Hot August 2011 Best Lip Color and Balm Beauty Finds

By April MacIntyre Aug 22, 2011, 7:58 GMT

The lip items listed below are the best of what was culled from many submitted items for review, but for us, based on wearability, lip benefits, taste, price point and flat-out gorgeous palettes, here are the Monsters and Critics’ August 2011 Hot picks for lip products:

So many great lip products, so few lips.

For consideration in the best of lipstick, lip gloss and lip balm category, I managed to wear everything new sent my way this summer.

Addicted would be too mild a word to describe my affections for lip products. There is nothing like a new lipstick to try on and fall in love with.  

Trend-wise, the big fashion story was ultra bright colors (neons) in lips, but let’s be real, do you want to have a pucker that looks like the business end of a baboon?

Of course you don’t.

High fashion lip looks work on models in still images, but in real life, no one wants to kiss Bozo or Bonzo.

These varied lip products are the ones who made people stop me and ask, “What are you wearing?” And then wrote the name and maker down on a napkin or piece of paper.

The lip items listed below are the best of what was culled from many submitted items for review, but for us, based on wearability, lip benefits, quality of ingredients, cruelty free manufacturing, taste, price point and flat-out gorgeous palettes, here are Monsters and Critics’ August 2011 Hot Picks for Lip Products:

LIP STICK

NYX (Top pick)
www.nyxcosmetics.com
Made in USA

NYX wins hands down

For the money and the feel and look of it, nothing tops NYX. The lip color line rocks for fashion forward colors, but the texture of their lipsticks is creamy and not too heavy.  NYX is satiny with its full coverage and has no funky aftertaste or weird perfumey-ness (Estee Lauder and Chanel, we are talking to you).

The best colors for us were most all of their wearable 144 shades—from barely-there nudes to vampy reds to perfect pinks including 24 newbies for their summer 2011 collection.  We recommend you check out: Rose, Shiva, Uberchic, Fortune Cookie, Paparazzi, Chic Red,  Pure Nude, Lip Du Jour, Pure Red, Pink Lyric, Gala, Tweed,  Chic, Stella, Iconic, Hot Pink, Haute Melon, Vivaldi, Haute Couture, Muse, Lipstick Blush, Peach Bellini, Marrakesh Pink, and Minimalism.

*NYX makes must-have lipstick and combo lip and eyeshadow palettes too that are fabulous for travelers and those who have space issues. This line was first introduced to me by the Emmy award winning makeup team on "Dancing with the Stars."

Under $5 (not a typo)

BWC (Beauty without Cruelty)
www.beautywithoutcruelty.com
Made in UK

Unfussy packaging and highly wearable palette.
All BWC color cosmetics are made for all including vegetarians and vegans, and are fragrance free.  Beauty Without Cruelty cosmetics was founded in England over 20 years ago by trustees of the BWC Charitable Trust, an animal welfare organization with a business philosophy that is 100% vegetarian and 100% natural. BWC is the leading name in intelligent, responsible and compassionate beauty care. Their line is free of toluene, formaldehyde, and phthalates.

Our favorite wearable picks include the warmer based shades of Cappucino, Terracotta, and Caramel Cream.
No aftertaste and creamy moist.

Under $15

Iman Cosmetics Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick
www.imancosmetics.com
Made in USA

Classic Red winner:  Fresh classic red lovers, look no further. This new “Iman Red” was the best of the true blue red lipsticks sent to us.
No fragrance.
Iman Red is made with her beautiful creamy lipstick base; this is a lip-color that gives full coverage with a long-lasting smooth finish.
This is a pure red, unadulterated, and does not pull orange or too blue. Iman's cosmetic line is a treasure trove of stunning and affordable beauty finds.

Under $9

gloMinerals gloLip Stick
www.gloprofessional.com
Made in USA

Creamy, lightweight but full coverage this fragrance free lipstick has no discernible aftertaste, and brings the noise with some of the prettiest new nudist/neutral shades for all skintones in everyday wear formulas.
They have a brilliant moisturizing sheer line of lipstick that you must try.
Loved wearing Willow, Nutmeg, Seychelles (Sheer), Capri (Sheer).

Under $18

LIP STAIN

PIXI Lip Blush No. 2 Purity
www.pixibeauty.com
Made in Germany

This is a lipstick that applies like a stain and seals on the lips. Normally I hate the long wearing lipsticks as they cause the dreaded mouth shrivel effect, but this stand-out item does not do this and features a great nude, natural tone that works for a wide range of people. 

This is an easy to apply, long lasting, sheer yet densely colored matte lip stain that creates a healthy stay-on hue. Pixi’s No. 2 Purity is a workhorse color-wise, a terracotta nude that is not orange, nor too brown.

