ICONIC LIP BALMS

Posted by Roni 12.14.09

PHOTO CREDIT: amazon.com

Tonight I am thinking about spending my dreidel loot on lip balms that have attained iconic status. Their packaging has become visual shorthand for “good stuff.” They dwell at the bottom of every it bag, grace the lips of fashionistas, celebrities and everyday ladies. But do they really work?

Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 works magic on weather-beaten lips with key ingredients cottonseed oil and Octinoxate/Octyl Methoxycinnimate, which delivers SPF 4 protection. Since Lip Balm #1 debuted 40 years ago Kiehl’s has trotted out numerous variations on the theme including scented and tinted versions, but plain old #1 remains their bestseller, which comes as no surprise given its $6.50 price tag, great textures and excellent results. File under weird: I get much better results with Kiehl’s in a tube than I do with Kiehl’s #1 in a jar.

Recently TWA gave Smith’s Rosebud Salve a try and loved it. I’m a sucker for its gorgeous vintage packaging and amazing fragrance. Rosebud Salve has a history as rich as its texture, as the flagship product of the Rosebud Perfume Company which was founded in 1895. Its applications go far beyond lip conditioning, as an aid for chapped skin, diaper rash and dry elbows. Like Kiehl’s, Smith’s main ingredient is cottonseed oil in a petroleum base. A pretty little tin retails for $6.

I couldn’t possibly spend eight nights talking about lip care products without mentioning ChapStick. Like Smith’s ChapStick’s history dates back to the 1800s, and Cherry Chapstick has one of the most distinctive scents around. The classic provides SPF4, and ingredients include camphor, lanolin, mineral oil and white wax from bees. I can do without the animal products, and at the end of the day the smell-o-riffic nostalgia isn’t enough to keep Chapstick in rotation for me. At $2 a tube I can do better. In a pinch, I’d sooner borrow a smidge of my son’s Aquaphor.

WHAT’S NEW IN OUR BAG

GINSENG – WINTER’S PERFECT PICK-ME-UP

Treasured around the world for its energizing and yes, libido boosting effect, ginseng also adds an invigorating component to face, body and hair products. You may be familiar with its energizing power from tea and other drinks like Red Bull.

MEET CLAUDIO PINTO – NEW YORK CITY’S MASTER AESTHETICIAN

Master Medical Aesthetician, Claudio Pinto, is an expert in corrective skincare specializing in the treatment of acne, aging skin, smoker’s skin, sun-damaged skin and slacking skin using the latest corrective skincare technology.

BORGHESE LAUNCHES TUSCAN INSPIRED HAIR CARE

The healing waters of Tuscany, which have made Borghese skincare and makeup a stand out brand for decades, is now available in hair care products. Venerable beauty brand Borghese has just announced the launch of a premium line of hair care.

A L’EAU TO LOVE

Fans of the rose, here’s a new fragrance option for you just in time for Valentine’s Day. L’Eau de Chloé is a new interpretation of the city-chic rose scent made popular by the original Chloé Eau de Parfum that launched in 2008.

KIEHL’S KEY TO SKIN CLARITY

Addressing uneven skin tone seems to be the breakthrough product category of the winter season. Now Kiehl’s ups its game with the launch of Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution ($49.50).

A PERFECT TOUCH FROM YVES SAINT LAURENT

When you find that perfect beauty product, you just want to shout about it from the top of the Empire State Building. Perfect Touch Foundation by Yves Saint Laurent is one of those products.

SEW YOUR WILD OATS

A power packed heart-healthy food, oatmeal is also a nourishing and soothing ingredient in beauty products. A perfect antidote for many causes of irritation and inflammation, including insect bites and rashes, oatmeal is a natural non-clogging moisturizer for the skin.

GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY – ANGELO DAVID HANDCRAFTED HAIR BRUSH

The days of brushing your hair 100 times each night are long gone; nevertheless everyone needs a good hair brush. For this week’s GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY, we have 3 Angelo David Classic, Handcrafted Paddle Brushes (a $65 value) to give to our lucky winners.