As the temperature dips, it is unsurprising that we see a surge in lip balm launches to protect the delicate lip skin against harsher weather conditions.
The latest crop of lip care launches is nothing like the humble stick of beeswax.
Lip balms are becoming increasingly sophisticated through the incorporation of advanced formulations and innovative ingredients that go beyond protection and hydration.
As reported by CosmeticsDesign in August, lip balms have been heavily influenced by the skinification trend, reflecting the rising consumer expectations and the importance of lip care.
This new generation of lip balms are mega multitaskers, offering protection and nourishment while also giving added benefits such as high colour payoff.
These lip balms also need to keep current with the lip makeup trends, which is leaning towards more matte textures with the rising of the blurry lip trend.
The popularity of viral products like Into You’s Lip & Cheek Mud and Fwee’s Lip & Cheek Pudding Pots show no sign of slowing down.
However, the characteristic slippery silicone-heavy formulas can sometimes leave the lips feeling dry, highlighting the need for a nourishing lip balm.
Kanebo Rouge Scrub Melting
Speaking of multitaskers, Japanese beauty brand Kanebo’s latest multifunctional lip product is a lip balm, lip base, lip colour, and lip scrub all in one convenient bullet.
Available in three colours, the formula contains sugar as a natural exfoliant, which melts and forms a film that protects and nourishes the lips.
This forms a thick, glossy film that wraps it in moisture and conditions the lips. The result is a naturally plump finish that also diminishes the appearance of lines.
The product contains the key ingredient Dewy Gloss Fix Gel, the same ingredient in Kanebo’s Rouge Star Vibrant lipstick which gives the balm a glossy finish.
The formula also contains a complex that hydrates the lips and gives it the lips a “fresh, healthy glow”.
Laneige Bouncy & Firm Lip Treatment
This is the latest iteration of one of Laneige’s most iconic products, which is the number one lip treatment brand in the US, according to 2023 data from Circana.
It is also an extension of its latest Bouncy & Firm series, which is targeted at younger consumers looking for pre-ageing solutions.
Like the original Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask, the lip treatment claims to offer similar promises to plump and firm the skin, with similar ingredients.
According to the brand, the formula aims to visibly firm, smooth, and plump lips with a Peony and Collagen Complex that claims to firm the skin and support natural collagen.
The formula also contains ceramide capsules to help strengthen the skin barrier, as well as five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid provide hydration.
Based on a four-week clinical study on 32 women aged 20 to 49, 93% of users saw an overall improvement in lip appearance and 90% agreed lips looked firmer.
Decorté Liposome Advanced Repair Lip Serum
The lips have a unique structure compared to the rest of the skin, with a much lower density of intercellular lipids that form the protective barrier.
These characteristics make the lips particularly susceptible to external factors, leaving them prone to dryness. Additionally, lip firmness, elasticity, and the appearance of wrinkles tend to decline with age, further affecting their overall condition.
Decorté’s flagship Liposome series is expanding with the launch of its Advanced Repair Lip Serum, which tackles all these challenges.
According to the brand, the balm specialises in protecting the lip’s barrier function with liposome technology.
The company developed its multilayered bioliposome technology, which is available in its facial and eye serums, especially for the lips.
This is a special structure that hold various ingredients in overlapping layers and is a low-irritation formula that is gentle on dry patches.
It said the serum contains 100 billion liposomes which penetrate deeply to provide long-lasting moisture.