Let's talk lip balms
Everything feels so intense so why not.
The last two weeks have been filled with so much intense emotion and valid worry that I ended up hitting full saturation and have somehow rebooted into a state of calm.
I know everything is not well with the world and we have so much work yet to do, but right now all I want to think about is the new wave of lip balms that have hit the market and I thought maybe, just maybe you would enjoy a little break from all the bad news to dive into something as simple as lip balm too.
I have all the lip balms I have been testing lined out in front of me on my desk while I write this in my home office in San Francisco.
My office is a 5 by 7 foot closet in my apartment. I am pretty sure when it was first built it was intended to be a pantry. My only question is why it has two doors. For a few years it was my youngest daughter’s nursery. You can see photos from that period here. The walls are still pink but they currently have large paint swatches and the room feels decidedly undone and hectic, just like current events.
All the decisions about how to decorate my office were in a state of extreme flux. I was going to upgrade the space with California Closets but thankfully didn’t go through with that and now for months I have just been mulling over colors, storage solutions, correct desk heights and various other directions I could go with the space.
Part of my newfound calmness came from finally making some decisions about where I was headed with this office space. I found a great chair on Craigslist two weeks ago that acted as a foundation from which to build out decisions. I think it’s important in life when things seem overwhelming or confusing to find one constant to build around and this chair became just that. I also found this display/storage solution that I feel won’t overwhelm the room due to the glass sides and doors. It was as if one decision and somewhat impulsive purchase of a chair allowed for all of the others to follow.
Sorry to go on and on about the office. I just don’t have too many people to talk to at length about it and I feel like my newsletter subscribers (especially after receiving all of those incredible messages over the weekend) are my people.
Lip balms
You may not have noticed that the beauty industry works in trends. Many companies come out with very similar products in the same 6 month span. Victoria Beckham and Violette_FR kicked off the balms and soon followed a bunch of others. The ones on this list are not colored (except for the Rhodes) and they each have their own benefits.
Typology Resurfacing Lip Peel & Repairing Lip Mask - This is a combo of two products. The lip peel is gentle and the mask is a very soothing combo of a balm and oil.
Eadam Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm - This works. It goes on heavy and very gently exfoliates so you just have nice soft lips. I slather it on at night before bed.
Clinique Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment - Best name and does what it says.
Ouli’s Ointment - I have been using this All Purpose Beauty Balm for 6 years now and it is fabulous.
MyHavtorn - Everything you want Burt’s Bees to be but better and from an organic farm in Sweden.
Rhode Skin Peptide Lip Tints - I included this set because I bought it for my daughters for Christmas and they absolutely loved it.
Iris and Romeo Lip Cocoon Barrier Peptide Balm - This is my favorite. It feel luxurious to apply, it’s very hydrating, it is not sticky, it stays put and it gives great shine.
Lipsticks
There are two lipsticks that are hands down the best lipsticks that have ever existed from my view. They are Violette_fr Bisou Balm in Betisse and Lisa Eldridge Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick in Lisa (Lisa is sold out but Medici is also lovely).
The Bisou Balm has been my go to since she launched and it’s my most used lipstick ever. It has the texture of the outside of a marshmallow and the color is soft and easy. The refillable lipstick from Lisa Eldridge is a weightless formula that also has high pigment payoff. It wears off really nicely. I don’t get a lipstick ring when I wear it and it doesn’t cake. It truly is one of my favorite purchases of 2024.
The full list
If you would like to look at the full shopable list here is THAT LINK.
Thank you for taking this little lip balm break with me. Please let me know if there are any other balms you swear by and if you have any idea why my office has two doors.
L Jen
After all these years I still swear by Carmex, but I am obsessed with Typology lately so I will check out their lip peel and mask. I’m also intrigued by the Bisou Balm as I do love a good lip tint.