It is very common to give in and spend lots of money on products that you do not need, and I know from personal experience that lip products are included in this struggle. To help you not buy too many lip products that you don’t need, I have curated a list of lip products that are worth purchasing. Products are sorted into three categories (night time products, balms, and glosses) and they each have what makes them worth buying. Overall I recommend buying the Laneige sleeping mask, the Summer Fridays butter balm, and the Saie lip gloss.
Nighttime lip products:
Best overall: Laneige sleeping mask
Price: $24
I use this product almost every night and it never fails to keep my lips moisturized, especially in the cold and dry weather. It leaves your lips hydrated without being oily and you only need a small amount. I bought a special edition flavor almost a year ago and I still have about a third of the product left. This lip mask is definitely worth the price and if you cannot decide on just one scent I recommend buying the gift set which includes 5 mini lip masks in different flavors.
When you want to feel pretty going to bed: Farmacy lip smoothie
Price: $22
I first bought this “lip smoothie” as a gift, but after sampling a mini size I decided that I should try it out. Although it comes in many different scents, they all go on sheer with a slight gloss. It is a bit oily so after applying I use a tissue to clean up the edges. Since this product is so moisturizing it is great for use after the day when your lips are dry but I usually stay away from using it unless I am going to sleep due to the oily texture.
Budget friendly: Aquaphor
Price: $5
The immediate relief lip ointment may be the most well known lip treatment as it is so versatile as a product. I feel that at night when I am going to bed is when it helps my lips the most. I usually only use Aquaphor in the winter when my lips are extremely chapped, but it never disappoints! I wake up with soft and hydrated lips. I find the formula to be a bit sticky but since this is mostly to repair chapped lips it always gets the job done.
Lip balms:
Best overall: Summer Fridays butter balm
Price: $24
My holy grail. First of all, I have only run out of one scent in over a year and a half of using them (granted I use two or three scents on rotation). It leaves your lips with a soft shine without any sort of glitter. All colors go on sheer with a small tint and a scent that only the wearer can smell when applying. Vanilla and pink sugar are the lightest shades while cherry and poppy leave your lips with a bright red and orange sheen. The balms are not sticky, but a mix of an oil and a traditional lip balm which gives them their unique texture. In my case I can go up to an hour and a half without reapplying and my lips will stay hydrated. If you end up purchasing any summer Fridays product, don’t forget to save your empty containers! When you go to the Summer Fridays website and click on the recycle with us tab, you will be able to send back any empty Summer Fridays packages for a $25 gift card to spend on any item from the Summer Fridays store.
Most hydrating: Tower 28 lip softie
Price: $16
This is a perfect item to buy as a gift or for yourself. It has a unique texture, almost a liquid. When applying it usually comes out of the container in a large glob so it is best to rub your lips together to spread the product equally. Unlike most balms the Lip Softie leaves a prominent color on your lips and I have found that the scent of watermelon kiwi looks the most natural. It keeps your lips moisturized for hours but it loses sheen after about twenty minutes. I have only recently purchased this product so I am not sure on average how long it will last, but since buying it a month ago and using it at school I have not made a dent.
Best to toss in your bag: Laneige lip glowy balm
Price: $19
This pocket-sized product is great for tossing it in your bag of necessities. The glowy balm is similar to the Summer Fridays butter balm in terms of texture and application. I have not bought a full size version of this product yet, but I have been using multiple minis. Many of my friends rave about this product and how it leaves your lips feeling moisturized and not oily, and from my experience I agree. All scents except for blueberry leave practically no color. From going through multiple minis I can say that the glowy balm does not run out quickly and can last you at least three weeks and a full size is known to last for about a year.
Glosses:
Best overall: Saie glossybounce high-shine lip gloss
Price: $22
The Saie glossybounce is my favorite lip gloss by far. It leaves your lips glossy, not oily, and most importantly it passes the wind test. the main enemy of a lip gloss wearer is wearing your hair down on a windy day. Even with your hair blowing about, the Saie lip gloss will not budge or catch any stray hairs. There is no scent to these glosses and each shade leaves an effortless tint. I think that this is the best lip gloss because not only does it look good in photos but it does not feel like you are wearing a heavy, sticky sludge. Saie recently came out with shimmer versions which include glitter and they now have six high shine (sheen with no glitter) and three shimmer shades. I have had this product for eight months and I am due for a refill. It is a small packaging that can easily fit into your pockets to take on the go.
Best for photos: Glossier lip gloss
Price: $18
The glossier lip gloss is perfect for tossing in your pocket on your way out. It leaves your lips shiny, but not glittery and it looks great in pictures. It comes in six shades, three with glitter and three without. My favorite shades are clear, which has a slight pink tint, and the shade named red which appears hot pink while on your lips. The texture is a bit heavy and you can definitely feel that you are wearing something. The lip gloss does not do very well in the wind—so do not wear this if you are walking around with your hair down. In my opinion this is the best looking lip gloss but the texture and inability to stay on your lips is what makes it take the number 2 spot.
Best texture: Tower 28 ShineOn lip jelly
Price: $16
This lip jelly is a great lip gloss alternative. I say alternative because it has the consistency of an oil, but a bit more sticky. It looks just like any other gloss but it is more matte when applied. I have it in shade chill which is clear and there are 7 shades. It is perfect for if you want a hydrating lip product that looks very shiny. It is a very reasonable price compared to other products like it and there is a good amount of product.