

There are so many new beauty releases being pushed to us it can be hard to figure out what product actually works and what’s worth spending the coins on. I’ve been on the hunt for quality lip care products, from lip care to makeup. I was determined to build a lip collection that nourishes, enhances, and looks good on my lips.
When it comes to lip care, your best lips start with a simple but effective routine in place. Our lip care isn’t synonymous with our skincare routine. If you think about it, our lips are exposed to just as much if not more, and have the thinnest layer of skin, requiring a little extra attention. A good foundation is important with anything, and I find that the better you treat and care for your lips, the better your glosses and lipsticks look.
Some of us underestimate the importance of healthy smooth lips or just don’t know what products to use to achieve it. Don’t worry, though, we got you! We created this list of products with everything from lip scrubs to lip glosses to help build a lip care routine that will keep your lips hydrated, smooth, and beautiful. Here are eight lip care products you need to try now:
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Intense Hydration with Vitamin C
If you’re in need of an intense lip moisturizing treatment, an overnight mask may do the trick. One of the biggest benefits of overnight treatments is that it allows you to dedicate uninterrupted time to restore moisture and hydration back into your lips. Studies also show that our skin cells rebalance during the night, making moisture retention more ideal. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask works and does just that by transforming dry or cracked lips while you sleep.
The overnight treatment is packed with antioxidants, berry fruit complex, murumuru seed, and shea butter to create smoother, softer lips. You simply just apply at night before bed and wipe off the excess in the morning. How often you should use it depends on you; it can be a consistent part of your nighttime beauty routine or something to do once in a while when your lips need a little extra TLC.
La Mer The Lip Polish
La Mer
If you’re looking for a two-in-one scrub, La Mer's Lip Polish is exactly what you need. The scrub act as both a moisturizer and exfoliator with a balm-like feel. It comes with a two-sided applicator: one smooth end to apply to your lips and the other to massage and increase circulation. La Mer’s Lip Polish helps remove dead skin, soften lip texture, and hydrate. It’s free of parabens and sulfates and uses its signature miracle broth which is a blend of sea kelp and various vitamins and minerals to nourish your lips.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil
Lip oils are a great bonus product for smooth and hydrated lips. They are designed to not only add shine but also nourish, soften, and protect your lips from dehydration. Rare Beauty makes a great collection of tinted lip oils that combine skincare and makeup. With up to eight different shades, all you need is the tinted oil and liner, and you’re good to go!
Ami Colé Lip Treatment Oil
Ami Colé
This is another great lip oil if you don’t want the vibrancy of the Rare Beauty oil. If you’re more of a gloss girl but still want to get into lip oils, Ami Colé is the way to go. Each oil is made with baobab seed oil and camellia oil to nourish lips and add lasting shine without any stickiness. As far as shade options, Ami Colé offers five different lip shades – Excellence, Reflection, Smitten, Bliss, and 5/17.
Although each oil shade has its own tint, it still incorporates a sheer and natural gloss-like finish to fit every skin tone. I think a good way to use lip oils is to layer it on top of your chapstick or lip ointment for double hydration and long-lasting moisture.
Aquaphor Lip Repair
Aquaphor
Finding the right lip balm can be a job in itself. I’ve tried almost every stick, balm, and ointment there is, and the only one I seemed to be satisfied with is the Aquaphor Lip Repair. It treats, shines, and adds long-lasting moisture to dry lips. It’s free of harmful preservatives and fragrances and made for those who are more on the sensitive side. You can also get this same ointment with SPF 30, so you can protect your lips from sun damage and signs of aging.
Fenty Beauty Fenty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick
Fenty Beauty
I don’t know about y’all, but one of my favorite moments of the 2023 Super Bowl was that red lip – it was bold, pigmented, and stunning, so you know we had to add it to the list. Fenty’s Velvet Liquid Lipstick is a creamy lip color with long-lasting wear. The velvet finish is a great option if you’re not necessarily a matte or glossy kind of girl. The Fenty Icon comes in five different shades – H.B.I.C., Bread Winn'r, C-Suite'Heart, RiRi, and The MVP. For $29, it will give you a bold, comfortable, and long-lasting wear.
Juvia's Place The Coffee Shop Luxe Lipliners
Juvia's Place
Juvia’s Place products are known for their rich and pigmented colors, especially for dark skin. I’ve personally had a hard time finding a bold brown lipliner that doesn’t blend in. If you’re having the same issue, I highly recommend grabbing one of these. For one, it comes in three different brown shades – Cocoa Latte, Coffee Bean, and Espresso. The liners are just $10 for a smooth application that adds both pigment and definition to your lips. For the price, it’s definitely a steal.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Fenty Beauty
I really wanted to give y’all a range of products and brands without repeating brands on this list, but Fenty Beauty really came into the game killing it. It would be a disservice to leave their collection of glosses off the list. The Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer is a must-have for your gloss collection. I’m personally a fan of the Fenty Glow, but it has six other shades – FU$Y, Diamond Milk, Glass Slipper, $weetmouth, Hot Chocolit, and Riri.
