Winter: the season of sparkly snow, marshmallow-topped hot chocolate, cozy nights by the fireplace, and, perhaps most notably, painfully chapped lips.
In order to fend off this problem, I have tried numerous different products, from lip gloss to chapstick to lip oil. In addition to my collection of the latter, I decided to try some of the most popular lip balms on the market today.
When assessing the quality of lip products, there are a few necessary characteristics to take into account, including value, application, appearance, and longevity.
One of the most well-known and popularly used lip balms is Aquaphor Lip Repair. One .35-ounce tube is just under 5 dollars. The affordability of this product is one of the first aspects that drew me to it.
Upon unscrewing the cap, I noticed a diagonal-shaped applicator, which made it possible to apply it without needing to use my fingers. However, the applicator was very stiff, so it was hard to fully and effectively spread it.
The ointment itself, however, provided a thick, non-sticky fluid coat and quick relief to dry lips. I felt the moisture immediately sink in. On another positive note, I did not need to reapply until 4 hours later.
As far as appearance goes, the Aquaphor created a shiny sheen- which lasted for about 3 hours- but it had no tint, which was one of the few downsides.
Next up was the tint specialty: the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump. One thing that I immediately loved about this product was the shiny, alluring packaging. It also has a diagonal applicator complete with a pump on the bottom to push the product upwards when it gets low, similar to a push pop. I love the pump applicator because it is much easier than squeezing a tube like you need to for most lip products.
I purchased the shade “mixed berries” in the .1 ounce size for 24 dollars at my local Sephora. For such a high price, I was excited to put it to the test.
I uncapped the container, pumped the product to the top, and began to apply it on my lips. The application, as expected, was easy and smooth, and the product itself melted into my lips. The process was quick as there was no need to rub it in because I was able to put it directly onto my lips. It felt only slightly sticky.
The color was also perfect. It gave my lips an amazing, dark red tint, natural but stylish with a subtle shimmer.
The downfall of this product, however, was its longevity. The shine only lasted for about an hour, and, after about an hour and a half, my lips were dry and in need of another application. An argument for the product is that only a little is needed to get the look desired, so, despite the need to reply so often, it does have a long shelf- or vanity- life.
Finally was the product with so much hype that it has been sold out on-and-off for months: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. I purchased the shade vanilla beige in the .5-ounce size for $24, also at Sephora.
At first glance, Summer Fridays won the packaging competition. Each flavor is associated with a different color with the same aesthetic word layout on the sleek tube and an unscrewable cap.
What was underneath the cap, however, is what impressed me most. To use the balm, the tube is squeezed and the product is pushed out onto the rubber, diagonal applicator. This applicator is perfect because it is bendable and easy to spread the product across the lips. The consistency was slightly thinner than Aquaphor, but they spread about the same; fairly smooth but taking a little extra time to spread.
The balm gave a tinted and slightly glossy glow, which presented very naturally. Additionally, this appearance lasted for about 3 hours, and I did not have to reapply for about 3.5 hours.
One final bonus for the famed Summer Fridays was the smell. The vanilla scent was not too strong, but enough to pleasantly waft upwards while I applied the product. The smell is a subtle touch, but pleasant nonetheless.
Each lip balm shone in its own way. Aquaphor has the best cost-to-product ratio of about 14 dollars per ounce in comparison to 240 dollars per ounce for Tarte and 48 dollars per ounce for Summer Fridays. It also is the most moisturizing and long-lasting, perfect for a base coat under other products or a simple cure for dry, cracked lips.
However, as far as application, Summer Fridays took the cake. The bendy applicator made it easy to spread and add as much or little as I wanted. The natural glowy appearance also lasted for a few hours, which is a necessity for anybody on the go or unable to reapply often.
Finally, the winner of appearance was Tarte. The sparkle and tint were perfect… for the short amount of time that they lasted.
The most well-rounded of them all was the Summer Fridays lip butter balm, which will definitely stay a part of my routine, in every season Monday-Sunday.
However, each product had a win in at least one category, making it possible to find the perfect fit for whatever type of look, last, or feel that one may desire.