Kiehl's Lip Balm #1

RRP: from $6.50/£7/€10
also available in a scented version and as a World Aids Day limited edition

--What does the promo say?--
"Relieves cracked or chapped lips with cotton seed oil and protects them with SPF4 sunscreen. Not tested on animals."

--Packaging--
Finally a Kiehl's package which is travel friendly and not useless! The Kiehl's bottles are notorious for their brittleness and general breakability, but this is a sturdy, no-nonsense white plastic tube with black writing and screw-top lid. All very unisex. The only weakness is the fact that the nozzle is not tapered in any way, meaning that it can be a little rough when dragged over the lips.

--Application--
Just squeeze the tube a little to bring some of the balm to the surface of the nozzle. Rub onto lips, either using your fingers or directly from the nozzle, and you're good to go.

--Scent--
None.

--Appearance--
This is officially the love child of a high octane gloss and a high quality lip balm. Doesn't have any of the usual lip balm opacity or matte appearance, delivering instead a lip-gloss style shine (perhaps not so good if you happen to be male). The balm itself is clear/transparent.

--Texture/consistency--
Soft, smooth and not at all runny or sticky. A class act all the way.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
Incredibly, this is probably the most modest promotional statement I've ever seen on a product. What it doesn't tell you is that this is like the Atrixo of lip care; in other words, nothing short of a miracle. I had slightly chapped and painful dry lips which my Body Shop lip balm was just refusing to sort and which I didn't much fancy taking the Lipscuff to. Two applications of this stuff later, I had totally smooth, non-chapped, non-painful lips again. This condition was maintained even without further applications.

--Value for money--
Need I say more? This is an essential part of any man or woman's essential extreme seasons kit, along with Atrixo's hand cream and Liz Earle's Intensive Moisturiser. To the shops, people!

perfect partners
Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, from $12.50/£11.99/€16
Superbly Efficient Anti-perspirant Deodorant, from $11.50/£10.25/€15