In my opinion, because it conditions so well, you can use this as a lip oil too. Now I know Fenty sells lip oils too, but if you’ve tried both already, it basically has the same feel and effects in a bigger bottle.
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Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
Egypt Sherrod & Mike Jackson On Love, Business, And Financial Transparency On The First Date
Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson have captivated us on their HGTV show, Married to Real Estate, and podcast Marriage and Money.
Now, they have teamed up with TurboTax to assist small business owners with tax and financial support. The couple met while working in radio, and now they own multiple businesses together. While working with your spouse can have its ups and downs, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Besides the fact that I get to work with the person I love doing what I love to do, right? There's the aspect of our daughters, seeing us work together as a unit and actually doing it successful,” Mike tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview
“So they get to grow up and experience what it is to be entrepreneurs from ground level, right? Because Mom and Dad did it, and they did it in such a way that I want to emulate, even if they don't decide to do exactly what we do, but they get to see it. That, to me, means a lot.”
But owning a business, whether separate or together, comes with a lot of responsibility and mistakes can often happen, especially for novice entrepreneurs. Egypt opens up about mistakes her and Mike experienced working in real estate.
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us,” she says.
“So our goal by partnering with TurboTax is to really open the eyes of fellow entrepreneurs, to show them that, especially when it comes to your finances, your taxes, and getting that right, there is a faster, more cost effective, more accurate way of getting the support that you need.”
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us."
Being tax compliant is among small business owners’ top concerns, but it's often time-consuming and research-intensive to figure out taxes on your own. TurboTax Business provides small business owners and solopreneurs access to unlimited live expert help to get your taxes prepared and filed.
When it comes to their marriage, the money conversation never goes away. The couple owns six businesses together, multiple properties, and are parents to three daughters. So when it comes down to finances, they believe in transparency, even dating back to their first date 21 years ago.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?,” Mike says. “Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
At the time, Mike was newly divorced and had a small child. Egypt says she found his honesty “refreshing” and was looking for someone to build with, so his finances weren’t a problem for her. “If you're building anything, and that's like, first, second, third date, and you feel like, okay, this is someone I can be invested with, even beyond money, you have to just be honest about your circumstances,” Egypt shares.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?. Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
“Otherwise you're building a house of cards that can fall at any minute, but I think money is one of the things. Finances are one of the things that even when people are in love, they still can't make it work and it breaks up marriages. It breaks up relationships because it's a stressor.
“So, yeah it is something that you want to ask about up front. What's your credit? How much do you earn? You don't have to be rich, but I just need to know if if the math is mathing.”
While they don’t believe you should have the money conversation on the first date, they do believe you should have it early to avoid any misunderstandings down the line.
To hear more about their story, check out their podcast, Marriage and Money and watch the new season of Married to Real Estate on HGTV.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
“So they get to grow up and experience what it is to be entrepreneurs from ground level, right? Because Mom and Dad did it, and they did it in such a way that I want to emulate, even if they don't decide to do exactly what we do, but they get to see it. That, to me, means a lot.”
But owning a business, whether separate or together, comes with a lot of responsibility and mistakes can often happen, especially for novice entrepreneurs. Egypt opens up about mistakes her and Mike experienced working in real estate.
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us,” she says.
“So our goal by partnering with TurboTax is to really open the eyes of fellow entrepreneurs, to show them that, especially when it comes to your finances, your taxes, and getting that right, there is a faster, more cost effective, more accurate way of getting the support that you need.”
“On our journey of entrepreneurship, we made a lot of mistakes. We spent money, we did things backwards, we learned the hard way through the school of hard knocks. There was no road map for us."
Being tax compliant is among small business owners’ top concerns, but it's often time-consuming and research-intensive to figure out taxes on your own. TurboTax Business provides small business owners and solopreneurs access to unlimited live expert help to get your taxes prepared and filed.
When it comes to their marriage, the money conversation never goes away. The couple owns six businesses together, multiple properties, and are parents to three daughters. So when it comes down to finances, they believe in transparency, even dating back to their first date 21 years ago.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?,” Mike says. “Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
At the time, Mike was newly divorced and had a small child. Egypt says she found his honesty “refreshing” and was looking for someone to build with, so his finances weren’t a problem for her. “If you're building anything, and that's like, first, second, third date, and you feel like, okay, this is someone I can be invested with, even beyond money, you have to just be honest about your circumstances,” Egypt shares.
“Our first conversation about money was that, ‘hey, I don't have no money.’ Okay?. Because there's been past relationships that are no longer existing. There's been things going on that I had to take care of and get through. So you're meeting a man that is pretty much starting from scratch again. How do you feel about it?”
“Otherwise you're building a house of cards that can fall at any minute, but I think money is one of the things. Finances are one of the things that even when people are in love, they still can't make it work and it breaks up marriages. It breaks up relationships because it's a stressor.
“So, yeah it is something that you want to ask about up front. What's your credit? How much do you earn? You don't have to be rich, but I just need to know if if the math is mathing.”
While they don’t believe you should have the money conversation on the first date, they do believe you should have it early to avoid any misunderstandings down the line.
To hear more about their story, check out their podcast, Marriage and Money and watch the new season of Married to Real Estate on HGTV.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy