Remember when lip balm meant a $6 tub of Carmex from the chemist? Or a tube of PawPaw ointment? It kind of still does, but there's also been an influx of luxury lip balms popping up from the likes of Celine, Prada, Dior, Hermès...
It makes sense – lipstick has always been positioned as an accessory or status indicator. It's often the only part of our beauty routine we partake in publicly. Plus, lip products are known as 'affordable luxuries', especially in times of economic uncertainty (look up the 'lipstick index', if you want to know more).
Lipstick is one thing, but why can't we also indulge in designer balm? Often, it's the only thing we use, anyway – so why not turn something utilitarian into a little treat? If it sounds like something you'd like to partake in, below you'll find the best designer lip balms. Just don't loose them...
Le Rouge Celine Matte Lip Balm
This smells like vintage silk and flowers, and has a soft matte finish that won't disturb your lipstick. However it also comes tinted and is perfect worn alone.
Prada Beauty Lip Balm
A favourite of the Prada Beauty offering. This lip balm comes in many fun shades – minty Prada green (that applies clear), blue, and yellow (the latter smells like bananas). It's hydrating but not glossy and imparts a lovely pink-ish tint for an undetectable your lips but better finish.
CHANEL Beauty Rouge Coco Baume
This lip balm has a subtle shimmer for lips that sparkle when the lights hit. It's glossier and oilier – the kind of moisture you can feel without thickness or heaviness.
Louis Vuitton LV Baume Lip Balm
This is a crowd pleaser – perfectly balanced moisture that actually conditions dry or chapped lips, plus a subtly minty fragrance that's fresh for all the senses.
Hermès Lip Care Balm
Formulated with beeswax and floral extracts, this refillable balm affords extreme nourishment with a deceptively lightweight finish. It really is the perfect lipstick prep product. Fun fact: Hermès in-house perfumer Christine Nagel created its signature fragrance (it's powdery, slightly floral and deeply nostalgic).
Dior Rouge Dior Balm
Dior certainly knows its way around a cult lip product and this balm is no exception. It's rich in red peony and shea butter for moisture to plump, smooth and enhance the natural lip colour.
Byredo Chromophobia Lip Balm
This balm was created by Lucia Pica (formerly of Chanel Beauty) and it shows. The curved two-toned bullet houses a hydrating balm enriched with plant extracts for nourishment that can be used on the lips, but also the cheeks and eyes.
By Terry Baume de Rose
Francophiles or true beauty fans will know (and probably love) By Terry's Baume de Rose. It has a silky texture that melts onto the lips, plus it smells like freshly cut garden roses. Cult for a reason.
Augustinus Bader The Tinted Balm
Sofia Coppola approves and therefore so do we. If you want light moisture with long-term skin benefits and a rosy pink tint, Augustinus Bader is the one for you.
Images: Courtesy of Celine, Prada Beauty.
