What components should be in the formulations of balms and what means will save lips even in the most severe winter? BeautyHack editors talk about beauty veterans and new products that protect against cracks, peeling and chapping.
Lip balm No Make-up Protect Lip Balm, shade 02 Grape, Vprove
Tested by BeautyHack editor Daria Sizova:
In winter, without lip balm, I don't even leave the house for milk. I liked the product of the Korean brand Vprove immediately: the smell of grapes and a non-sticky texture are already the key to success. In texture, it is quite dense, but it is conveniently distributed over the lips directly from the package. The main component is grape seed oil. It also restores dry, cracked lips. I use the balm daily. Lips stay hydrated for up to three hours even in freezing temperatures, and peppermint pleasantly cools them, slightly increasing in volume. I tried to apply the balm over lipstick, it turned out to be an interesting glossy effect. And the lips need protection, even if they have lipstick on!
Price: 620 rub.
Shea Moisturizing Lip Balm, L'Occitane
Tested by BeautyHack editor Daria Sizova:
I have known the balms of this brand for a long time, and I love them dearly in the cold season. The composition contains Shea butter - a natural barrier that protects against external environmental factors. The balm has a cumulative effect, and if you use it regularly, your lips will become softer. The tool copes well with dryness (even if you drink little water - and I occasionally sin with this).
If the lips are completely dry, then the wow effect can be seen even after several applications. I love to apply it at night: it regenerates the skin of the lips, and in the morning it is easier to prepare them for applying lipstick. Bonus - the balm can also be applied to the cuticle. Shea butter, one of the most famous ingredients in L'Occitane, also works here.
Price: 750 rub.
Balm Butterstick Lip Treatment, Touch of Berry, Kiehl's
Tested by BeautyHack editor Anastasia Speranskaya:
Tint balm is a product that I never part with (at least one should always be in my purse). Due to the constant use of matte lipsticks, lips beg for mercy, and a transparent and barely noticeable balm is not always enough. So, when I want to add color to my life, I take Kiehl’s Berry Butterstick. It contains coconut and lemon oils - together they nourish the lips and protect them from the harmful effects of the environment. At the same time, the balm smells like chocolate candy (you just want to eat it) and is very pleasant on the lips: not too sticky, moderately moisturizing and gives a very natural effect of kissed lips.
Price: 1 400 rub.
Lip balm Lip Vibrance, Blistex
Tested by BeautyHack Creative Director Ksenia Wagner:
Firstly, the lips after use are immediately berries, like those of girls from Soviet cartoons (but they don't look painted). Secondly, it is long-lasting - shine, nutrition and oiliness persist for at least an hour even on the street (and even now). Thirdly, a nice mirror is built into the cap.
So far, out of everything tested this season, the balm is the only one who really immediately eliminated peeling (at least visually). True, the smell and taste of strawberries is not for everybody.
Price: 329 rub.
Balm Colored Balm, Kiko Milano
Tested by BeautyHack SMM manager Elizaveta Plenkina:
Color balm from Kiko is a godsend for those who want to simultaneously moisturize their lips and give them a delicate shade.. The composition of the balm contains shea butter, vitamins A, E and C, which give it a creamy texture that is comfortable to apply on the lips. Kiko says that with daily use of the product, the moisture level of the lips increases by 14%. A very nice figure!
The balm is available in seven delicate shades, ranging from translucent peach to intense blueberry. I got the last blueberry. The pigmentation (for the balm) is wonderful, the dark berry shade looks natural and shines on the lips.
The balm is pleasant to apply, the delicate texture instantly makes the lips soft, and the light caramel-fruity aroma carries over into summer!
Price: 490 rub.
Lip balm Lip Balm, Himalaya Herbals
Tested by BeautyHack SMM manager Elizaveta Plenkina:
The balm contains four vegetable oils: coconut, castor, carrot seeds and wheat germ. They soften and nourish the lips, and also protect them from dryness and flaking. The product has a transparent texture and a convenient applicator, so it can be applied anywhere and without a mirror.
