continued from page 1
Lancôme, primordiale lèvres, £20
This is less of a lip balm and more of a lip treatment. The cream comes in a tiny pump dispenser in Lancôme's signature classy packaging. Touted as a 'plumping balm', this isn't the easiest product to apply on the go as you can't put it directly on your lips and have to use your fingers. But it feels satiny-smooth and non-greasy. It gave long-lasting moisture to my winter-dry lips and my lipstick didn't slide off when applied on top of the cream. As for delivering younger and plumper-looking lips - this isn't a replacement for collagen implants if you're looking for a Jagger-pout. But I definitely enjoyed using this more than the cheaper balms and my lips feel as if they've been treated to some posh tlc.

Caboodles Flower Power lip balm in cherry, £2.79 from Superdrug
Caboodles Flower Power Cherry lip balm fulfills every girl's dream of lip gloss. It's light pink. It smells sweet. It comes in a clear plastic pot shaped like a flower. If you love wearing sandals and live for nail polish, this is the finishing touch. But while your fashion sense may be satisfied, your chapped lips may not. A fingertip of the stuff goes on smoothly, but after about half an hour it starts to feel gritty. It even made my sensitive lips peel. Still, at just £2.79, it's a lot cuter than pulling your average lip balm pot out of your bag. Who knows? Flower Power might just grow on you.

Lypsyl lip balm in Strawberry, £1.20
I'm not really a great lip balm wearer - not because I have luscious soft lips but because I just forget to put it on. The great thing about Lypsyl's strawberry stick is that it smells and tastes great - in a kids' sweets kind of way - and this is enough to keep me putting it on! The one down side is that it doesn't seem to stay on my lips long, although this could be down to me licking it off too regularly! Not what you'd call a glamorous, luxury item. But you can't beat it for a nostalgic trip down memory lane back to childhood.
iVillage verdict: Best tasting

Simple Sun Lip Protector Factor 25, £3.75
A beauty editor once told me that lip balms are a great base for lipstick and I've been using them ever since. I loved the translucent look and feel of this product and within days my lips - which are notoriously sensitive - felt so much better, softer and more moist. I've discarded lots of lip balms in the past because of their greasy, 'globby' quality. Thankfully, there were no such problems with this product. Definitely the least greasy product I've ever used. The sun was in hiding on the day I tried it, so I can't speak about its sun protection qualities. But I'd definitely try it out in the summer. Generally, I just loved the way it felt.
iVillage verdict: Best base for lipstick

ivillage uk

Beauty Box: Lip balms and lip protectors

Top deals at Wahanda