Natural Beauty Breakthrough

I can remember all of my lip balm phases. When I was a kid, there were the Village Lip Lickers tins that slid open and clicked shut, the Bonne Belle sticks that smelled like vanilla, and Lip Smackers in every artificial flavor imaginable. By high school, I had graduated to glossy pots from The Body Shop (kiwi lime, if I recall) and CoverGirl Lipslicks (the closest my mother would let me get to lipstick). When you’re young and living on babysitting money, a new lip balm feels like a luxury. It still does. No matter how many tubes I own, breaking open a new one is like Christmas morn. The only difference is that the formulas are fancier, the shades are more sophisticated, and the price tags are well north of ninety-nine cents. These are the five grown-up balms I keep in heavy rotation in my car, at my desk, and on my nightstand: Dr. Lewinn Kinerase Lip Resculpt 3D Lip Balm SPF 20 ($17): Literally a mouthful, this luxurious, tingly treatment is the perfect primer for lipstick. FusionBeauty LipFusion Conditioning Stick SPF 15 ($22): I’m a huge fan of Fusion’s lip-plumping glosses, and these new balms are a natural-looking yet highly pigmented alternative.

By Terry Rose Balm ($60): Okay, so I don’t actually own this lip balm because it’s SIXTY DOLLARS, but the packaging and celebrity fan base has a hold on me.

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment ($22.50): One of my prized possessions, I practically ration this ruby-hued, rose-scented balm out. And the substantial metal tube is the BEST.

Yes to Carrots Lip Butter ($4): This should just replace Chapstick altogether. It’s organic and petroleum-free and it contains super-healthy coconut oil and shea butter. Buy it by the case!

Read more of Elizabeth’s musings at Beauty Bets.