Q&A: Manly Lip Balm

I'm very excited about today's question and answer post, because this question came from a boy!! I guess I hadn't really thought that much about boys reading my blog (though I should; the guys at work hear me talk about my blog all the time. So hello to any of them reading;) Anyway, for all you boys out there, I don't want you to feel left out! In fact, it's even been suggested that maybe once a month I do a whole post just for the guys and some products they may enjoy! So look forward to that coming in the near future!

For now, let's just take care of today's question:

Q: Are there any lip balms for guys? Which ones do you suggest? ~Brett

A: Great question, Brett!! I know sometimes it can be a nerve-racking feeling when you go to the store to look for a lip balm. There's all the fancy flavored/scented/colored ones and then there's plain old Chapstick. It's hard to know which one is best! I'm going to quickly go through my top three "balms for boys."

First is the Blistex Lip Infusion. It comes on a ball roller! I love how this feels going on! Now it is a liquid so it can form a bit of a shine on the lips when first applied, but I think a lot of it is absorbed into the lips so it doesn't look like you're wearing a gloss. My favorite part is the ball roller! It is always cold and it just feels sooo refreshing when you apply it! It's good for chapped lips and even better for lips that are sun or wind burnt. And there's SPF! A win all around:)

Next is a tried and true age old Carmex. Some people prefer it in a jar, but that always makes me feel like I'm dipping my finger in vaseline; and I don't like that greasy feel. In the tube however, it's perfect. I love the rounded top of the tube for a nice smooth application. I would describe the consistency as more of a gel and your lips will feel completely coated in moisture! There's no SPF in this one, but it has beeswax in it which is very nourishing and soothing for lips all year 'round:)

The last one I'm going to discuss is another Blistex--the Five Star Lip Protectant. This one comes in a generic lip balm tube. I think this has some of the most "manly" packaging because it is all one color and just very basic. It's a solid that goes on not to thick and not to thin. There is 30 SPF in it and while unscented, I think it has a very light almost vanilla-like scent!

Now, you may be wondering why no Chapstick product made my list... nothing against Chapstick, but to me personally I think it has too much of a waxy feel and almost always seems/feels/smells medicated to me... and I just don't like that.

But as always, try different kinds/brands/styles out and see which works best for your lips! If you're a guy, what are your favorite lip balms? Or if you're a girl, what are lip balms your friend/boyfriend/fiance/husband usese?? :)

Soft as a baby's.... lips??

So everyone has heard (and probably used) the phrase "soft as a baby's bottom." I'm not sure how often we say, "soft as a baby's lips"; but I imagine baby lips are probably pretty soft! That's the plan behind Maybelline's recently released Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm, which touts accomplishments such as "82% visibly less dry, 94% less rough lips, 77% more supple, and 77% better looking lips." Who wouldn't want to enjoy all those things??

Now, let's back up just for a moment for a little background on the lip issue. Lip gloss has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember. My first glosses were Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in orange and watermelon--and maybe 'cause it was my first, but to this day, some 20+ years later, Lip Smackers are still my go to choice of a basic lip gloss. I claim that my lip gloss "addiction" started around 8th grade... it was again Bonne Bell, but it was a little jar of "Watermelon Falls." That went with me everywhere! I was using lipgloss first thing in the morning, throughout the day, and of course right before I went to bed. I had the softest, smoothest, most kissable lips around! When I was sixteen or so, my mom found this article in the newspaper that talked about lip gloss addiction. OMG! That is what I had! The article said it was all "psychological," but I knew better. I knew the burning sensation I had if I went too long without reapplying. I knew how fidgety I got if my lips felt dry. I'd never smoked, but I figured this is what it felt like to try to quit smoking. There was no quitting this addiction, I was hooked.

I've been through a variety of brands and flavors and at one point even had a "lip gloss inventory" which I documented every tube I had, how full it was, when I got it, and rated it on a 5 star system. (lip gloss dork alert!) 

The point is, I'm kind of a (self proclaimed) lip product connoisseur, and when I saw the advertisement in the November 2011 issue of Cosmo, I knew I was going to have to try "Baby Lips."

It comes in six different "flavors" and I chose "Pink Punch" which is a pretty, light hot pink color. It comes in a pink tube with yellow letters. All the packaging is really catchy which makes the product fun and girly! At Wal-mart, it's $2.97 so even if it were horrible, I wasn't going to be out a whole chunk of money. Reading all the claims, I was pretty impressed to start. However, my lips were already "less dry" and "less rough" to begin with, so I wasn't really sure what results I could expect from it. The smell and flavor is sweet and just like a tropical punch. It goes on smooth and is not too thick or heavy. It does have a hint of color, which I haven't decided if I like or not. As a balm, it is not shiny or glossy but does feel very nourishing. The 20 SPF sunscreen is a nice touch!

Since the claims are all based on a "clinical study after four weeks of use," I've decided to do my own "not-so-clinical study of four weeks of use" and document the status of my lips.  Today is day 3. I'm expecting at the end of these four weeks, I'll have lips much more supple--like those of Angelina Jolie. Will keep you posted and give a complete review of the product at the end:)