We’re All about Lip Care This Year
Add a lip mask to your facial at Face Haus in Rice Village.
Image: Courtesy Face Haus
If taking better care of your teeth was your New Year’s resolution, you’ve likely already booked your biannual cleaning with your dentist and stocked up on whitening strips. But a radiant smile goes beyond just well-maintained chompers—it extends to healthy, cared-for lips, too. Locally made lip balms and even special treatments are a great place to start to avoid a crackly winter smile.
Face Haus, a national chain with a location in Rice Village, offers an add-on “Lip, Laugh, Love” service to any of its facials for an extra $15. “If you feel like your lips need some extra love, then this is a great addition,” says local Face Haus esthetician Frankie Garcia.
To keep up with your lip care, purchase the Schmoozer lip balm from Face Haus.
Image: Courtesy Face Haus
Choose from a wide range of facials that target different skin concerns and “boost” it with the lip add-on. Your esthetician will apply a citrus and pineapple enzyme mask to your lips for exfoliation, followed by paprika oil for plumping. After a few minutes, a hydrating hibiscus peptide mask is applied to reduce the appearance of laugh lines and provide extra plumping.
Garcia recommends Face Haus’s bestselling lip balm, the Schmoozer, which is enriched with bisabolol, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. But Houston is home to a range of locally made lip care products; here are our four faves.
Founder Julia Sora of Zeal Cares donates a lip balm for every one purchased to a child battling cancer.
Image: Courtesy Zeal Cares
Zeal Cares
Zeal Cares, founded by Julia Sora when she was 10 years old, stands out for its philanthropic mission: the company donates a lip balm for every one purchased to someone battling cancer. Sora, now 18, was inspired to create Zeal by a family friend in cancer therapy who was dealing with dry skin. Zeal lip balm is made with organic beeswax, vitamin E, and a blend of organic coconut, argan, jojoba, and grapeseed oils for hydration. Sora partners with over 30 hospitals and organizations in 18 states to distribute lip balms to patients. She takes their sensitivities into account with her scents, which include mango, key lime, lemon hibiscus, tangerine, French vanilla, and mint. Zeal lip balms can be purchased at Kuhl-Linscomb or online.
Bee2Bee Honey
Bee2Bee Honey takes a hyper-local approach by selling honey from bee hives across the Houston area. Owner Nicole Buergers crafts lip balms with the beeswax, too. Bee2Bee’s Moisturizing Balm comes in a nonplastic container and in four different scents: lavender, rose, peppermint, and vapor rub. Each purchase supports the company’s mission to educate people about local beekeeping. Find the product on the Bee2Bee website (with free 24/7 pickup) and at the Urban Harvest, Heights Mercantile, and Rice Village farmers markets.
Makeup by Mari
Founded by Houstonian Maricella Metzler, Makeup by Mari brings a makeup artist’s touch to lip care. The Vitamin C Lip Balm aims to help retain moisture and heal sore or cracked lips; the company also claims that it acts as an antioxidant and may prevent wrinkles. The Blush Lip Tint leaves your lips feeling hydrated while also adding a pop of color to your smile. Metzler says she prides herself on her cruelty-free and skin tone–inclusive makeup line, which is available for purchase at the store location in River Oaks, inside Premier Aesthetics, Trellis Spa at Houstonian Hotel, and online.
SMB Organics
SMB Organics was founded in 2009 by Lubaina Raja after she received her certification in aromatherapy and partnered with her sister-in-law Tasneem Raja, an acupuncturist with over 20 years of experience. Their lip balms are made with essential oils and butters sourced from small sustainable producers in places like West Africa and New Zealand. The alcohol-free products come in a range of options, from the classic lavender mint to the newly introduced orange vanilla. Find them online or at Katy Acupuncture and Herbal Care.
