LIP TREATMENT
Lips need as much TLC as we can lavish on them, as skin is so thin, packed with nerve endings and has no oil glands of its own. And gosh, for some reason we have LOTS of winners with incredibly close scores, in 2023, to help keep our pouts plump, nourished and comfy.
Once again, it’s a properly mixed bag of products, from rich balms to scrubs via a swivel-up product with an SPF. Despite their apparent differences, they were ALL submitted by their respective brands in the lip treatment category, and questions posed to our testers were posed accordingly.
We hope testers' comments will really help steer you towards whichever fits the 'style' of product you're likely to get in the habit of using – or inspire you to go for something new. You’ve nothing to lose but your lip discomfort!
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD and BEST NATURAL (JOINT) de Mamiel Lip Treatment
A nourishing, softening and plumping blend of botanicals formulated by holistic therapist and brand founder Annee de Mamiel, combining rose wax, mango and cocoa butters; oils of sunflower, evening primrose, jojoba; pomegranate extract and essences of of gardenia, marigold, rose, rosemary and geranium. There’s just a hint of a tint, when you touch a finger to the balm – contained in a black protective twist-off jar – and apply to lips. Heavenly scent, the testers agreed.
£35 for 15ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I used to use my eye cream around my lips, but this is so easy and the product lasts for ages. Helps with lines, and lips have never been so soft’ • ‘A simple and effective lip treatment that gives immediate results – I love it! After using this product for a month or so, I feel that my lips are smoother and plumper; they are also not drying out as quickly between product application. I can definitely feel the difference’ • ‘There is a gentle fragrance which doesn't translate to a taste on application (good in my book as if I like the taste of a lip balm, I tend to lick it off!) Never used a product on the lips that felt so good immediately on application’ • ‘Used two to three times a day and also at bedtime; on waking, lips felt soft and still hydrated. After seven weeks of use lips are more hydrated; vertical lines above my upper lips are less visible; the colour of my lips has also improved – quite happy to go out without wearing lipstick; I am totally in love with this product. It is, without doubt, on top of my “must never run out of this product” list’ • ‘Have had a few comments that my lips were looking more defined. One even asked what colour of lipstick I was wearing – I wasn’t, not even a tinted lip balm’ • ‘Lusciousness is the perfect description; lips immediately felt soothed and soft. I loved this, from the fragrance to how it went on, to how my lips felt afterwards – so much so I purchased this for a number of friends for Christmas’ • ‘Lips felt smoother and fine lines a little less noticeable; I noticed lipstick didn’t bleed into the fine lines above my lips as much.’
£35 for 15ml - click to buy
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD, BEST NATURAL (JOINT) and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) Lanolips Lano Lemonaid Lip Treatment
A previous winner, we’re delighted to see it back for an encore in this ‘intensive’ treatment category. Lanolips' USP is that their entire range (which is created in Australia by the dynamic Kirsten Carriol) is based on lanolin, a tried-and-trusted skin nourisher whose structure closely resembles our skin's own lipids. This little tube of whipped balm is a thirst-quencher for dry lips, slicking on via an angled dispenser to deliver a zestily lemony treat. Lanolips also recommend it as a deep treatment for flakiness: after showering, gently rub a towel across lips to exfoliate, then 'layer Lemonaid on thick'.
£8.99 for 12.5g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I am a total lip balm junkie and this is now up there in my top choices. I experienced zero irritation with this product and it does not cause drying, as many lip balms seem to do after a few minutes of applying’ • ‘Really nourishing and my lips have been super-soft. Lipstick goes on well afterwards, too. Brilliant product’ • ‘I 100% would buy this, yes, yes! Immediately feels amazing, plumped, moisturised, slightly shiny. I started using it in evening and in the morning my lips were very soft, no sign of dehydration or dryness. I also noticed that there was still some residue of the product in the morning, even after 10 hours of use’ • ‘My lips haven’t been as soft as they currently are in ages and it's all down to using this lip treatment for 4 weeks. I haven’t struggled with dry lips, which normally happens frequently as I keep forgetting to drink water during the day and my lips suffer because of that. The fine lines around my lips have reduced considerably’ • ‘I like that you don’t need to dip your fingers inside the product and can apply it straight to lips. A little bit goes a long way and the little tube will last a long time. The scent was delicious and it delivered fantastic results, making my lips very soft’ • ‘I liked this a lot, and I found it quite useful to rub any excess into my cuticles as an extra beauty bonus. Ideal for all weathers but especially the colder and windy months. Note to Lanolips: will you please do this with an SPF, too?’
