My daughter hosted a group of friends at our house before a winter dance recently. The entire group has flawless skin, perfect makeup, and hair that looked like it had been professionally styled. I had two immediate reactions. First, I said aloud, “NO FAIR!” How is it that teens are just SKIPPING the awkward stage? Second, I looked to the sky and said, “Thank you sweet baby Jesus that the internet did not exist to document my acne-filled, permed teenage existence”
I’m guessing it’s the access to beauty products and internet instructions that didn’t exist in the 90s when I was applying tinted pimple cream. My (almost) 16-year-old, Lola, babysits and earns an allowance. While some teens may be into video games or clothes, she chooses to spend her money and time on things like makeup and skincare.
Discovering A Lip Routine
Lola was eager to join me on a trip to one of those big makeup stores over the weekend in my search for some better lip care. (I don’t actually use anything on my lips except tinted chapstick and it’s become obvious I needed some help.) The winter has my lips severely chapped and I was looking for a fix. I walked into the store and I was instantly overwhelmed. There were so many options. Too many options.
This is how the conversation went:
Me: Just pick something for me so we can get out of here.
Lola: What is your lip care routine now?
Me: ::Confused look::
Lola: What do you use on your lips at night?
Me: We’re supposed to have things on our lips at night?
Lola: ::Horrified look::
At that moment, she promised to teach me her ways. She taught me so much I feel like I would be gatekeeping this information if I didn’t share it with you. So I want to introduce you to my sweet daughter Lola, our new resident beauty blogger. She wrote every word below, complete with links, to help us all navigate proper lip care.
Introducing, Lola!
Hi everyone! Here is my step-by-step guide to keep my lips looking and feeling healthy. The process starts at night:
I apply a lip sugar scrub in order to buff away dry skin and to restore lip smoothness. To apply, scoop out a small amount of scrub with your finger or a Q-tip and scrub on your lips until the sugar particles dissolve, and then wipe off excess product. I only do lip scrubs at night and I do not use a lip scrub more than twice a week because too much use of a lip scrub will irritate my lips.
Next, I will apply a lip mask. This helps prevent dry lips and makes my lips plump and moisturized the next morning. Depending on what brand you use, lip masks can either be a sheet mask or can just be applied with a simple tube or container. I personally use the Laneige lip mask which comes in a container with its own applicator.
In the morning, I also have a routine as I get ready:
First, I will wipe off the excess product from my lip mask I applied the night before
Second, I will apply a thin layer of a simple non-scented & non-pigmented lip balm (Glossier Balm Dotcom is my favorite for this step). I do this before applying lip gloss because it helps the gloss become less sticky and creates a more hydrating effect on ANY lip gloss.
Next, I will apply my lip gloss of choice and reapply the same gloss throughout the day.
This product is definitely worth a try if you have dry lips. I found great results using these, and the effect of hydration on one mask can last for a long time. I do recommend leaving on the patches longer than the recommended time if you have super dry lips.
I had wanted to try Laneige for so long because I heard such great things about it. I finally got my first Laneige product for Christmas and it is my most effective lip product that I use. I use this balm as an overnight mask, and on the first night I used it I noticed my lips looking more hydrated and full the very next morning. Although this product is not marketed as a night time sleeping mask, I found that it is most effective being used at night instead of applying it regularly during the day.
Ever since I got my first Glossier balm I have been obsessed with this brand. These balms are so moisturizing, and the best part about these balms is you only have to use a very small amount of product to cover your lips, which makes these tubes last a very long time. I got my first balm dotcom in 2019, and, ever since then, every birthday and Christmas I always ask for a new one of these (I now have 14 Glossier balms!).
I got my first one of these balms in a monthly makeup subscription box and I absolutely loved it! This balm keeps my lips moisturized and glossy throughout the day. I also think that this balm is the best for people who have naturally chapped lips because the first time I used this was during the winter and my lips were extremely chapped, and almost immediately after I applied this balm, my lips were smooth again and I saw great results!
This balm is one of my favorites to use during the summertime to protect my lips from the harsh rays of the sun. This balm does not smell or taste like sunscreen which I love because most of the SPF balms I have tried have had a very bold and overpowering sunscreen scent.
This balm is another one of my summer SPF staples. I love the texture and hydrating qualities of this balm, and the great thing about this brand is that Sun Bum products are sold at most stores near the coast, so you can just pick one up before heading to the beach.
When it comes to non-sticky lip glosses, this product is my favorite. The formula is very hydrating and long lasting, which is a very rare quality in lip glosses. The pigmented shades are very unexpectedly bold (which I love) however I would not recommend the bold shades for someone who does not like the appearance of pigmented lips and prefers a more subtle hint of color. The only critique I have is that none of the glosses have scents, and while this is not a quality issue, I just think scented glosses are more fun!
This product leaves lips feeling hydrated with a very subtle hint of color. The only issue I have with this gloss is that it does not last as long as I hoped for a $16 price; however, I think it is worth it because this gloss is extremely hydrating and I recommend this product especially for people with naturally dry lips.
This gloss is very long lasting and leaves my lips looking very shiny. I also love the applicator on this lip gloss, and, overall, I think this is a very nice product worth $20.
This gloss has some of the best non-stick formulas out there and I love all of the NYX lip products overall, but the butter gloss is my favorite of their collection.
The More You Know
Big thank you to Lola for forming an alliance with all of us and keeping us in the loop on how to keep our lips luscious. (I think the most advanced form of lip care for me growing up was Vaseline.) If you try any of these, tell us what you think in the comments!
What should Lola write about next?
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