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here’s no denying the explosion of lip products in recent years. It all started with Kylie Jenner’s infamous lip kits, which sparked an obsession with achieving the perfect pout. Next came Fenty Beauty’s lip scrubs for smooth, ready-to-be-painted lips. Most recently, brands have been offering everything from lip treatments (thanks, Rhode Skin) to moisturizing lip balms, lip oils (we see you Dior), lip stains, and lip butter (Kylie Jenner again). With so many lip products available, one wouldn’t be wrong to ask the question: “Can we really have them all, even in 2024?”
Our glaring obsession with the best lip products
There’s no doubt beauty enthusiasts instantly took to the Kylie lip kits. Finally, it was possible to achieve a pillowy, Kardashian-esque pout by carefully lining and filling the lips. Of course, copying was inevitable, and now nearly every brand offers its take on the lip kit.
But the obsession extends far beyond lipstick, we want smooth, plump, and hydrated lips too. And yes, we want to achieve it all with minimal effort. Enter scrubs, balms, oils, and butter promising to take our lips through satisfying supple experiences. No wonder brands keep producing new ways to adapt their crew of the best lip products, even in 2024, in a bid to meet the insatiable demands. After all, who doesn’t want soft and healthy lips?
Shop editor’s lip glam edit
Lip oils and butter
Lip oils and butter promise one thing: effective hydration. Remember when we all wanted matte liquid lipstick in every shade? Well, now it’s all about sheer, nourishing formulas that give lips a glossy glow while locking in moisture. Lip butter takes this a step further as it usually comes solid like a balm, but melts on contact to coat lips in moisture. With fun flavors like coconut, honey, and mango, lip butter offers hydration with a delicious scent and taste.
Peptide lip treatments
Rhode Skin’s Peptide Lip Treatment sent the internet into a frenzy for its unique combination of hydrating ingredients and peptides to plump lips. Essentially an ultra-charged lip balm, these treatments promise to smooth fine lines, deeply hydrate, and boost collagen production in lips over time. Of course, at $16 a tube, it’s quite the investment which begs the question: is it really worth it compared to a $3 drugstore balm? If we’re going by the 4.4 rating out of 13,845 reviews on Amazon, we can only say that the team at Rhode Skin did something right.
Lip gloss vs lip tints
Remember the early 2000s when lip gloss reigned supreme? Well, it’s back with vengeance now with high shine and long-wear finishes that don’t feel sticky or tacky. Lip tints, on the other hand, deposit color that lasts for hours, almost like a combo of lipstick and lip gloss. Both deliver a serious color payoff. Ultimately it comes down to preference — gloss gives a bold shine that needs frequent reapplication while tints effortlessly create an I-want-bold-dressy-lips look.
What do I really need?
While the options seem endless, lip care doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with a soothing lip balm containing ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, or coconut oil. Apply generously before bed and in the morning for healthy, hydrated lips ready for your color product of choice.
When it comes to makeup, pick the formulas that make you feel most confident — be it creamy treatments, glossy balm, or vibrant tints. With so many lip products available in 2024, the best boils down to choice. So feel free to mix and match for fun. But remember that when it comes to great lips, hydration is non-negotiable.
Featured image: Lucy Kinnen via @missmichuki/Instagram
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