Many people love to draw attention to their lips with makeup. Whether you’re a huge lipstick fan or just a tinted balm lover, chances are you have a handful of lip products stashed in your purse or makeup bag. As most makeup wearers know, the cost of beauty products can add up quite quickly. Luckily, there are many great lip products on the market that do the job just as well as higher end brands. And the best part? Their bargain prices won’t break your wallet.
Basic Lip Balms
Moisturizing your lips is important, especially this time of year when the weather is cold and dry. I’ve kept a lip balm with me constantly since I was a toddler, and intend to never break that habit. I recently stumbled upon Yes To Lip Naturally Smooth Lip Balm in Grapefruit, and for a little over $2, it has quickly become my new favorite. It contains a mixture of aloe, cocoa butter, and shea butter, making it super hydrating, and the flavor is great. Plus, it’s 99-percent natural, cruelty free, and easily fits in your pocket or purse. Another favorite standby is SoftLips Vanilla lip balm. It’s cheap, long lasting, and has SPF 20 protection. Find both at Target, your favorite drugstore, or online at their vendor sites.
Tinted Lip Balms
Tinted lip balms are becoming increasingly popular, and I personally have no problems with that. My current favorite is Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm. For $8, it’s a little pricey for a tinted balm, but it’s worth it. It’s extremely soothing and the color is subtle but nice. It also has vitamin E for added skin protection. This is more of a splurge on the list, but still worth the small investment. A close second favorite is NYX Butter Lip Balm. There are several great colors to choose from, and it’s also super hydrating. For $4, it’s a great deal. An even cheaper option is Maybelline Baby Lips Tinted Lip Balm. The color on this balm is fairly rich, but it doesn’t last quite as long. For $3, though, it’s hard to beat. You can find all three at Target or directly on their sites from the links above.
Lip Crayons and Lipsticks
Lip crayons have the tint of lipstick with an easier application plus some added moisture. My favorite lip crayon is Ulta’s brand of lip crayons. They’re technically $8, but since they almost always have buy two get two free promotions for their brand of makeup, they really end up being much cheaper (and their makeup is a great deal for the quality). The best bargain lip crayon also happens to be one of the better ones I’ve found in general: Wet’n’Wild Megaslicks Balm Stain Moisturizing Lip Color (long name, short price: $2.99). It goes on extremely smooth and has a rich color as well. You can find it at Target, Walgreens, or CVS.
I only very recently started wearing actual lipstick, since I was too afraid of making myself look like a clown to try it until now (and because I’m a little obsessed with lip crayons). For great, long lasting color, try Rimmel’s Kate Moss line of lipstick. It’s $4.99 and easily looks as good as my favorite Bare Minerals sample. If you’re trying to find your next favorite shade of red, it’s a great brand to try. Find it at Target, Ulta, and Walgreens.
