my poor chapped lips from cracking, but no. Save your $9.50 for something else.
Or! Spend your $9.50 on FOUR tubes of Aquaphor and STILL have money left over! When my kids were babies, we bought big tubs of Aquaphor and used it as diaper cream, because it was completely color and scent free, and left their little tushes protected and soft. I bought some recently for my son to use on HIS lips, because he licks them when he's nervous and they are always a mess, but he wanted Vaseline instead, so I would up with the cute little tube of Aquaphor. And you know what? It is the Best Lip Balm EVER.
Aquaphor is completely colorless and odorless; it goes on nicely under lip gloss or lipstick (although because it's petroleum-based, your lipstick will probably not last as long as it would alone). It also makes a nice cuticle cream, for those of you with dry winter hands. Like me.
See? I test, you learn, it's all good. Happy Valentine's day -- stop at the drugstore and get some Aquaphor for extra kissable lips.
20 Comments:
I adore Aquaphor! My son's daycare turned me on to it and I've never looked back. It's great as a lip-conditioner or for diaper rash (or prevention), my son gets a huge dollop smeared under his nose when he has a cold (and never gets that chapped upper lip anymore) and has it liberally applied over sunscreen when we go up to the snow (to avoid chapped cheeks). We keep one tube for his bottom and another tube for everything else, to avoid cross-contamination.
I had terrible chapped lips last spring and discovered Philosophy's Kiss My Lips lip scrub--it's an exfoliator for your lips. It worked wonders for me, no more bleeding lips!
I didn't have such good luck with the Kiss My Lips lip balm, however--it has a lot of petroleum in it and tasted like gasoline. Ick.
I slather my baby with Aquaphor each night before bed. It's the only lotion that doesn't cause her to break out. I also use it on my hands and lips and my daughter's crazy chapped lip mustache and beard. Lovely, I know.
I'm addicted to Carmex - yes, they still make it...but remember: no Carmex with homeopathic remedies. The camphor negates them.
(Aren't I great for useless tips?)
I've had good luck with the ol' wash cloth routine. I put on some lip balm (Burt’s Bees) and press a wet washcloth between my lips for 30 seconds. Fidgeting optional. Then I rub the washcloth in circles over my lips to remove the lip balm and dead bits. (Tasty!) Dry lips and reapply.
I use Lanisoh, yes the stuff you put on your boobies whilst breastfeeding to ease the nipple chafe. I also use it on Charlotte's face, which gets dry and chapped. AND i use it under my nose when I have a cold and it is sore from blowing. No scent, no taste. Huzzah!
I love either elizabeth arden's original eight hour cream (not the special lip balm version) or estee lauder's lip conditioner. Slightly price-ier options but well worth it when you want to spoil yourself.
And the eight hour cream can be used for everything too.
I love, love, love Burts Bees, just the regular old one. It's not fancy or elegant, but it works and I like the peppermint/rosemary smell.
Yes, Aquaphor is great. I use that on the kids' lips all winter and sometimes myself before bed. But for me? During the day? I have to disagree - I LOVE the Kiehl's! I use it all the time, totally works for me!
I hate to say it but I've been disappointed with everything Kiehl's that I've tried - most notably that lip balm and the creme with silk groom (haircare product). Anyone need a full bottle of that? I'll send it off happily.
Anyway - we are an aquaphor family through and through. My daughter is a nervous lip licker too and has many indoor allergies that really irritate her skin and the aquaphor truly works like magic.
Chapped Lips are caused by a nutrient deficiency. My childrens chapped lips ...disappeared in 2-3 days with this stuff.
It is all natural and organic nutrients. I make it myself. If you want some..send me an email.
Bruno
bruski57@gmail.com
Yep, Burt's Bees for me, and I quite like their shimmers for a little bit of colour.
It's hard to get here but I like it so much my sister has to bring me a suitcase-load whenever she comes over here.
I have a stash.
I love Lansinoh for chapped lips, cheeks, whatever too. Palmers cocoa butter sticks are awesome too- they look like the fat glue sticks, but they are super moisturizing and they smell and taste awesome!! most grocery/drug stores have them in the lotion section with the other cocoa butter stuff.
I LOVE the lip balm from Aveda. It's got SPF 15 in it and it has a very nice texture to it...not too thick, not too thin. And I'm super-picky about textures which is why the ONLY gloss I'll wear is Cargo since it's not sticky. Anyway, here's to happy lips!
The only thing that seems to work for me is plain old Strawberry Chapstick...I hate the texture and/or taste of just about everything else.
I also disovered Aquaphor when I had my son (I got a free sample somewhere) and it was the only thing that helped his chapped cheeks in the winter. I also put it on him after he gets a cut and it helps it heal super fast...
Finally, unlurking! I happen to like Carmex too, especially the smell and the tingle--but then, I also love Halls, and Vick VapoRub when I'm not sick. That being said, DO NOT use Carmex when the temperature is, oh say, below 32 degree or it's equivalent in windchill. I learned the hard way up here in Syracuse, NY.
Cocoa butter or shea butter is "The Stuff" in winter.
I swear by Burt's Bees--it's brought my lips back to normal after three long days of playing clarinet (the reed chafes against your lips). Still on my first tube of original, but I'm probably going to try Pomegranate next time.
I'm a Burts Bee girl. Lip balm and lip gloss. The gloss is super sparkly, but that is the beauty of it! I find I can't switch products. I have to use what I've started with.
I will be trying out the Aquaphor because of your recommendation. Let me say that I am also a big fan of the Burt's Bees, both the plain old SPF stick as well as the shimmer for a little color. They have a fun peppermint flavor and keep my lips soft and silky.
I second the Lanisoh! Plus, it's not petroleum based, which to me is kind of disgusting. Ew. Petroleum on my mouth? No thanks... Which would you rather kiss, a sheep or an oil derrick?
But, I always reach for my cherry chapstick, too. I don't want to know what's in it. *covers ears and sings alphabet song*
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