A few weeks ago, I was meeting an old friend for lunch at Fred’s at Barneys, and I intentionally got there earlier than early to grab some essentials at the Kiehl’s counter.

I went downstairs to the cosmetics, after carefully avoiding the Céline bags, and was instantly accosted by a makeup artist with a fetching English accent who kept on throwing out the phrase, ‘New York fashion week,’ as if it were the ultimate selling point for the fashion consumerist spirit…even at the cosmetics tables.

In a puff of powder, I was sent off to the the check-out counter with a handfull of cosmetics that I didn’t know I needed.  While I was being rung up, I noticed that there was a single item that amounted, alone, to $65.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I am certainly no spendthrift, but amongst a lip pencil, a lip balm, and a lipstick, I was a bit shocked.

It turns out that the costly cosmetic was the lip balm; or, more accurately, Serge Lutens Lip Comfort.  It is this tiny tube of goodness, and I will now rationalize its price.  

I have always used the Chanel Rouge Coco Baume as a lip conditioner, and never batted an eyelash at its price ($32), where one could argue that a Nivea lip balm (~$3\drugstores) would work just as well…and most likely does.  

However, the Serge Lutens Lip Comfort is in a class above the rest.  Lately, I have been really into matte lipsticks, but I have super dry lips-especially in the winter-and I most likely have to apply a balm before smacking on my lipstick.

But especially with matte lipsticks, the balms I had been using in the past did the trick in terms of providing the necessary moisture and conditioning, but as a side effect, they were just too oily.  This slickness will render the matte effect of the overlying lipstick practically moot, and sometimes can even turn the surest-staying lipsticks to streaky stains all over your teeth.

Not with the Serge Lutens Lip Comfort, though.  Since it is a matte balm, it packs all the moisture that I need, creating a smooth (not slick!), even palette.  As my charming, English makeup artist said, it is truly the, ‘champagne of lip balms.’  

One more thing: you need not spend $65 every time.  Once finished, you can buy $50 refill tubes that click right back into the applicator.  It might seem paltry even at that price, but you’re going to want those refills once you try this product.

Vanity comes at a price!

xo*ck   

~

Extra tip: When my lips are super chapped, I use fresh’s Sugar Lip Polish ($22.50 Sephora, Barneys) before my balm to really exfoliate and condition.