A brief scroll through my TikTok For You page reveals at least one lip product, adding to the phenomenon taking the internet by storm: obsessive lip gloss collections.
From shimmering shades to creamy balms, every girl seems to have her own arsenal of lip products ready to pucker up for the camera.
The Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm promises hydration and shine through shades and scents like Pink Sugar, Vanilla, Cherry, and more. The 15-gram tube comes with a price tag of $32.50—excessively overpriced.
Though I’m ashamed to admit it, I own two. What draws me to this product in particular is its sensational scent, with each balm smelling like a delectable dessert. The applicator is great and with a buttery formula, the gloss never feels sticky but has a thick consistency with a medium-lasting glossiness. However, I find myself rationing it due to fear of running out.
A cheaper—but still questionably priced—lip balm is the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, priced at $24.50 for a 20-gram tube. With fruity and candy themed scents, you can purchase one in shades Berry, Grapefruit, Peach, and Gummy Bear—I was gifted Berry as a birthday gift.
This balm surpasses the revered Summer Fridays in its moisturizing properties. It’s a must-have addition to your skincare regimen. Plus, it adds a subtle tint and a delightful shine to your lips.
Another Laneige option is the Lip Sleeping Mask, which comes in a cylinder jar for $33.50. Offering intense hydration and vitamin C, this leave-on lip mask promises to deliver intense moisture and antioxidants while you sleep with Berry Fruit Complex, Murumuru seed, and Shea butter. I own Gummy Bear and use it every night while I do my skincare.
One lip product that shines—pun intended—on TikTok is Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Peptide Treatment. It’s marketed as “the nourishing lip layer” and restorative lip treatment for naturally plump, pillowy-soft lips—suitable for day or night use.
Although you can order these 10 millilitre lip treatments directly from the Rhode website for $24, it’s not yet available at Sephora—the ultimate barrier for lip balm connoisseurs.
Bieber is upping the lip product game with her latest innovation: the Lip Case. It’s a silicone case for your phone that doubles as a lip balm holder, compatible with the latest iPhones and your favourite lip treatments.
There’s a catch though. The Rhode Peptide Treatment exclusively fits snugly into a special indent in the case. Talk about a match made in branding heaven.
Whether this lip formula is truly groundbreaking is up for debate, but the convenience factor is a game-changer. Finally, Gen Z and Millennials can keep their phones and lip products in one stylish package. It’s a milestone in multitasking, folks.
Not every lip treatment lives up to the hype, and our lips have a mind of their own when it comes to product absorption. Before you splurge on every trendy balm out there, consider investing in one or two quality products that’ll last you a good while.
If you don’t see the point in wasting your money on what’s hottest and newest, there’s always trusty old Aquaphor or Vaseline. They might not have the same social media appeal, but they get the job done—and your wallet will thank you.
I’m still mastering the art of resisting every shiny new trend that comes my way. It’s a money-sucking jungle out there.
Tags
Beauty, lip gloss, makeup, Sephora
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