2017 was definitely not the year of the lip for me. I think I wore less lipstick this year than I ever have before. I mostly stuck to treatments and the occasional gloss. So rather than do a very detailed lip product post, like what I’ve done in the past, I think I’ll just talk about the few things that I used most often. (i.e. what I carry around in my purse with me every day)

Favorite Balm: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm

I’ve been a big fan of the Agave Lip Mask for quite a while but Bite finally came out with a balm form and I’m thrilled! While I’m happy to use the mask any time, I don’t always love having to apply a product to my lips with my fingers. At work for instance, I don’t really want all my keyboard lurgees getting smeared on my lips. The balm is a little less hydrating than the mask and it doesn’t have the same nice scent but it is the best balm I’ve found to date. It’s pretty spendy at $18.00 per tube. Ok a lot spendy. But so far it’s the only balm I’ve found that doesn’t make my lips MORE dry than they were to begin with.

2016 – No balm favorite

2015 – Nivea A Kiss of Honey

Favorite treatment: Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

As previously mentioned; I love this stuff. This was a game changer for me. I never realized how much other lip treatments and balms were contributing to my dry lip problem until I started using this on a regular basis. I use this every night and keep a tube in my purse in case of emergencies. It’s amazing. This is another pricey product at $26.00 per tube. I will say that a tube of this lasts a very long time. I think I average about a year per tube and that’s with daily use.

2016 – Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

2015 – Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

Favorite gloss: C.O Bigelow Mentha Supreme 2X

The scent of this gloss is one of the most refreshing mint scents ever. There’s just something special about it. I used this years ago and forgot about it but my friend Stashy reminded me last year and now I’ve fallen back in love. Also there’s the nostalgia factor with the scent. Every time I use this it takes me back to the early 2000’s and it’s amazing. I will say that if I use this for a few days in a row the menthol does really do a number on my lips. It’s definitely not a treatment. But it’s a beautiful clear gloss and I adore it. This is a little more affordable (although still kind of pricey for a lip gloss) at $8.00 per tube. I get it at Bath and Body Works and they frequently have sales so that’s a great time to check it out.

2016 – Chanel Glossimer 63

2015 – Covergirl Lip Lava (ooh la lava)

2014 – tie between Buxom Full On Lip Polishes and L’Oreal LeGloss

Favorite lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte Shine 9 (Nude in Private)

You may or may not remember my talking briefly about what happened with The Boy this last year. For a few months he was in the hospital and part of that hospitalization was in a different city about 2 hours away from my home. For about a month I relocated to that town and would come home every few days to check on the cat and run local errands. For 11 of the days that he was in the hospital he was under complete sedation. (sorry this is turning into a long story!) At one point when I had been sitting in the hospital room watching him “sleep” for a few days, one of the nurses suggested that I take a few hours to go do something other than just go back to the apartment and fall asleep immediately. So I went out shopping and since I hadn’t thought to pack makeup, I basically bought myself a new face. It was kind of nice having “out of town” makeup and “home” makeup that I didn’t have to tote back and forth. To make a short story super long; this was the lipstick that I bought for myself on that little afternoon shopping spree. So it has nostalgia. But also, this is a great nude on me. I keep this in my purse and feel fancy every time I whip it out. It’s also one of those shades that I can apply without a mirror because it’s so close to my own lip color that it doesn’t really matter if I’m a little sloppy. Am I suggesting that you go out and drop $37.00 on a lipstick? Not really. But if you want a treat for yourself, this line is kind of fun. The packaging is horribly gaudy and bordering on cheap looking but that’s the fun of it. Also the scent of these lipsticks is so delicious. I’ve mentioned this on the blog before, but when I was about 22 I used to order this shot called the Red Headed Slut. It has Jagermeister, cranberry juice and peach schnapps and it’s amazingly delicious. I should really order one of those again sometime. Anyway, this lipstick smells like that drink and it’s perfection.

2014 – Favorite Nude – Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Impulsive

2015 – Favorite Nude – Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Impulsive

2016 – No nude lipstick winner but you can see the other lipsticks here

I would love to know what your lip favorites were this last year! Do you have a favorite lip trend? Are you hoping to see a new lip trend this next year? I’m ready for matte lips to go away and for gloss to come back in a big way. Although I think matte lipstick looks so nice on other people, I just can’t handle it myself.