Lip balm addict here and also love a squeezy tube - something very grounding and mindful about squeezing a little pea of balm onto your fingertip and massaging over the lips.
I liked Westman Atelier balm, but not overly so. Admire Sarah Creal for her focus & products, which are standout for more mature skin. Sadly not sold on Ilia - their lip products used to be better! Big fan of RMS lip oil, which lasts & hydrates. You should also test newly launched Tinted Dewy potion by Manasi7 - à brand is the finalist in the BoF Global Besuty awards this year
Well, I would give RMS a go, as things have been in motion & then see if it is meh still or is something else. There are lots of balms & glosses, but my ultimate test is how quickly you need to reply & the colour density longevity. Few in my opinion deliver on both
My current favorite tinted balms (I prefer twist-up sticks to pits) are... Henné, such a good range of shades, very balmy, and I like plain black metal tube; Flyte.70 S+S Lip Sheer, my faves are Roam and Wishing Well, sporty-chic case, a little more lipstick, a little less balm; Jones Road Lippie Stick for the colors and moisture, although the application is v messy for some reason.
This was so fun! Also, Clinique's Black Honey was my first-ever lipstick. I had no idea that it was still so popular and I am seriously contemplating getting it again. Thanks for reminding me of it :)
So much here I didn't know I needed (including the bird app- I swear I was just trying to identify the little bird that landed next to me last night as we sat outside at a wine bar- I even video taped it!). Adding Lawless balm stick...
Thanks for the very detailed lip balm report! I tend to do lip glosses because I do want the shine, and more color. Ironically, I am a fan of the infamous $24 Clinique Black Honey lip gloss, that I first discovered at TJ Maxx (how it got there when it's still selling at full price, I don't know) and prefer to the original version of Almost Lipstick.
Thank you for all of this excellent reporting! I've been doing my own research on these and your insights are making me confident I'll be able to buy one I love. I recently got the elf squeeze me balm and it is so tiny (but also so inexpensive) and the flavor and feel are both nice, but I want a tinted one and have been leaning towards the Tower28. I also noticed they have some very early 2000s looking lip glosses (packaging wise) last time I was in Sephora. I thought they were roll-ons like my childhood fav N.Y.C. Strawberry Banana clear lip gloss that I got at Duane Reade, and was kinda disappointed that they were actually an applicator/tube situation.
Oh my gosh, Village Lip Lickers! I had a single strawberry (that I accidentally put through the wash, leaving greasy marks on my clothes), and a double of lemon-lime. We rubbed them directly onto our lips from the tin!
I finally did it, got Merlin!🐦⬛ So excited to find out what all the birds are in my neighborhood!
I really like the maybelline lifter gloss plumping line! It feels really nice and lasts longer than lip oil. I initially got it as a dupe for the Fenty glosses.
I never want a scent on my lips or face for that matter, but I do keep a strawberry Lip Smackers in a box to take a hit off when I want to experience 1987. I'm back on Carmex as a lip balm, it still works the best and never breaks the bank. I like Violette Fr's Bisou Balm, I have Soucette and I want to get Bonbon Myrtille.
Scent is really divisive! But there is something about using it to transport back to childhood. I got both the Violette Balm and Jelly for this but honestly they need their own full story and this was getting long. I love the balm. The jelly is a tad gimmicky
I agree 100% on the Tower28 (try the Dulce de Leche!) and the Ilia Balmy Tint, although for the latter, I’m annoyed that they went to a flat vs. angled shape, which I find harder to apply on my disappearing lips. Speaking of which, there is an amazing Sarah Creal product called Lip Grip that prevents your lipstick from disappearing into the ether. (It’s $36, which is still obnoxious but not quite as bad as her lipsticks.)
This is, predictably, excellently reported. I was OBSESSED with Kissing Koolers in Watermelon, of all things, followed by Cola. I want to seriously (as in for real) look into how we can bring back Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. And Jan doesn’t deserve to know how great the lip balm universe really is!
AMG, I went down a deep hole on this. Taste Beauty (they make things like cereal flavored products?!) have the Dr P license now I think. I see the lip balms floating around online
WOW, this surpassed every shiny, syrupy, cherry flavoured expectation and then took it to the next level!! 💯🍒 Fantastic reporting (as per), super interesting history and so many memories – this UK Gen Xer remembers those Bonne Bell rollerballs, weirdly the mint one sticks in my memory, too - and oh my goodness those sliding tins!! 😭 Such a fun and fascinating deep dive, and now I’ve got yet more on my list… 🫠😂 (I keep meaning to try Summer Fridays!) Loved all the latest from Fawnia too - I’m cueing up that Amy Poehler pod for later!! LOVE!! (Throwing my tube into the hat, currently loving glossier strawberry balm dot com! Lovely pinky-red tint and gorgeous hydration!)
