Luscious lips

When your lips are dry, a stain just won’t cut it. That’s the time to turn to the great staple that is the tinted lip balm. Though the whole category has a certain “granola vibe” to it, not all tinted lip balms are alike and you are sure to find something perfect for your needs.

For the color-phobic I’d recommend Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm. Not a tinted lip balm, this one has just a hint of color and sheen. It smells and feels delicious without adding a lot of chemicals to the process. I’ll also admit that it’s on this list because I love it and I’ll plug it wherever I can. : )

If you’re looking for some color without a glossy effect, Burt’s Bees also recently launched a new tinted lip balm. Rose, a mix between pink and red, looks like very natural. Again, I like that the ingredient list is short and sweet.

Last but not least, luxe lovers can check out Fresh SugarTinted Lip treatments. Beautiful texture and scent, with three colors to choose from – Honey, Rosé and Plum.

Lips!

Ah, lipstick on the teeth… the ultimate giveaway that your “better than natural” lip color is not that natural after all! I swear I try hard, and even do the thing where you wrap your lips around your thumb and pull it out, to remove some of the excess color. Nothing works for me, which is why I love stains and most of all, sharpie-like markers.

I remember when Yves Saint Laurent came up with their Lip Marker in 2003. I was ecstatic! Sure, it was expensive, the color wasn’t that great (I had #1, the peachiest color that was still way too pink and bright), and it dried up pretty quickly but it was so smart! And it stayed put! And none got on my teeth! I was hooked.

Fast forward to 2010 and those lip markers are everywhere. Covergirl has updated the formula to something that is beautiful, non drying and very wearable. My favorite is Sassy Mauve, which is what my lips would look like if Mother Nature had given them the perfect hue. 

Some people complain about application but basic ground rules will guarantee that you have the best effect. Make sure your lips are in good shape to start with – exfoliate them with a soft lip scrub such as the ones by Lush – moisturize lightly with some balm and apply a quick layer of stain. Step back and admire your work. Add more if needed. 

Even your kissing partner won’t be able to tell you’re wearing lip make up!