Absolutely Balmy

If I ever find myself out and about sans lip balm within my immediate reach, I get worried. Very worried. For as long as I can remember, the one beauty essential I could not live without has been lip balm. This runs even deeper than my relationship with perfume. One of the things I irrationally dislike is having chapped lips. And it is not simply because they are quite unsightly, they're also distracting in their rough, uncomfortable texture and pain. 

Over the years, I have accumulated a great number of lip salves to keep my lips hydrated and smooth. Matte, tinted, glossy, SPF, you name it, I (probably) have it. Having so many of them ensures that I'm never without them, as there will always be one lurking in the depths of any one of my bags. Here is my collection that is currently in rotation.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Fragrance Free - The cult classic. Although this is marketed as a multi-purpose product that can be used to treat dry patches and minor grazes, I mainly use this on my lips. Winter is a particularly tough time for chapped-lip sufferers, and this is by my side at all times during that season. It gives a slightly glossy finish, and I guess you could compare it to Vaseline but with more substance and body. Even though this is fragrance free, there is still a light scent, which I can only assume is a natural one. The fragrance is not the most pleasant one: if you imagine a blend of citronella and strong herbal tea, the result would probably be similar to the Eight Hour Cream scent. And it is pricey, but I've had the same tube for two years now, and it shows no sign of running on empty. I have suggested this to friends to treat cracked or dry sores in the corners of the mouth, and it has made them better or disappear. Result.

Smith's Rosebud Salve - I have hit the bottom of the tin on this, and find myself scraping product out of the corners at this point. This smells of (you've guessed it) roses, but not in an overwhelming way. It gives a nice glossy sheen to the lips, and does its hydrating thing well. One issue I have with it is that it goes on a bit thin, whereas I prefer that thick, gloopy feeling, perhaps because it feels like my lips are fully coated and ready to face the elements with a thick layer of balm. With the thinness of this product, I have to reapply it quite often. But if you like a next-to-nothing feeling on your lips, this is the one for you. Nevertheless, the thin consistency of this product means that I apply it to my knuckles when they are dry and sore, and I don't have to worry about it showing or going all over my clothes/anything else I touch. I love the whole multi-purpose thing. Can we also talk about the beautiful packaging?

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm - This one is the odd one out, as it gives a completely matte finish. It reminds me of the Dermophil Indien lip balm that I applied religiously as a child. The smell is, well, honey-like. It's not swoon-worthy fragrance, but it's not unpleasant either. After you've applied the Rêve de Miel, it feels as though nothing can possibly make your lips feel chapped again, as the matte balm forms a barrier on top of your lips. But wait, it doesn't stop there. The product also moisturises your lips. Protective AND hydrating? Yes please! And because this is matte, it does not wear off as quickly as the more oily ones do. Even water has a hard time getting rid of this stuff. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm Intense Care and Cherry Me - These American favourites have only just landed on our British shores, and I have already fallen head over heels for them. This range comprises a mixture of tinted balms and clear lip care balms that all contain SPF 20, and as far as I can tell, both are great at hydrating and nourishing the lips. Intense Care is your run-of-the-mill clear lip balm, with the same consistency as the Smith's Rosebud Salve. Cherry Me offers a very subtle reddish-pink tint, and it smells lovely. Retailing at £2.99 each, they're definitely not going to make your wallet weep.

Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter - For a bit of colour to go with your care, you cannot go wrong with the Korres Lip Butters. This one gives a beautiful coral-tinged pink tone with a hint of gloss, and its shea butter and rice wax formula help to moisturise the lips at the same time. Traditional lip glosses tend to irritate my skin, so I always look for a combination of colour and balm, which Korres manage to do and they get it so right with their natural formula. I do have one gripe, and that's with the packaging. Although it looks good, the pot is actually quite small, and product gets under my nails every time I have to dip my finger in the apply the product. This wasn't a problem when the surface was flat, but after extensive use, the surface is now concave, which is just optimal for getting pink goop under my nails. Aside from that, I cannot fault this lip butter.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - As far as lip glosses go, this has to be my holy-grail product. For me, it really is a winning balm disguised as an ever-so-slightly tinted gloss. The colour wholly complements my natural lip colour, and I love the spongy applicator. There's not much to say about this, really, because the product and its packaging speak for themselves. Let me just end by saying that this smells like cake. Oh and I love Clarins. Enough said.