Thank you!! I’ve tried a lot of Glossier’s balms over the years (and formulation changes). I have complex feelings about them and the brand which are maybe better saved for an off-the-record chat someday!😅
It’s a fun podcast! The LanoLips SPF still elude me but I love the Cay Beauty SPF 30 squeeze tubes to share mine. The color is pretty saturated and they’re very moisturizing.
Oooh that sounds lovely – I really should be looking more at those with SPFs now (including reaching for the one that shall not be named - still on a mission to get you some! 😂). Really looking forward to catching the 🎧!
The ELF spf 25 with a wand is really good, too! I find the twist ups to be drying mostly but Tatcha’s is also great. One day I will find those other ones … 😂
RIP to the Village Lip Tin I had in my shorts pocket on the day my Minnesotan family and I moved to Mesa, AZ. Within an hour of exploring my new neighborhood, the July heat managed to melt everything in the tin and send that hot peppermint goop right down my leg. Between that and the jelly sandals that were digging into my little toes, I learned that day that fashion sometimes hurts. (Today I'm all about the Summer Fridays iced coffee lip butter balm.)
Those lip tins were really so disgusting generally. Someone always stuck their finger into it down to the pan. (The Summer Fridays balms are really good!!)
Lip balm addict here and also love a squeezy tube - something very grounding and mindful about squeezing a little pea of balm onto your fingertip and massaging over the lips.
I liked Westman Atelier balm, but not overly so. Admire Sarah Creal for her focus & products, which are standout for more mature skin. Sadly not sold on Ilia - their lip products used to be better! Big fan of RMS lip oil, which lasts & hydrates. You should also test newly launched Tinted Dewy potion by Manasi7 - à brand is the finalist in the BoF Global Besuty awards this year
This is all good intel. I’m meh on RMS and haven’t tried it in years but maybe I’m overdue
Well, I would give RMS a go, as things have been in motion & then see if it is meh still or is something else. There are lots of balms & glosses, but my ultimate test is how quickly you need to reply & the colour density longevity. Few in my opinion deliver on both
Had the best time going down memory lane with this one!! Kissing Coolers…. Great memories 💋
Don’t you have a makeup archive of sorts?? I need to consult with you next time I do one of these stories!!
Yes!!!! I have an unhealthy denial regarding expiration dates…. 💋
I loved this!
My current favorite tinted balms (I prefer twist-up sticks to pits) are... Henné, such a good range of shades, very balmy, and I like plain black metal tube; Flyte.70 S+S Lip Sheer, my faves are Roam and Wishing Well, sporty-chic case, a little more lipstick, a little less balm; Jones Road Lippie Stick for the colors and moisture, although the application is v messy for some reason.
This is all great intel and Flyte 70 is on my list to try!!
*pots!
This was so fun! Also, Clinique's Black Honey was my first-ever lipstick. I had no idea that it was still so popular and I am seriously contemplating getting it again. Thanks for reminding me of it :)
I bought it a few years ago and it holds up!
So much here I didn't know I needed (including the bird app- I swear I was just trying to identify the little bird that landed next to me last night as we sat outside at a wine bar- I even video taped it!). Adding Lawless balm stick...
Drop the bird video! 🤪Ohh I have never tried Lawless and have been curious (color selection looks great)
Ha- probably a garden variety finch but so cute as it searched for little crumbs…
Thanks for the very detailed lip balm report! I tend to do lip glosses because I do want the shine, and more color. Ironically, I am a fan of the infamous $24 Clinique Black Honey lip gloss, that I first discovered at TJ Maxx (how it got there when it's still selling at full price, I don't know) and prefer to the original version of Almost Lipstick.
Thank you for all of this excellent reporting! I've been doing my own research on these and your insights are making me confident I'll be able to buy one I love. I recently got the elf squeeze me balm and it is so tiny (but also so inexpensive) and the flavor and feel are both nice, but I want a tinted one and have been leaning towards the Tower28. I also noticed they have some very early 2000s looking lip glosses (packaging wise) last time I was in Sephora. I thought they were roll-ons like my childhood fav N.Y.C. Strawberry Banana clear lip gloss that I got at Duane Reade, and was kinda disappointed that they were actually an applicator/tube situation.
Thank you for reading!! I think a Y2K moment is upon us actually, and I’m not sure I’m on board 🤪
There definitely is in fashion! And I hate it
There are some trends I am totally on board for and some that I need to stay where they were left in the past!
