The seasonal transitions really do a number on my lips– my poor dry pucker has turned me into what could be called a lip balm addict.  I’ve got a tube in my purse, in my car, on my desk at work, and even one sitting on the nightstand.  I think the only time I don’t apply as frequently is when I’m in Hawaii and the air is a lot more humid.

In my trials of various formulations, including Almay, Shiseido, Clinique, Kiehl’s, and various other product lines (Chapstick, Alba, Body Shop, Bath & Body Works, etc), I generally find the cocoa/shea-butter based products too oily, while others are not moisturizing enough and wear off quickly.  I also like stick application– the germphobic MD in me still resists product that requires dipping my fingers in multiple times a day.  Plus, the must-have: SPF 15 (or higher, where I can get it).

So, after all that product testing, a clear favorite emerged… Lip Healer by Essence of Nature!  (Frankly, the website is a little cheesy but I’d rather they spend less on marketing anyways.)

I was introduced to my #1 pick by Trader Joe’s (you’ll soon hear more about my obsession with TJ’s!) and at $2 for a 3-pack, it was a small price to pay to experiment.

The lip balm is SPF 15 (hooray!) and incorporates aloe vera, Vitamin E, calendula, and chamomile.  It is also petroleum-free (the base is beeswax) and animal cruelty-free.  So, the label hooked me but what really clinched the deal was the performance.

My first try with it was quite impressive– it’s hard to find that happy medium between the extreme consistencies of moisturizing-and-absorbed-in-2-minutes and so-glossy-you-could-caulk-your-lips-shut.  This lasts but has a nice, non-waxy feel, and doesn’t taste like anything.  It’s perfect as a standalone balm, over lip crayon, under lipgloss– what’s not to love about multifunctional products?

Sooo, after all this raving (no, I don’t have any connection with the company, I just really like the balm), what’s the downside?

Well, it’s no longer available at TJ’s…  boo!  After running out and frantically checking the store 2x/wk hoping they’d get some back in stock, I decided to do some detective work and track it down online.  As far as I can tell, it’s not sold in brick and mortar stores at all anymore.  I knew I was going to use a ton, so I ordered something like 6 3-packs ($4.39/pack).  Shipping per pack ended up being negligible, and with the  buy one get one free promo, I ended up with a bunch of lip balm!!!  Oh no, it’s not all for me, but it’s so good I got the BF, BF’s best guy friend, and a couple of my girlfriends hooked on it.  Presents are best when you can share the love, no?

Now I’m all stocked up for the fall and winter…  that’s what I call preparation.