The Part Time Beauty Hall of Fame: La Mer The Lip Balm
Now, I know what you’re thinking — do I really need an über-fancy lip balm? Can’t I just use Carmex or Vaseline like I always have? And the answer is, yes, of course you can. If you’ve found a lip protectant that works for you and that doesn’t cost the earth, you just keep using it. I’m not going to persuade you otherwise. However, if you’re anything like me and your lips have been chapped or somehow sensitised for the best part of a decade, and you’ve tried everything on the market from the cheap-and-cheerful to the eye-wateringly expensive, then you just might want to hear me out. (Also, given that the Part Time Beauty Hall of Fame is all about showcasing the best of the best, it wouldn’t do to feature a product that is ‘just ok’ now, would it?)
For what its worth, I really have tried almost every lip treatment out there. I’ve tried Blistex, Carmex, ChapStick, Nivea, and Vaseline. I’ve tried Avène Cold Cream, Glossier Balm DotCom, and Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1. I’ve tried By Terry’s Baume de Rose, Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream Lip Care (in both balm and stick form), Eve Lom’s Kiss Mix, and Sisley’s Confort Extrême Nutritive Lip Balm. I’ve tried all kinds of formulas from Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Dior, MAC, and NARS. I’ve tried everything, basically, but La Mer’s The Lip Balm is the only one I have ever felt compelled to repurchase — in spite of the hefty price tag.
The trouble with La Mer products is that they are habit-forming, addictive. Once you fall for something, you never go back. The Lip Balm is no exception. I purchased my first pot back in 2012, after reading the overwhelming number of positive reviews both online and in print, and it has been a holy grail item of mine ever since. What struck me first about it is its texture, which is very fine and light, and not at all greasy or heavy like many, many other balms out there. Furthermore, unlike the Carmexes and Vaselines of the world, this product has never made my lips burn or resulted in an uncomfortable tingling sensation. So many others, both budget and premium, are guilty of doing one or both of these things. Finally, The Lip Balm has a beautiful, delicate mint scent unlike anything else I’ve tried. The more you use it, the better your lips look and feel.
But don’t just take my word for it — La Mer The Lip Balm is beloved by make-up artists and beauty experts the world over, and no ‘best lip balms’ list is complete without it. Lisa Eldridge frequently features it in her YouTube videos, favouring it for prepping her clients’ lips. La Mer Global Make-Up Artist Ambassador Patrick Ta likes to use it on everyone, male or female, and Alexa Chung is another longtime fan. I myself am onto my fourth or fifth pot and, although I have been known to use others, as the above list proves, there is nothing I recommend as fervently or enthusiastically as this.
So, does La Mer’s The Lip Balm get your vote? Let us know in the comments, or via our Instagram page. :)
This piece was originally published on Part Time Beauty in 2018.