THE Tinted Lip Balm
Hello! It’s been an age since I’ve written a beauty product review for a publication of my own. Welcome to Things I Buy As A Civilian, a newsletter about the (mostly beauty) things I purchase with my own American dollars after 16+ years as a beauty blogger and writer.
A few years ago, I shifted my focus to my copywriting and content strategy business, which takes up about 85% of my time, so my beauty editorial gigs are far fewer. Which means, while I am grateful for the occasional beauty product sample I can call in related to a story, the majority of my products are bought on my own dime. And with nearly two decades of testing everything on the market, it’s a tight edit that makes it into my permanent collection—and my NYC 1BR. Some things are items I’ve purchased re-ups of after getting an initial free sample. Some are things I’ve straight up purchased for the first time myself and loved.
While I may include an additional free P.R. sample in this newsletter, the focus will be the things I bought as a beauty civilian and loved (of course). In 2006, I started beauty blog Beauty Blogging Junkie (later named Rouge18) at my cubicle at PricewaterhouseCoopers with a post on a tinted lip balm—and TIBAAC begins the same way. We love a full-circle moment.
Enter Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint in Bare Pink Sparkle, a light sheer pink with a hint of gold sparkle. I know. A tinted balm is always where I live on the lip spectrum. Sometimes a gloss is nice. I want to be a lipstick person but in my heart, I’m not. It all feels too much, like I’m playing dress-up. I believe in a stunning lack of hair accessories, microscopic gold jewelry I switch out seasonally at best, and a moisturizing hint of tint on my lips as core values. This one gives my lips a sheer medium pink look that’s very MLBB (my lips but better) but is hydrating and long-lasting—all with a whisper of sparkle, no chunky glitter.
Another contender if you want less long wear and more moisture and a slightly holographic shine? Nars Afterglow Lip Balm in Hidden Pleasures, which appears to be discontinued. Fast Lane is a good shade that’s close. If you have the budget, I also bought myself this Hermes Rosy Tint Lip Balm and I’m annoyed by how much I love it as it costs the earth.
Things I’m Working On This Week
A story for Aedit.com on radiofrequency treatments, specifically microneedling
A travel story on Boston’s The Liberty Hotel for TravelSquire
A story on roller eye creams under $40 for RetailMeNot
Thank you for reading!