Lip Balm Lollapalooza: Stick It To Me

Easily slipped into your pocket, handbag or clutch, stick lip balms are an important staple in almost every beauty addict's arsenal.  From drugstore classics to high-end hall of famers, keep reading to find out the good, the bad and the balmy on some of the most popular stick lip products out there!

$2.16 for 0.17oz
Available at Amazon.com

Nom alert! Yes - this chapstick is in fact as delicious as it sounds.  While I’ve tried many other varieties in the Nivea 'Kiss of' family, milk and honey remains my all-time favorite.  The rich, emollient, dark yellow product glides on easily and leaves lips feeling glossy and soothed.  It has a very light, pleasantly sweet smell, though I’m sad to report the balm is flavorless (wouldn’t a dose of honey flavor be divine?!?)  In terms of moisturization, milk and honey does a better job than most.  My lips are left feeling smooth and hydrated for at least two hours after application. The only real downside – the tube didn’t last as long as I’d like it to (approximately three weeks with daily use).

 The bottom line: A delicious and effective moisturizer worthy of repurchasing

Want to stick it to me?

$22.50 for 0.15oz
Available at Amazon.com

I was beyond thrilled to discover that the mini Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment was the Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift for February (the fabulous month of my birth).  Who doesn't love a free birthday gift!?!?  Considering all the hype around this product, I had some pretty high expectations - Was this it? Had my Holy Grail lip product been sitting on the shelves of my local Sephora all this time?  Sadly - no ... I was not at all impressed with this product.  The balm itself is very sense and waxy, with a tragically non-glossy finish.  It does a decent job of coating the lips, but doesn't absorb well - I'm left with a thick/goopy film for at least an hour application.  When the product finally does dissipate, I find that my lips aren't even significantly moisturized.  These shortcomings, combined with the fact that the lemony scent reminds me of a kitchen cleaning product, means I won't be repurchasing.  Note: the Rose version left a beautiful tint on the lips, but the disappointing formula just isn't worth the money.

The bottom line: An ineffective product that is much over hyped and ridiculously overpriced

$4.48 for 0.15oz
Available at Amazon.com

Sad to say I'm not a fan of Burt's Bees lip balm.  With an incredibly unpleasant, thick and waxy texture, this is definitely a product I would not recommend or repurchase.  The most irritating thing about this balm is that it's obnoxiously difficult to apply.  Because the product is so hard/dense, I find I have to forcibly drag it across my lips in order to get a good coating.  Flakies are not eliminated, but rather coated in wax and accentuated on the lips - gross!  While the cooling mentholated effect is nice, it's not enough to make up for the lack of moisturizing benefits.  I bought a tube, but only used it a handful of times before I tossed it - sadness!


The bottom line: A big, waxy letdown that offers few (if any) benefits

$1.59 for 0.14oz
Available at Amazon.com

My name is WallStreetBeautyBeat and I am a Lip Smacker - A - Holic.  Yes, such a thing exists!  Kiwi? Passionfruit? Cotton Candy? I've collected all the core flavors (along with almost every limited edition holiday version - woot, woot).  Why am I so obsessed with these things?  Well, for one thing - they have the nostalgia factor working for them.  Remember comparing flavors with your friends in middle school?  But beyond the novelty factor, Lip Smackers are seriously great products.  With a silky smooth texture that glides over lips and leaves behind a delicious scent and flavor, these babies also provide major moisture and shine.  My current favorite is cotton candy, but I have yet to meet a Lip Smacker I didn't love ... You go Bonne Bell!


The bottom line: A reliable classic that will never let you (or your lips) down

What is your favorite stick lip balm?  Share your thoughts below!