I would still kill for Lip Lites or Lip Lix to come back
Wait I don’t know those!! (Running to google)
KISSING KOOLERS!!! Let's bring them back!
They were so appealing
Oh my gosh, Village Lip Lickers! I had a single strawberry (that I accidentally put through the wash, leaving greasy marks on my clothes), and a double of lemon-lime. We rubbed them directly onto our lips from the tin!
I finally did it, got Merlin!🐦⬛ So excited to find out what all the birds are in my neighborhood!
This seems to be a common story with that tin!! Ohhhh I hope you love Merlin and birding. It is just so magical and relaxing and meditative
No lip balm should cost more than $12 imo! The prices for all lip products have jumped the shark.
You are not wrong!!!!! Def heading to Target when I use every drop of these up
I really like the maybelline lifter gloss plumping line! It feels really nice and lasts longer than lip oil. I initially got it as a dupe for the Fenty glosses.
I never want a scent on my lips or face for that matter, but I do keep a strawberry Lip Smackers in a box to take a hit off when I want to experience 1987. I'm back on Carmex as a lip balm, it still works the best and never breaks the bank. I like Violette Fr's Bisou Balm, I have Soucette and I want to get Bonbon Myrtille.
Scent is really divisive! But there is something about using it to transport back to childhood. I got both the Violette Balm and Jelly for this but honestly they need their own full story and this was getting long. I love the balm. The jelly is a tad gimmicky
I agree 100% on the Tower28 (try the Dulce de Leche!) and the Ilia Balmy Tint, although for the latter, I’m annoyed that they went to a flat vs. angled shape, which I find harder to apply on my disappearing lips. Speaking of which, there is an amazing Sarah Creal product called Lip Grip that prevents your lipstick from disappearing into the ether. (It’s $36, which is still obnoxious but not quite as bad as her lipsticks.)
Why did Ilia get rid of the angle?!? Oh hm that Sarah a real product sounds clever actually
This is, predictably, excellently reported. I was OBSESSED with Kissing Koolers in Watermelon, of all things, followed by Cola. I want to seriously (as in for real) look into how we can bring back Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. And Jan doesn’t deserve to know how great the lip balm universe really is!
Me too, but I think they may be old. I haven’t yet seen new ones in any of their assortments (mainly WalMart and random grocery stores). Mysterious!
Co-branded investigative report? SFB x WNVM
AMG, I went down a deep hole on this. Taste Beauty (they make things like cereal flavored products?!) have the Dr P license now I think. I see the lip balms floating around online
WOW, this surpassed every shiny, syrupy, cherry flavoured expectation and then took it to the next level!! 💯🍒 Fantastic reporting (as per), super interesting history and so many memories – this UK Gen Xer remembers those Bonne Bell rollerballs, weirdly the mint one sticks in my memory, too - and oh my goodness those sliding tins!! 😭 Such a fun and fascinating deep dive, and now I’ve got yet more on my list… 🫠😂 (I keep meaning to try Summer Fridays!) Loved all the latest from Fawnia too - I’m cueing up that Amy Poehler pod for later!! LOVE!! (Throwing my tube into the hat, currently loving glossier strawberry balm dot com! Lovely pinky-red tint and gorgeous hydration!)
Thank you!! I’ve tried a lot of Glossier’s balms over the years (and formulation changes). I have complex feelings about them and the brand which are maybe better saved for an off-the-record chat someday!😅
Totally understood! 🙌 ❤️
It’s a fun podcast! The LanoLips SPF still elude me but I love the Cay Beauty SPF 30 squeeze tubes to share mine. The color is pretty saturated and they’re very moisturizing.
Oooh that sounds lovely – I really should be looking more at those with SPFs now (including reaching for the one that shall not be named - still on a mission to get you some! 😂). Really looking forward to catching the 🎧!
The ELF spf 25 with a wand is really good, too! I find the twist ups to be drying mostly but Tatcha’s is also great. One day I will find those other ones … 😂
Fawnia, pls do the SPF follow up!!!
Ooh I should because I have tried so many. Although I’m missing one!!!
RIP to the Village Lip Tin I had in my shorts pocket on the day my Minnesotan family and I moved to Mesa, AZ. Within an hour of exploring my new neighborhood, the July heat managed to melt everything in the tin and send that hot peppermint goop right down my leg. Between that and the jelly sandals that were digging into my little toes, I learned that day that fashion sometimes hurts. (Today I'm all about the Summer Fridays iced coffee lip butter balm.)
Those lip tins were really so disgusting generally. Someone always stuck their finger into it down to the pan. (The Summer Fridays balms are really good!!)