£8.99 for 12.5g - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) Burt's Bees Overnight Lip Treatment
Another previous winner is this dinky, super-affordable screw-top pot of mega-treatment from Burt's Bees, who are known and loved for their lip balms, quite recently adding this rich balm – and a 'matching' scrub (which these testers didn't trial) – to their lip line-up. Nourishing ingredients include jojoba oil, glycerine, castor oil and sunflower seed wax, with a touch of tingly mint, to flavour. 'For best results,' Burt's Bees advise, 'apply generously to lips before bedtime so it will restore the healthy appearance of your lips while you sleep. Can also be applied during the day.'
£9.99 for 7.08g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘When I got this out of the parcel, I thought “hmm, a heavy-duty lip balm; I don't expect much from that.”. Well, it's been a complete revelation. It is a fabulous little product; I took it on holiday, using it in 30-degree heat, and through the autumn so far. By this stage of the year, I would have expected my lips to start cracking and drying a bit, but nothing!’ • ‘I cannot believe how effective this has been. My lipsticks now go on better and my lips just look smoother and healthier. No more dry patches or ragged bits of skin. A genuine miracle worker. Can't imagine being without this again!’ • ‘Fabulous intensive lip product best used at night before bed, when it can soak in and work its magic overnight. Partner said lips are very smooth!' • 'I was pleasantly surprised. It has a nice minty flavour that isn't too strong, it isn't sticky but it does last really well on the lips, offering immediate relief to dry lips' • 'Leaves the lips feeling very comfortable and soothed, perfect for the colder months but not too heavy for the warmer weather. I will definitely be buying this even though I prefer lip balms in a stick (for hygiene reasons), as it's so good I can forgive it for being in a pot' • 'Next day, my lips felt hydrated and there was a small improvement in the skin below my lip. This continued to improve the more I used it; after a while, I didn’t seem to need lip balm during the day. Lovely product and I can't imagine being without it, now.'
£9.99 for 7.08g - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Mary Kay White Tea & Citrus Satin Lips Shea Butter Balm
Available direct from Mary Kay’s website as well as their network of beauty sales consultants, this is part of a pair of lip treatments that come as a duo. So, here’s the thing: we split them up, as we hadn’t quite twigged that; this treatment balm went to one group, and the Shea Sugar Scrub went to another group. But quite independently, they both scored very similar scores, and both join the winners’ line-up. Shea and jojoba butter feature, as well as lanolin, although the formulation isn’t all natural. There’s a gentle menthol note, too.
£13.50 for 8g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Friends noticed my lipstick still looked great at end of night out, as lips were plump and smooth. Definitely delivered more definition, which makes darker/brighter shades of lipstick look much better and stay in place for longer, as underlying hydration was improved. Also, when not wearing make-up, I looked younger and healthier’ • ‘A great saviour of aged drier lips to help every day with smooth lips, which become plumper and more hydrated after regular use. Keep in your coat pocket to help be warm enough to apply easily in winter!’ • ‘This balm felt velvety when applying – a real treat on my lips. I expected it to dry my lips out as other balms can do, but it hasn't done that at all and I use it regularly now to keep lips lovely and smooth’ • ‘My lips are very dry and burnt this week after a cold, but using his product has meant they’ve recovered much more quickly than if I had used a standard lip balm’ • ‘A nice handy size, nice consistency and I would definitely buy again. My mum asked if I was wearing a new lipstick but I told her no, then realised later it was probably the results of the lip balm’ • ‘Absorbed quickly, neutral taste. I'd advise anyone to give themselves a bit of winter pampering and get this! There’s nothing pleasant about sore lips in wintertime, and nothing looks worse than going on your Christmas works night out with lovely red lipstick which has been applied on top of sandpaper lips’ • ‘Lips felt immediately softer – it was pretty instant and I liked it. Slightly fuller feeling, too, because they were suddenly more hydrated.’
