Lip Balms That Are Bomb: Top Tips for Kissable Lips

Famous Kisses

One of my favorite painters, Austrian symbolist Gustav Klimt, was born 150 years ago on Saturday.

Bursting with eroticism, vivid details and opulent colors is his painting The Kiss, above. I love this painting so much that I hired an artist to paint a mural on my bedroom wall in a similar style.

In honor of Gustav Klimt’s birthday and my favorite painting, The Kiss, I am sharing the best products for keeping your kisser kissable. These are the Lip Bombs for a new age. Goodbye Chapstick, Carmex and Vaseline.

Exfoliate and Moisturize

The top tip for kissable lips is to exfoliate and moisturize. I wish it were as simple as saying “Exfoliate in the morning and moisturize at night,” but here is a little tip about lips and skin care in general: You have to listen to your skin.

Listen To Your Lips

I went to a dermatologist once with complaints of a dry complexion. He said simply, “If it’s wet, dry it; if it’s dry, wet it.” Meaning: when your skin cries out for help, listen to it and act accordingly. Common sense, right? But it was Voltaire who said that common sense is not so common.

Now, Onto the Products

Rodan + Fields Lip Micro-Dermabrasion Stick, $16

This is an awesome product I use mostly in the morning, before lipstick. It manually exfoliates your lips with polyethylene beads while moisturizing with cocoa butter, cottonseed and castor oils. Read this great article on BSSTW all about the product.

Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk, $22

I really love the way this balm makes my lips feel. Lip Silk contains lactic, glycolic, malic and salicylic acids, which gently chemically exfoliate while simultaneously binding moisture to the skin. Works great morning or night, and doubles as balm for your man because it has a natural, matte appearance.

Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner, $25

I prefer this moisturizer over the Kiehl’s Lip Balm used by so many celebrities. The Kiehl’s formula is too greasy and slippery compared to Jo Malone. I love using this balm any time my lips feel parched for moisture. It actually gives your lips a bit of shine and works great over lipstick like a gloss.

Rodan + Fields Anti-Age Lip Renewing Serum, $53

It may seem expensive, but this lip-renewing serum is a God-send for plumping lips and helps to restore the “vermillion border” which fades with age. Each jar contains a 60-day supply of mono-dose capsules that are spiked with peptides and anti-oxidants. A luxury, if you can afford it.

Kiss and Makeup

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar, $14.50

This velvety lip color remains moist and hydrates your lips with hemp oil, castor seed oil, vitamin E, and tingling peppermint oil. Long-wearing and hydrating? Yes, they actually coexist in this creamy concoction created by New York makeup artist David Klasfeld. I swore I’d never wear red again, but Vintage and Stalker are so beautiful, I just can’t help myself.