Pretty lips are healthy lips, but most people deal with the occasional bout of chapped lips. When Chapstick isn't enough to smooth your lips, they simply need good exfoliation. You can use a warm, damp washcloth to scrub away dry skin, but when you're away from home, turn to a lip exfoliator to get rid of the flakies. I've compared two of my favorites, MAC Prep + Prime Microfine Lip Refinisher and Leaf and Rusher Tx Lips. To compare and contrast (and to see which one is a favorite in the Jolie-Pitt household), read more.
| Prep + Prime | Tx Lips | Advantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scent | MAC's signature vanilla scent | Nothing strong; vaguely sugary. | MAC, no contest. |
| Best for | Exfoliating and conditioning dry lips before lipstick application, or as a balm on its own. | An overnight treatment for parched, flaky lips. | MAC |
| Odd but true | Resembles the Sears Tower. | Brad Pitt's a fan. | Leaf and Rusher. Love ya, Chicago, but... it's Brad Pitt. |
| Pluses | Swivel packaging creates no-mess application. | A little bit goes a long way. | It's a draw. MAC's packaging is neater, but Tx Lips lasts forever. |
| Drawbacks | Leaves little black bits on your lips, which makes it look like you've just devoured a top-soil sandwich. | Leaves sticky sugar particles on your fingers, necessitating paw wipeage. | Leaf and Rusher. At least sugar crystals are clear. |
| Results | Prep + Prime leaves lips smooth, plump, and silky. | Tx Lips exfoliates the worst of the flaky lips, but it's not as moisturizing. | MAC. |
| Price | $14.50 | $21 | MAC, obviously. |
You can never go wrong with MAC.
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