£13.50 for 8g - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Mary Kay Satin Lips Shea Sugar Scrub
Soooooo… Here’s the sugar scrub that we really should have sent out in tandem with the Mary Kay Shea Butter Balm. But we didn’t. Never mind; testers got on with the job of polishing their lips with this gentle scrub, which relies on natural sugar crystals for its exfoliating action. Shea butter also features, and the whole is infused with a freshening flavour of citrus and white tea, but as with the balm it’s not all-natural. The idea is that you then follow with that matching balm – but our testers, as you’ll see, got good results even though they didn’t do that. (Note to Mary Kay: you need to put a full ingredients list for products on your website, not just ‘key ingredients’, please! Our readers expect full disclosure.)
£13.50 for 8g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Great for immediate softness and smoothness. Very easy to dispense from the tube and easy to apply, with a nice, pleasant taste of lime’ • ‘Has helped to eliminate dry skin on my lips which my usual lip balm doesn't manage’ • ‘Lips feel fuller and this made me feel more confident, dusting off those strong lip colours I had been shying away from’ • ‘Lips smoother and softer after regular use, especially as the weather has been very cold and dry. Helped remove any dry skin on my lips’ • ‘I wondered if this was going to be a novelty product. I was wrong. My memories of lip scrubs were industrial sand mixed into a bitty paste and moulded into the shape of a lipstick bullet that made no difference to your lips, but created a lot of mess over your clothes. I thought that my using a warm, damp flannel in the shower was as good as it got for lip exfoliation. Wrong again! This can be popped into your pocket or bag, kept in a glovebox or drawer, sat on your nightstand; it can go wherever you go and be used throughout the day when lips are dry, wherever you are – and it just looks like you’re using a balm’ • ‘Great for all members of the family; my husband was complaining of dry winter lips, so gave him a small pea sized amount of this lip scrub and it dealt with the problem.’
£13.50 for 8g - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) Dr.PAWPAW Overnight Lip Mask
Dr.PAWPAW have a mahoosive range of pawpaw fruit-powered lip treats, of which this is the most intensive. 99% natural, this sleek, deep blue tube of nocturnal nourishment is designed to be applied at bedtime; the idea is that it will work its magic overnight, plumping and soothing lips while also working to tackle feathery lines around the lip line, if you extend the application area. Peptides have a plumping action, alongside antibacterial, soothing aloe vera, olive oil and castor oil. Like all of the Dr.PAWPAW range, it is PETA-approved and vegan.
£4.50 for 10ml - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘The best lip mask I have tried; it’s has helped to keep any dryness at bay, leaving my lips feeling smooth and supple, and was a great base for lipstick as it really hydrated the lip’ • ‘I loved how this was a 'mask' and not just a lip balm. This seemed to really work for me; I used it overnight and the next morning my lips still felt smooth and moisturised’ • ‘I used a matte lipstick during the day and it felt much easier on the lips with this layered underneath. A truly nourishing, indulgent lip treat that miraculously doesn't feel sticky and provides long term hydration’ • ‘After regular use, lips looked plumper, healthier and smooth. While it didn't remove the fine lines around the mouth, it prevents them to get deeper’ • ‘The best lip care product I've ever used. The balm is recommended to be used as a night mask, but I will definitely use this during the day, especially with the arrival of colder months’ • ‘This is like a fantastic lip balm on steroids! Lips felt immediately soft, replenished and nourished. Also, no more cracked or chapped lips!’ • ‘This product creeps up on you. Initially I didn’t notice any difference and thought it felt a bit gloopy. But used at night, it really does work and is continuing to improve the texture of my lips’ • ‘I had a couple of days when my lips went very dry and when I used this as a mask at; it actually did make a difference – I still have some dry bits but they are improving. Overall, I loved this’ • ‘Also great for use during the day if your lips are particularly dry/irritated, as a mega-balm.’
£4.50 for 10ml - click to buy