But not if your lips are crusty!!!! In the summer, we girls focus so much in keeping our heels soft that we can easily neglect our luscious lips. Soft lips are an absolute essential. To get them and keep them soft, you have to employ the same two steps regime you use on your feet - (1) exfoliate and (2) moisturize.
Exfoliants
My favorite way to exfoliate is with an old fashioned toothbrush. Just wet your lips and the toothbrush and scrub gently, or a little harder if the situation so demands, to remove the dead skin. You can also add a little vaseline to the brush to make the scrubbing a little more gentle. However, there are products specifically designed to exfoliate your lips with no need for the toothbrush.
Bigelow Soothing Lip Buffer
This lip buffer has aloe extract to soften lips and tiny granules to remove the dead skin. It's like a body scrub for your lips. It leaves your lips soft and has a sweet taste to it that makes the experience all the more pleasant. I actually use this after the toothbrush scrub just to make sure I've gotten my lips as soft as they can be. Although the tube is small, the product is a little goopy, so this is something definitely to do in the bathroom at home because you'll need to wipe the excess off your mouth.
Kenzo Brown Sugar
Last year, I bought a Kenzo Brown Sugar exfoliating lip treatment that I love. It's the size of a lipstick and comes in a silver package. Half of the stick is a brown sugar exfoliant and the other half is a moisturizing vitamin packed balm. I loved it because it fits into even the tiniest clutch purse and isn't even the slightest bit messy. It can truly go anywhere. I'm a little worried because I haven't been able to find any listings for it on Sephora's site, and that's where I bought it. I also couldn't find it anywhere else, so I fear that they may have discontinued it that quickly. If I'm wrong though and you see it online or in-store, first buy it for yourself because you'll love it, and then leave a comment here so I'll know where I can get another one.
Moisturizers
Next to lotion, lip balm is my second biggest product addiction. If I ever ended up on a Survivor-type island where I could only bring one thing, lip balm would probably win out though.
Now, I'm sure that everyone has their own personal favorites when it comes to basic lip balms. There are so many to choose from that there's no reason that you shouldn't have a favorite by now. I almost don't need to post anything here. But, I saw on the news a few years ago that some of the ingredients that companies add to lip balms actually make your lips more chapped because they suck the moisture out of them. So the more you use it, the drier your lips become and the more you need to use. It's a vicious cycle and chapstick addiction is still an addicition. Because of this, I try to only use balms that have very few ingredients in them and only ingredients that I recognize.
Smith's Rosebud Salve
A true all-star product. A classic formula that hasn't changed since it's invention and a smooth texture that glides on and keeps lips soft. It's a petroleum based balm so there aren't a lot of chemical additives to dry your lips out. It adds just a hint of color and shimmer to your mouth without getting shiny goopy overboard (the MAC lipglass moment is so over). This one is a beauty staple that has been loved by everyone for years. My mother actually put me on to this one. She used to order it from Ricky's (a beauty product junkie's heaven on 23rd Street in NYC) back in the day. Luckily now, Rosebud is having a moment and you can buy it at any Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie. Just stay away from the strawberry flavor, the original is by far the best.
The only drawback to this one is that you have to use your fingers to apply it. I'm a slight germaphobe, so I don't like putting my dirty hands into the tin to get some lip balm, I'm always worried that something will start to grow in there. Plus, with tins of lip balms, people like to try to stick their fingers in it, and I definitely can't take someone else's germs growing on my lips. I tend to keep this one at home for use only in the house. It's great to apply right before bed.
Eucerin Aquaphor
Aquaphor is one of the original healing ointments. My dermatologist recommended it to me last year and I've been using it ever since. Again, it's a petroleum based balm. This is really a head to toe product. It softens lips, feet, and elbows. You can apply it to burns or cuts or even diaper rash. I keep the largest size jar at home and use it anytime that I can. This one's a drugstore find available everywhere.
For some reason, Blogger isn't uploading the pic of the Aquaphor. It comes in a white tube or jar with navy blue writing and accents. Again, it's by Eucerin so it's right in your local drugstore.
Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
Another one I love and that's sold damn near everywhere now. Burt's Bees used to be sold in only organic/health food stores or natural beauty product outlets, but the products have become so popular, I've seen them on the counter at my local deli. This is a purse staple for me. Because it's in a stick form, this one doesn't require my hands to apply so no more germophobe worries. My favorite aspect though is the peppermint oil. It leaves a little tingle on my lips that comforts me. Hey, I'm easily amused, leave me alone.
I guess Blogger is just acting up with the pics tonight because this one won't show either. I'm sure that most of you know what this one looks like, but just in case, it comes in a yellow tube with a honey comb design on it.
Propoline Chamomile Lip Balm
This lip balm glides on so smoothly. It contains cocoa butter and Vitamin A to soften lips. And, as an added bonus, it has an SPF 15 sunscreen to protect lips. The sun can be a major cause of dry chapped lips. I love that this balm is still light and smooth even with the sun protection. So many other sunscreen lip balms are thick and leave a white cast on your lips, which can give a Six Feet Under kind of look, especially on those of us blessed with more melanin, but this one stays smooth and doesn't build up. I also love the clean fresh scent.
There are no negative reviews on lip care this time. I've seem to have an uncanny sense for what's a good lip balm and haven't really ventured into bad territory yet. I love all of these products so much.
If you buy or try one, don't forget to tell them that Ms. New Beauty sent you!!!
P.S. Sorry for the delay in posting a new review. Since the last one, I've been moving out of my summer apartment, planning a surprise party for my dad with 80 guests, and moving back into my apartment at school. I've been busy with sporadic internet access, but posting will resume as normal next week when school starts.
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