Caveat: I did feel I needed to put some clear gloss over it, but the bonus was I never “lost” my lips after a meal – it is terrific for those who eat off their lipstick. Well worth trying.

$18

LIP GLOSSES

Anastasia Beverly Hills
www.anastasia.net
Made in USA

Anastasia has come on the beauty scene in a huge way this year. She is the brow guru to the stars and her Beverly Hills salon is where the intelligentsia goes to get their brows done correctly.

Her makeup line is exquisite; everything they have sent me is best in category for the item. Her glosses are no exception.

The Hydrafull gloss line is must own if you love lip gloss and are looking for the sexiest colors to wear. The Shea butter-based gloss has a slight cooling feel on the lip, and a unique flat paddle applicator that carves the gloss on with military precision.  Once you get the hang of it you won’t want a sponge tip applicator ever again.

You must try ‘Sangria’, a pure candy mauve-pink, ‘Sorbet’, a brighter bolder pure pink, ‘Moi’, my everyday fix, a nude-mauve that is 100% perfect all the time, and ‘Bellini,’ a hot bright sheer coral that works for the warmer palettes.

$21

gloMinerals glo Liquid Lips gloss - Beloved
gloMinerals GloGloss (wand applicator) Lily
gloMinerals Gloroyal Lip Crayon - Majestic Sienna
www.gloprofessional.com

Made in USA

Their “Beloved” is another color cool mauve neutral tube gloss so many people can carry off. It is a cool-based neutral and a bit thicker than the other glosses mentioned. The antioxidant base helps lips stay moist and the color is a healthy, pretty tone. Has a beveled tip applicator.

$15

Lily gloGloss

“Lily” gloGloss is a sheerer glossier finish that comes in a traditional wand applicator, and has a nude pink finish that compliments so many skintones. Pretty wearable shade and feels great on.

$14

Majestic Sienna

“Majestic Sienna” is a lip crayon that leaves a glossy sheer finish and is a truly rich and flattering shade of warm brown with gold base. Great shade to take you into fall and works for lots of skintones. My only beef with crayons is the sharpening hassle. I love the look of them on. Hate the upkeep.

$14

Intelligent Nutrients Lip Delivery Antioxidant Gloss
www.intelligentnutrients.com
Made in USA

Intelligent Nutrients gloss

Intelligent Nutrients Lip Delivery Antioxidant Gloss is probably the lightest weight lip gloss of the lot, perhaps a lip balm and gloss hybrid of sorts. The brush applicator lets you control the amount of gloss applied on the lips.  Has a slightly sweet taste and is USDA certified organic, gluten free and made with 100% renewable energy.

What you need to know is the Clear Frosting is a wonderful addition to any makeup kit, and their base is a nutrient-dense mix of oils of acai, rosehip and black cumin—along with Intellimune and soothing, antioxidant-rich waxes and butters—aid in fighting the visible signs of aging. 100% free of synthetic colorants, heavy metals, iron oxides and lead-laced mineral pigments.  Nice feel, clever application and looks great and stays on.

$12

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 Grapefruit and Ginger
www.getJackBlack.com
Made in USA

Cobalt blue tube that has a beveled application tip; this is serious sun protection for the outdoors people. This is important because many glosses amplify sun rays and can hasten skin cancer, and you love your lips so protect them, please.  

This conditioning lip balm has UVA and UVB sunscreens, and protects against sunburn and windburn. Dense, not too greasy and grapefruit laden, this is a fabulous lip balm to have on hand for all. Kids love the cooling sensation, its gender neutral and it is a great topper for lip stains like Pixi we mentioned above that need a bit of sheen to them once they set.

$7.50

Murad Soothing Skin, Lip and Cuticle Care beveled wand
www.murad.com
Made in USA

Murad two in one cuticle, lip treatment

Dry lips and jagged ugly cuticles are obliterated by the Murad Soothing Skin Lip and Cuticle Care stick, made with a clever slanted rubber tip to push back those cuticles whether you take five.

Ingenious and useful, this all in one lip and nail treatment is the ticket for travelers, multitaskers and those who want to mind their cuticles and their lips perhaps at the same time. The formula is a nutrient dense treat for lips too-and it is gender neutral, anyone can use this.

$16

EOS Lip Balm Smooth Spheres
www.evolutionofsmooth.com
Made in USA

I'm addicted to these rolypoly round balls of balm. The Shea butter-base and unique application (spherical dome) makes it fun to apply and lasts for smooth lip loving. Shea butter & vitamin E base smoothes on clear and the shape of the smooth sphere works perfect for application. eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. A must-own is their Lemon Drop, with an added SPF of 15.

$>3

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to visit and celebrate small American businesses when she can. You can contact her on Twitter