Lip Balm

We Bellas were always pretty fond of good old Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker because it's delicious, moisturizing, and has the perfect hint of color. But for those of you in need of something a little less soda pop, your favorite middle-school lip balm brand has now teamed up with Vitamin Water to make Vitamin Schticks ($3).

The lip balms come in the same flavors as the electrolyte- and mineral-filled beverages. (Think Power-C, XXX, and Focus.) They're good for lips, too, because they contain both vitamin E and sunscreen. It seems like this might be an attempt by Bonne Bell to market to guys — especially because 50 Cent is associated with the water — but regardless, do you think you'd try one of these?

Every time I'm near an old-fashioned patisserie, I can't keep myself from lingering outside. Even if it's only for a few seconds, there's nothing like taking a whiff of the delicacies inside and window shopping the decadent confections. To get a little dessert anytime, though, I've put together some divine lip balms in some of the most sinfully accurate flavors out there. Delicious, moisturizing, and calorie-free — just the way I like it.

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We've explored different ways to prevent both foundation from caking and concealer from creping. I even have you covered on the various ways to keep eye shadow from creasing. To conclude this series on keeping makeup smooth, let's talk lipsticks. Find out tips on how you can keep your lips feather-free when you read more.

Most women consume a lot of lip balm over the course of a year, since we swallow several pounds of what we put on our lips. And if you're eating that much, it's nice to know your lip stuff is just as safe and natural as the veggies you chow down on.

Which is why certified organic lip balms are a good idea. They pass the USDA's rigorous standards, and only contain natural ingredients you'll probably have heard of before. They work just as well as regular balms and glosses, and the organic certification doesn't necessarily mean they cost more. So the next time you're thinking about picking up a balm at the drugstore, try looking for the USDA Organic seal, and check out the widget below to see some brands you can be looking for.

Your lips have some of the most sensitive skin on your body, and chapped lips can make lipstick look rough or crumbly. It's a bad scene, but you can avoid going there with these tips.

• Chad Hayduk of Three Custom Color Specialists says to avoid matte or long-wearing lip color. "They have fewer moisturizing ingredients and can dry the lips," he says. "Instead, choose a lip gloss or moisturizing sheer lipstick." He recommends Simply Beautiful Sheer Lipstick ($21.50).
• Check the ingredients on your lip balm. Menthol, camphor, and salicylic acid are in many lip-healing treatments, but they dry lips out further.
• If you don't have a good balm, use your under-eye cream on your lips, let it set, and then put the lipstick over that. Your lipstick will go on smoother and your lips will look fuller.
• Skip the lip liner; it may keep your color in place, but it's also incredibly drying.
• Use a moisturizing lipstick primer, like Pop Beauty Lip Magnet Primer ($15). Primers fill in fine lines, protect lips, smooth things out, and keep your color on longer.

A few samples of the colorfully-decorated spherical Twist & Pout Lip Balms ($7-9.50) landed on my desk yesterday. Yes, they're a bit little-girlish, but there's a cheerfulness about them that can't be denied. The SPF 20 balm within consists of natural ingredients like beeswax, vitamin E, and aloe vera. Even though the flavor is an orange, lemon, and honey blend, it all tastes a little fruit punch-y to me. Of the samples we received, oddly, each one coordinated almost exactly with the outfits Team Bella was wearing. Odd coincidence, but of the samples below, perhaps you'll find your own lip balm doppelganger too.

One more reason to like H&M: in just a couple of weeks, the Swedish fast-fashion chain is introducing a line of body care made with organic ingredients. Ecocert, the European certification organization, has given its green stamp of approval to the range of shower gels, body scrubs, lotions, hand creams, and lip balm. As you'd expect from H&M, it's also affordable. Body care products each cost less than $5, with only a toiletry bag reaching the $7.95 mark.

Delivered in recyclable packaging, the paraben- and phthalate-free products incorporate organic ingredients such as apple juice, sunflower seed oil, jojoba, and essential oils. And bunny lovers will be glad to know that whether during the development process or in the finished state, the products are not tested on animals. An organic-based body care line at a decent price? How Swede it is.