Feel free to take the balm with you on vacation in the mountains or at sea - the composition includes a UV filter. Despite the herbal component, the balm has a delicious aroma of Bubble gum. One of the best budget options!
Price RUB 98
Tinted Lip Balm French Kiss Tinted Lip, Raspberry Red, Caudalie
Tested by the editorial assistant of BeautyHack Natalia Andreeva:
I appreciate products that provide both hydration and light color at the same time. The balm lays down in a thin layer, but nourishes the lips perfectly! At the finish, a tint effect is obtained, although in the tube you will see a very rich red hue.
The balm contains beeswax, aloe vera extract, castor oil. Free from parabens and mineral oil. The only negative is that the balm must be applied with a finger or a brush. In public places, this is completely inconvenient and unhygienic.
Price: 750 rub.
Lip Balm Shea Butter Miracle Balm, Purple Tree
Tested by the editorial assistant of BeautyHack Natalia Andreeva:
It has an incredibly tasty cocoa scent - this is the first thing you think of when you get a balm. The product has a pleasant non-sticky texture, it lies flat on the lips, instantly moisturizing them (in the composition of fatty acids and provitamin A).
I advise you to apply Purple Tree at night - in the morning your lips will be very soft! A big plus of the product is that it can be applied to the cuticles, skin of the hands, elbows and heels, to style eyebrows with it and even lengthen the eyelashes.
Price: 340 rub.
Maya Bee Lip Balm, Organic Kitchen
Tested by BeautyHack special correspondent Anastasia Lyagushkina:
Outwardly, the balm resembles real honey (Organic Kitchens are famous for their cheerful textures)! There are no differences: color, consistency and even aroma. I used the product in windy weather and was satisfied. In addition to real white honey, the composition contains organic macadamia oil. In addition, it nourishes and moisturizes the skin of the lips, it also heals small wounds and cracks.
Price: 99 rub.
Lip balm Kiss Elixir Lip Balm, Rouge Bunny Rouge
Tested by BeautyHack special correspondent Anastasia Lyagushkina:
I want to use Rouge Bunny Rouge Lip Balm every chance I get so everyone can see the absolutely fantastic minimal packaging! In winter it is not so difficult, because the balm is needed every three hours. This product has a thick texture and adheres tightly to the lips. Almond, argan and shea oils are responsible for softening and restoring the lips. The product is based on beeswax, so it won't stick to your lips. The spicy scent reminded me of an scented candle, which is great - can be used for aromatherapy.
Price: 1840 rub.
Lip balm with honey Manuka Paw Paw Papaya Lip Balm, Papaya Gold
Tested by BeautyHack special correspondent Anastasia Lyagushkina:
I have been using the second balm of the Papaya brand and am pleased with the effect of both! Means honey - in composition and appearance. Contains manuka honey (antiseptic and antifungal that is obtained from the tea tree), dense, sugar, melts from the heat of the lips when applied and dissolves on them. Moisturizes nourishes, soothes and heals microcracks, I apply it on my lips every day after washing my face, and for an express recovery I make a night mask.
Price: 377 rub.
Nourishing lip balm Hydra Beauty Nutrition, Chanel
Tested by editorial assistant Karina Ilyasova:
A weighty jar with a minimalist design filled with white balm. The product is dense, thick, but within 5 minutes after application it is completely absorbed. I tested the balm on chapped lips. At first I applied a thick layer at night, in the morning there was not a hint of dryness. All the husks have smoothed out, the skin has become nourished and moisturized.
The absence of any application tool is fully compensated by the size of the jar: it is very wide, so it is convenient to apply the balm directly to the lips themselves.
Price: 2840 rub.
Rose-shea butter Baume au Karite, L'occitane
Tested by editorial assistant Karina Ilyasova:
The basis of the product is the classic shea butter (the brand's bestseller), but only with a rose scent. The product can be applied to chapped areas of the face and hands, but the 10 g bottle allows you to use it as a lip balm and carry it with you. Of course, the narrow neck and the absence of a spatula make it difficult to use, but you can get used to it.
