If you know me, you’ll know I swipe on lip products at least once every 10 minutes. I’ve always been obsessed with testing everything from TikTok-favorite balms to nourishing oils to those under-the-radar gems you don’t see on every social media Sephora order. Between honey, sugar and glossy hydration, here’s how my lips fared:

Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil – Honey Gold

Rating: 6/10

Packaging & Aesthetic: Gisou always nails it. The squared, golden-tinted tube feels chic and unique. It’s the kind of product you actually want to display on your vanity or pull out of your bag just for fun.

Texture: Lightweight and smooth; it glides on beautifully with only light stickiness.

Shades & Color: Honey Gold is gorgeous in the tube, but on the lips it pulls a bit too yellow. I think it could be more flattering on deeper complexions, while on lighter ones it can feel slightly off.

Scent: This was a miss for me. Instead of the sweet, floral honey note I was expecting (especially after falling in love with their Rose Honey Hair Perfume), it smells olive-oily. Not bad, but not exactly what I hoped for.

Formula & Ingredients: Hydrating and nourishing, leaving lips soft and smooth after it fades.

Wear: Gives a glassy, mirror-like shine that isn’t long-lasting but looks stunning while it’s on.

Overall: Chic and shiny, perfect for a statement gloss moment, but the yellow tint and unusual scent make it more of a treat than an everyday essential.

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm – Brown Sugar & Pink Sugar

Rating: 5/10

Packaging & Aesthetic: Cute, playful tubes that feel fun and candy-like. 

Texture: Thick at first and a bit tacky, sitting on top of the lips rather than melting in. Interestingly, carrying it in my pocket all day softened it perfectly, giving me the smooth application I was hoping for. Temperature really affects this one.

Shades & Color: Brown Sugar is a cozy, warm neutral; Pink Sugar is sheer pink, candy-like and fun. Both are playful but can feel a little overwhelming if you’re not into dessert-style colors.

Scent: Brown Sugar is cozy and comforting, Pink Sugar is sweet and candy-like. Fun at first, but both can get cloying if you swipe too often.

Formula & Ingredients: Shea and murumuru seed butters plus vegan waxes make it protective, but the waxiness stands out more than the butteriness: hydrating in theory, but not deeply nourishing in practice.

Wear: Glossy at first, but the slight stickiness makes reapplication a bit annoying. The sugary scent lingers, which might be a bonus if you love sweet-smelling lips.

Overall: Fun, playful, and sweet, perfect if you want a candy-flavored lip moment, but not the best for hydration or a holy-grail product.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Honey Lip Care – Honey

Rating: 9/10

Packaging & Aesthetic: Nuxe nailed the concept with a striking “honey dipper” inspired wooden cap and wand, paired with a transparent, honey-gold tube that’s equal parts elegant and whimsical. It feels like a mini-styling moment whenever you use it.

Texture: Silky, smooth and lightweight. The formula glides on effortlessly, giving lips a luscious, non-sticky satin sheen that feels more like a treatment than a gloss.

Shades & Color: Completely clear with a natural honey glow, which I think is perfectly flattering and adaptable across all skin tones. 

Scent: A genuinely natural honey aroma, balanced just right – not overly sweet, and free of artificial edges.

Formula & Ingredients: Highlights include lavender honey from Provence and organic camelina oil (rich in omegas 3 & 6), with 97% natural origin ingredients. It’s both thoughtfully curated and supremely nourishing.

Wear: Lightweight yet hydrating. Even after the glossy layer fades, lips stay soft, smooth, and comforted, making it feel more like a nourishing ritual than a quick swipe.

Overall: The unique, stylish packaging sets the mood, but it’s the performance (texture, scent and staying power) that earns this balm that “holy-grail” badge in my collection.

Tower 28 Beauty LipSoftie™ Hydrating Tinted Lip Treatment Balm

Flavors/Shades Tried: Blood Orange Vanilla, Red Bean Mochi, Ube Vanilla
Rating: 10/10

Packaging & Aesthetic: Sleek, minimalist tube that’s easy to carry anywhere.

Texture: Cushiony, silky, and hydrating: My favorite balm texture ever.

Shades & Color:

• Blood Orange Vanilla: Flattering shade, but the scent reminds me of a marker, which makes it less wearable.
• Red Bean Mochi: Soft, comforting scent; tint could be a little deeper for my complexion.
• Ube Vanilla: Playful and fun, though not my favorite.

Scent: Sweet and soft overall, though some scents are hit-or-miss.

Formula & Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil, lysine: deeply moisturizing and nourishing.

Wear: Comfortable, hydrating and long-lasting.

Overall: Formula is unmatched, though scents need a bit of refinement. If perfected, this could be the ultimate tinted balm.

LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm – Berry

Rating: 7/10

Packaging & Aesthetic: Small, sleek tube. It is perfect for tossing in a purse.

Texture: Lightweight, glossy, and moisturizing.

Shades & Color: Berry tone that’s bright, wearable and sweet.

Scent: Sweet, natural and not overpowering.

Formula & Ingredients: Shea and murumuru seed butters provide hydration that feels like skincare for your lips.

Wear: Glossy and softening, though the tube is small and I went through it fast.

Overall: Easy, cute and practical for everyday touch-ups; a great grab-and-go lip balm.

Final Thoughts

For anyone who loves a gloss moment: Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil (Honey Gold) is chic and shiny, but the scent keeps it more occasional than everyday.

For those with a sweet tooth: Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (Brown Sugar & Pink Sugar) is playful and candy-like, though a little sticky.

For anyone who wants true lip care: Nuxe Rêve de Miel (Honey) is silky, nourishing, and timeless.

For fans of tinted balms: Tower 28 LipSoftie (Blood Orange Vanilla, Red Bean Mochi, Ube Vanilla) has the best formula I’ve ever tried, even if some scents miss the mark.

For the everyday essential: LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm (Berry) is lightweight, sweet and perfect to have on hand.

If I had to pick just one to keep in my bag forever, it would still be Nuxe Rêve de Miel. It makes my lips feel absolutely their best every single time.