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Kiss and Tell

Keep your lips soft and sultry with a moisturizing lip balm full of plumping power and armed with an SPF

Your lips are like the welcome mat of your kisser, and dry, cracked lips are the equivalent of one of those cheesy mats that says "Go Away!" and has a picture of an angry bulldog on it.

What you want are soft, sexy, inviting lips that look like feather pillows. If feather pillows liked to wear lip gloss. That's why you need a lip balm that comes with enough SPF protection to ward off the most damaging UV rays the sun can muster up, plus contain a softening moisturizer that keeps them kissably perfect.

Lip Force Field
Remember that your lips are just as susceptible to skin cancer as any other part of your body. Make sure to apply a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15 underneath lipstick or lip gloss every time you head outside. Try Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Protector SPF 15. The yummy pomegranate extract does more than just smell like a fruity cocktail, it also nourishes damaged skin cells. Plus, the balm's shea butter moisturizes and conditions lips as the SPF protects.

Movie Star Lips
If you like big, plump lips like a certain actress who may be known for her big, plump lips, then look for a balm that stimulates circulation (that tingly feeling you have after applying is a sign that it's plumping).

Boscia Jujube Salve Stick uses jujube fruit (yes, they're an actual fruit, not just a candy) and macadamia nut oil to help regenerate cells, smoothing the fine lines around your lips while also delivering some plumping power.

Kinerase Ultimate Volume Lip Conditioner SPF 20 with SPF 20 also fits into this category. It uses three types of collagen to visibly add some lip volume, while simultaneously helping to repair the signs of aging.

Eco-Friendly Favorite
Softlips has been around forever—I have been a fan since high school when I applied it 46 times a day because I thought my crush might want to kiss me at any moment. Now, they've gone green with Softlips Pure Organic Lip Conditioner. The ingredients are 100 percent natural and include organic oils, beeswax, shea butter—and vitamin E, which gives lips a boost of skin-softening nourishment. Stock up your backpack, er, your clutch, with a few of the five different flavors.

Written by Amanda Myers

Amanda is a thirty-something writer and editor based in Phoenix. This former health and lifestyle reporter was born and raised a small-town Wisconsin girl and as such, strives for a beauty regimen that's simple and budget-friendly but which also elicits a "No you aren't!" response when she divulges her age.