Cosmetics: Lips

We're all about customized color--a color that's truly ours, no matter what. So is it any wonder that Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm has completely stolen our hearts?

This innocent little tub is filled with a pink balm that magically gives lips and cheeks the prettiest flush. It's formulated with pigments that react with the skin's humidity to create a personalized hint of color! And not only that ... Hyaluronic acid and Luffa oil moisturize and soften the skin.

But, really, we're just completely enamored with the fact that the balm creates a different color and glow for us than it does for anyone else. And, really, what's more special than that?

Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm retails for $31 at sephora.com.

We're going to let you in on a little secret. We love the Bonne Bell Lip Smackers Originals 8 Piece Party Pack. And while many people might think this makes us seem childish, we know better.

Lip Smackers are, without a doubt, the best lip balm we've ever tried. A few swipes back and forth (after much playing around, we've determined that 4-6 swipes on both top and bottom lips should do it) and your pout is soft and smooth for hours on end. We've even tested this before bed, and eight hours later, our lips were still covered in balm and chap-free!

Plus, how can you go wrong with the fun flavors in this set? The party pack contains eight of the sweet, tried and true flavors Bonne Bell girls have come to know and love. Choose from Vanilla, Mango, Wild Raspberry, Watermelon, Tropical Punch, Cotton Candy, Kiwi and Strawberry--each one more delicious and delectable than the next.

Used often (and we mean 3-4 times daily), one Lip Smacker should last you at least a month. So this set will keep you going for quite some time!

The Bonne Bell Lip Smacker Originals 8 Piece Party Pack retails for $9.95 at colorandflavorshop.com.

CLICK HERE to purchase COVERGIRL Natureluxe Gloss Balm

The winds have kicked up and my lips are the first to feel the effect. Those wintery, cold wind gusts make my lips dry and chapped. One year I thought they were beyond repair and worried I'd have to wait for the season to change to ever get any moisture back, then I met Kiehl's Lip Balm #1. It's seriously the best lip balm I've ever used. My favorite thing to do is to apply it just before bed and let it work its magic overnight. Because a little goes a long way, I've had the same tube for a couple years, so I was surprised when I learned it comes in flavors now, too -- Mango, vanilla, cranberry, mint and coconut! 

Once in awhile, a cult favorite beauty product really lives up to the hype. And that's how we feel about Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15.

We're pretty particular about the balms we slick on our pouts, but this one definitely counts among our favorites. While it is a bit on the waxy side, which admittedly we could do without, it keeps our lips feeling nourished and moisturized all day long with minimal reapplication.

Reparative oils and waxes combine with real sugar in the formula, in addition to black currant oil, grapeseed, and Vitamins A, C and E. And as if that's not enough, it's even formulated with SPF 15 to protect against damaging UV rays! Really, what more could you ask for?

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 retails for $22.50 at beauty.com.

Looking for a pink lip color that's equally as great on its own as it is layered over other glosses and lipsticks? Then look no further than NARS Baby Doll Lip Lacquer.

This little tub is filled to the brim with creamy pink goodness. We love that it applies smoothly and easily without any stickiness or goopiness.

And the color itself? It just looks fantastic on every skin tone. We love wearing it by itself or over a darker pink lipstick, but you could layer it over anything.

NARS Baby Doll Lip Lacquer retails for $24 at beauty.com.

As if the cult favorite Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve weren't fantastic enough. We absolutely love that now it comes in a tube form!

Now, we don't really mind tub balms, though we know some people do. But everyone can appreciate this amazing balm in a tube, right?

The formula is the same as ever, and it still works on everything from chapped lips to rough elbows and cracked cuticles. It's just a lot easier to apply and a lot less messy.

Best of all? It's only $6 at sephora.com. And who doesn't love a good beauty bargain?

There is no better special effect than the celebrity who steps out on the red carpet in what seems to be almost no makeup. Charlize Theron wandered the red carpet in support of her new movie Young Adult, with what looked like a natural face. Her beautifully separated eyelashes were only outdone by her pretty, sheer pink lip color. 

Don't be caught off guard during mistletoe season. You may think that just by using a good lip balm (personally Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is my fave) your lips will be properly cared for. WRONG! Our lips, like every other part of our body, can be in dire need of a good sloughing sometimes. This is why I heart the Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliator. It has a peppermint-y smell and is actually edible, but that's not what makes it so great -- it's how it removes dead skin, and leaves lips feeling soft and totally kissable that's so wonderful.