Battle of the Balms!

so i'm sure you guys know that there are people SO addicted to their lip balm that if they had it taken away, they'd be in desperate need of a 12 Step program, right? i remember in high school my friend Jill would sometimes sleep in her dark brownish-red shimmery L'oreal lipstick when she couldn't locate her favorite balm just so her lips wouldn't feel dry! i'm something of a balm lover myself, but haven't gone quite that far yet, although i'm guilty of always buying tons of different tubes and trying to find my favorite, can't-live-without-it version. recently, i've found not one but two great ones to chatter about! here goes!

up first (and in actual LIFE SIZE!) is C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries Mentha Lip Balm Stick with SPF 15. i bought mine at Bath and Body Works for $7 which i think is kind of expensive for a lip balm...unless it's one i love THIS much! i know everyone's been going insane for the squeeze-tube, gloss-like versions of the C.O. Bigelow lip balms but i had tried them and while they were nice, they weren't anything i was going to buy again. the problem with them, in my opinion, is that they give the look of a lip gloss...great, right? well no, not great, because they last on your lips for a grand total of 3 minutes, tops, and they're gone! since they're more like a gloss than a balm, they also don't leave your lips very moisturized. if i want shine i much prefer going the MAC route where atleast i know my super-glue gloss is staying on for good! not the case with the stick version pictured here, although it says on the tube "No Shine Formula", it does give your lips a very pretty subtle shine that doesn't interfere with the balm's moisturizing capabilities. if you're looking for a completely matte look from your balm, this isn't the one for you. but i happen to love the slight shine this one gives, coupled with it's nice, minty flavor and subtle sweet taste (and i HATE super sweet tasting balms, believe me, for all you taste-haters, this one's ok). it stays on for a good amount of time, leaves my lips soft, and the best part! i almost forgot! applying this balm is heavenly because it glides onto your lips soooooo super softly and smoothly. it's incredibly addicting! if you ever try it you'll see what i mean. and i hope you do!

next up is a balm that's waiting for you right at your neighborhood drugstore (can't you hear it calling "come buy me! come buy me!"?). Neutrogena's Lip Moisturizer is one i have been meaning to try for quite a while now but only recently got around to, and i'm kicking myself for waiting so long! i had been a faithful Carmex user since i was 14 (not kidding, either) when i first discovered the pleasures of the original pot version, which i used nightly until about a month ago. a few years ago i had also started using the stick versions. Carmex is ok, i'm not going to trash talk something that i relied on for so many years, but i've found that for overnight use Aquaphor works just as well without Carmex's thick stickiness and for daytime use, just about anything works as well without the 3-inch layer of wax that the stick version leaves you tasting. but i digress, Neutrogena's Lip Moisturizer is the real deal, my friends. it applies in a nice, thin layer with absolutely NO waxy feeling at all! this is a huge plus for me since i've woken up from my Carmex haze. it instantly leaves your lips feeling softer and somehow taken care of. it also has a PABA-free SPF 15 included to keep those lips safe from the sun (and we know how important this is, right readers? your lips are the thinnest skin on your body and therefore need extra TLC!). this one leaves you with a more matte finish, but there is still some slip to your lips when you're wearing it. i think a touch of this would be perfect for wearing underneath lipsticks and glosses when your lips weren't in prime condition. check this one out if you're looking for a little pick-me-up while waiting to get a prescription filled, it's only about $2.99 at Walgreen's!

so what are your favorite balms, readers? are there any out there that you feel don't get enough love? let's hear about them in the comments!