Because hydrated lips shouldn’t cost more than your jeans
I’ll admit, sometimes I think to myself — did you really just spend $20 on a single lip balm? Too frequently, the answer is yes (and these days, honestly, it’s often even more).
With the increased realization that lip care is an essential skincare item, more and more brands are launching their own take on this beloved (by me, certainly, but also hopefully by you) staple. Something that perhaps started out as a para-medicinal, seasonal-only drugstore buy is now a consensus handbag necessity.
Case in point: lauded luxury (with a capital “L”) and celebrity favorite skincare brand Augustinus Bader just introduced what they call “the last word in lip care“: a lip balm that costs a whopping $38 and is named “The Lip Balm.”
Now, even I have to think twice before shelling out nearly $40 for some candelilla wax on my lips. When there are so many great, affordable options out there, what are the additional $30 actually adding to my lip hydration experience? Frankly, probably nothing that will justify the questionable incremental expense.
(That’s not to say I won’t eventually try The Lip Balm. Fear not — I will.)
To prove to you that I am not just some bougie lip care snob with pretentious tastes and a runaway Sephora problem, below are some of my favorite CVS finds (though you can get them at Target if you must) — all under $5.
Maybelline Baby Lips
Dr. Rescue
This bad boy is actually what launched the current iteration of my lip balm obsession. The Baby Lips is a delicious treat for your lips that comes in a variety of tints (including untinted). The balms in its medicated line (Dr. Rescue, my pick) contain both eucalyptus to soothe your lips and menthol to leave them feeling oh-so-tingly.
Nivea 2-in-1
Lip Balm & Scrub
This one was a recent buy for me, but what a delightful surprise it was! Having never tried a lip scrub, I was delighted to find an affordable “in between” option for me that helped me dip my toes into the lip exfoliation world. Long-time skincare stalwart Nivea also has a TON of other lip balms (tinted and untinted) that are all equally effective.
Blistex Happy Lips
(shown in Mango)
Before Maybelline ruined me for other drugstore balms, Blistex had my heart. Medicated, unmedicated, fruit-flavored or no — a Blistex balm is like a comforting hug from your favorite blanket. While the pictured product no longer exists, there are many, many varieties still available.
eos Lip Balm Sphere
(shown in Strawberry Sorbet)
Before I was introduced to the miracle of LANEIGE, this beautiful ball of joy kept my pucker hydrated overnight. Moreover, it bore the brunt of my day’s exhaustion as my nightly application of lip balm doubled as stress relief. That is to say — eos can withstand the abuse of a rough lip balm user. (Spoken from experience.) [Full review here.]
Did I overlook any of your favorites? Let me know! And if you’re wondering where Burt’s Bees is on this list…show yourself out.
The Perfect Balm 