TINTED BALMS ARE THE BOMB

Posted by Roni 12.17.09

PHOTO CREDIT: lauramercier.com

Now that we are five nights into Hanukkah I’m looking to add a little color on the lip balm front. Tinted lip balms are the best of both worlds, providing great hydration and conditioning, and a subtle wash of color that helps me look pulled together even when I’m not. I like that I can put them on without a mirror… and no, I’ve never been one of those women who could do that with lipstick, and to this day I rank that skill’s difficulty and magic up there with Claire’s ability to apply lip gloss from her cleavage in The Breakfast Club. Tinted lip balms are my friends.

Almay Pure Tints have been a part of my life for longer than I can remember. The tube is teeny enough to slip into the pocket of my skinniest jeans, application is so effortless, and the look and feel are absolute perfection, with SPF 25 to boot. I only ever wear Berry and love it dearly, but it comes in over a dozen colors. I particularly love the price tag, $6.

Laura Mercier Hydratint Lip Balm delivers everything you have come to expect from la Laura; the packaging is fabulous, the sheer colors are great, and the lasting moisture is like a little party for your lips, where ingredients like shea butter, grape seed oil and green tea extract are the guests of honor. Along with beautiful color and hydration, you get SPF 15. It is available in eight shades and retails for $20.

The other day I wrote about Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1, and I like to think of Kiehl’s Tinted Lip Balm as its fancy sister, with many of the same qualities and characteristics plus a pop of color and SPF 15. Over the years I’ve given this tinted balm to my three sisters, my mom and a number of friends. It is so smooth and has the ideal amount of pigment. In fact, this is the lip product that I tucked into my “something borrowed” Judith Lieber clutch at my wedding (Hue 58B) , and it worked late into the night for countless kisses and glasses of champagne. It is available in two colors and costs $9.50 for a tube.

*Purchased*

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