This Seemingly Magical Drugstore Product Is An All-In-One Balm And Lip Tint

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There seems to be a tradeoff in many lip products: Buy an actually affordable product that provides color but no hydration, or pay two or three times that amount for pigment and moisture, and let your wallet suffer.
Julep’s two-in-one lip balm lipstick is coveted by thousands of Amazon reviewers for being that ‘best of both worlds’ Goldilocks option. Folks say it’s an excellent swap for more expensive lip products like the Clinique chubby sticks — and for expensive holy grails from MAC and Urban Decay that have since been discontinued.
Loyalists say the lippie is an “extraordinary find” that’s best described as “lipstick with moisturizer,” with the rich color and satin-y finish of lipstick and the “luscious” hydration of a good lip balm.
The crayon’s impressive hydration is due to its vitamin E and sunflower butter-infused core, which conditions lips with antioxidants and fatty acids. The result feels like “a drink of water for your lips” that applies “smooth as silk” without feeling sticky or waxy. “I’m a chapstick addict who hates the feel of lipstick,” writes one reviewer S. McBrayer. “This is much softer and exactly what I wanted!”
The lipstick-lip balm hybrid is essentially foolproof, folks say, the kind of product you can swipe on without a mirror and trust it looks good. And, it’ll still look good as the day goes on: It fades into a nice tint that’s like ”[your] lips but better,” according to reviewers, without bleeding or any weird lines. That’s part of why one person deemed it their apocalypse beauty pick: “If I had to pick only one lip color to bring with me on a desert island — or go on vacation, or to work, or for a Zoom call — currently, I’d pick this one.”
And, for folks with chronically dry lips, including as a result of hard-earned age, the Julep lippie “is a great answer,” providing nourishment and color without feeling heavy or overdone.
“I’m older and it has just the right amount of tint and the moisturizer has reduced the flakiness and lines on my lips,” writes a reviewer named Wanda.
“I’m almost 50 and love that it feels like chapstick [and] moisturizes,” says another, Colleen, adding that her daughter wanted in on the secret, too: “My 21 year old daughter loves it and bought some for herself, then her roommate did too.”
The Julep lippie comes in tons of colors and shades, offering “a shade for every event or outfit,” from statement-making red and plum hues to subtler neutrals and multi-packs that include both. Its unique iridescent shade offers a pearly shimmer that you can layer under or over your other favorites.
For heavy-hitter favorites at a glance, reviewers with medium to deep skin tones enjoyed Julep’s rich plum and sweet sangria shades, while reviewers with fairer skin tones swore by vintage mauve, dusty orchid shimmer and canyon rose. Brandy wine and cherry wood crème were also popular among users.
Right now, you can snag a buy one, get one free deal with a qualifying purchase of another balm or one of Julep’s eyeshadow sticks or gel eyeliner pencils.
“This balm is so perfect. I love the color but the most important thing is that is that it feels soft and it doesn’t bleed and just makes my lips feel very nice. I’m 65 and my lips get dry easy so I have to always have some kind of lipstick or lipgloss but I don’t really want to have heavy lipstick anymore. This is definitely the best thing I found. Definitely will be getting different shades.” — boricua
“I have a hard time finding a tinted balm that looks ’natural, only better’. This one is perfect and helps my aging lips look more youthful.” — Kure Beach
“Smooth like butter! It really is! It glides on so smoothly and feels really light and moisturizing. It’s not sticky at all! Love the way it feels. I got the Shimmer Dusty Orchid and it’s the perfect natural shade for me. Giving my lips but better. Great product for hydrating your lips and creating a natural look.” — Linh Hoang
“I’m a senior and lipstick can look like too ‘demanding’ on me…This seems to be a great answer to the issue. Love the ‘Vintage Mauve’. If you’re ‘mature’ you should give it a shot. Surprisingly flattering.” — Tricia
“I will buy this over and over again! It is the perfect shade , glides on well and is just a bit of color you need without it being overdone! Highly recommend.” — Shannon Carlson