The oil lays down in a light layer. Contains vitamin E, which helps already damaged lips. The most convenient and effective use is at night, in a thick layer, and in the morning the lips will be ready for makeup.
Price: 770 rub.
Balm for deep recovery Nutritic Levres, La Roche-Posay
Tested by editorial assistant Karina Ilyasova:
I have already used La Roche-Posay Sunscreen Stick. Nutritic Levres is another version of it, but without the SPF filter. The balm is intended for dry and sensitive lips - that is, for mine. The composition contains biolipids and ceramides 5, which both protect and restore the skin of the lips.
The lipstick spreads very nicely over the lips - you can feel how it envelops them, but there is no "oily" effect. It is matte but gives the lips a subtle glow.
Price: RUB 657
Means for moisturizing lips Lip moisturizer, Santa Maria Novella
Tested by editorial assistant Karina Ilyasova:
A blend of sesame, grape seed and apricot vegetable oils designed to restore dry and flaky lips. But it is also suitable for the prevention of cracks in winter. The only negative is the very small volume. It is a pity, because the balm is really pleasant: it does not leave a sticky finish, is quickly absorbed and really heals wounds on the lips. It is used relatively sparingly, but I reserve it for emergencies.
Price: 2 720 rub.
Lip Balm Baume Pour Les Levres, V76 by
Tested by BeautyHack editor Julia Kozoliy:
The balm almost immediately ended up in my husband's backpack. It is understandable: it does not shine, leaves a menthol finish and cools the lips. And the V76 by Vaughn brand itself is masculine. It was created by one of the best barbers (already in the third generation) and celebrity stylists in the United States, Vaughn Akord. His portfolio includes works with Al Pacino, Richard Gere, Bill Clinton and shooting for GQ, Time, Rolling Stone.
All V76 products (and these are shampoos, conditioners, grooming products, cleansing foams, lotions and exfoliants) do not contain mineral oils, parabens, sulfates, liquid petroleum jelly. For example, lip balm is made up of jojoba, coconut, sunflower seeds, and vitamin E.
The product will not save already chapped lips (it cares for the lips very delicately and does not leave a dense oily layer), but it is suitable for daily use in winter.
Price: 720 rub.
Moisturizing and regenerating lip balm Hydra-Essentiel, Сlarins
Tested by BeautyHack editor Julia Kozoliy:
I recommend this balm in cases where the lips need emergency help. In January, I forgot about lip care for a few days, thinking that the wind and frost would not have time to spoil them, but nude lipstick would even embellish them. It turned out the other way around. Since then, I do not rely on lipsticks at all (no matter how oily they are) in winter and only use them at events.
Hydra-Essentiel is felt on the lips, covering them with a light film. In theory, a shade should remain on them (the texture has a delicate, very delicate pink color), but it is not visible. Unlike the previous product, Clarins has a less gentle composition: there is mineral oil and paraffin. Perhaps this will scare off some of those who want to try the remedy and those who react to such components with allergies. But from myself I will say that the balm really works, protecting the lips from chapping and peeling.
Price: 1600 rub.
Protective Lip Balm Sacred Nature, Comfort Zone
Tested by BeautyHack editor Natalia Kapitsa:
I am in love with the Comfort Zone brand from the first day of our acquaintance, which lasts six months. During this time, not a single disappointment - delight and nothing else. The same story happened with Sacred Nature's Nourishing Protective Balm. As soon as I opened the cap and smelled the natural essential oils, my heart was surrendered to this laconic case. The main active ingredient is Buriti oil, which is responsible for hydration, protection from wind and other adverse environmental factors. All components in the composition are 100% natural and produced from organic crops. The balm is easy to apply - begins to melt on the lips, is quickly absorbed and does not spread. And for the smell you can sell the soul - it seems that this is how real organic matter should smell.
Price: 1800 rub.
