Just because you may be wearing less lipstick and gloss these days doesn’t mean you should stop paying attention to your pucker. The colder weather has come, and with it the need for more moisturizing. If you’re like me, you have more sticks of lip balm than you count—and misplace them often! When I find a balm I really love, I’ve learned to buy a few—one for my bag and one for my bedside (yes, I apply lip balm, plus hand and foot cream, before I turn out the lights). Buying a lip balm is a great way to “treat” yourself, as well, since they won’t break the bank. Here are four of my favorites, each full of delicious, soothing, and nurturing ingredients.
Moroccan Magic
These little beauties are certified USDA Organic and packed with beeswax and argan, sunflower, and coconut oils. I personally love the Lavender Vanilla balm the best. The line was founded by Boston-based Kristina Tsipouras, who wanted to create a non-toxic, high-quality lip balm. “It is an honor to disrupt and succeed in a crowded category that simply needed a non-toxic, higher quality upgrade,” enthuses Kristina. Stocking stuffers, anyone?
Laurel Lip Treatment
This softening balm is the bomb! Check out this powerhouse of nurturing oils: raw virgin coconut, olive, jojoba, rosehip seed, and avocado. Plus a magical combination of Laurel’s plant extracts. (We’re huge fans of this clean line and its founder, Laurel, plant whisperer extraordinaire, who lovingly formulates each and every product.) Choose from the Citrus Spice or Lavender blends. A little goes a long way.
Body Bliss Chakra Balance Lip Balms
Choose from Sensuous Grapefruit & Jasmine, Inspired Mint & Coconut, Radiant Lemon & Vanilla, or Heartful Rose & Geranium. These nurturing natural lip balms keep lips hydrated, thanks to an abundance of oils, including sweet almond oil, extra-virgin coconut oil, and evening primrose oil. Body Bliss makes a bunch of other really good lip balms, available in cute tins, as well as this moisturizing Rose & Vanilla Lip Balm, shown here.
Elvis + Elvin New York
This sweet indie brand was founded by Victoria Leung, a New York City-based esthetician, who named the brand for her two boys. Rose is a major player in her product line-up—be that rose extract, rose petals, or rose stem cells. Organic Rose Lip Treatment relies on rose wax to help keep lips smooth. What else can I say? This is a simple stick that does the trick, leaving lips nicely moisturized.
Lily Stroud
Lily Stroud is a contributing editor at Insider's Guide to Spas where she covers beauty and wellness travel. Reach her at lily@insidersguidetospas.com.