Pritha O.

LANO Lips Tinted Lip Balm

TL;DR a worthwhile try, but not a repeat buy

LANO Lips Tinted Lip Balm in Perfect Nude

Quick Scores

  • Effectiveness: 4.5 (out of 5)
  • Taste: N/A
  • Smell: 4
  • Packaging: 4
  • Value: 4.5

Price: $13.50

Available At: LANO or Stockists

A Deeper Look

When I first launched the Instagram that represents this blog (if you’re not a follower, go fix that), I spent a lot of time researching the lip care brands that everyone was talking about. The ones that got people excited, that had massive cult followings and a reputation for being both no-frills and revered (not an easy duality to pull off).

There was the now-controversial Glossier BDC, of course. There was the balm-that-shall-not-be-named. And then there was LANO (styled as “Lanolips”), a brand whose entire social media strategy can be encapsulated in one word: sheep.

[Sidenote: why are the people of LANO obsessed with Australian sheep? Lanolin, the hero ingredient in all of their products, is humanely derived from sheep’s wool. Lanolin mimics the hydrating oils in human skin and, as they say, is a “natural answer to dry skin.”]

Though it took me some time to get around to it, a Christmas gift card to Anthropologie finally provided me the opportunity to purchase myself one of these much-hyped pocket-sized tubes. To my delight, it (mostly) lived up to the hype.

Pros first. Let’s start with the tint. It is, indeed, the “perfect nude.” It gives my lips a hint of color — just enough to be noticeable, but not so bold as to be inappropriate for a videoconference. The formula’s finish imparts a touch of shine — but like you’re prepping for a catalog shoot, not like your mouth was crafted out of petroleum jelly. The hydration is notably long-lasting. I find myself forgetting to reapply, which is a RARE bar to clear for my “please just one more swipe,” product-addicted lips. The tube packaging is function at its finest; the applicator tip is sized just-right for your lips and obviates any need to use (or wash) your [filthy] fingers.

What are the cons? Only one: the thickness of the formula. Primarily, the balm is sensitive to temperature and prone to congealing. Squeezing out some product can become laborious if you’ve left the lip balm sitting out in a cold room overnight (troublesome if you have poor insulation or live in a Dakota). Furthermore, if too much comes out, you can bet that no amount of rubbing your lips together will smooth out the additional goop. Often, I find that it clumps on my lips and then, ultimately, makes its way onto my front teeth. Not cute.

Final verdict: glad I tried, but on to the next one.

Important: Contains Shea Butter, Paraben-Free, Petrolatum-Free, Cruelty-Free