At the end of the day, a lip balm will always be a lip balm. But as far as lip balms go, The Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm is as good as they come.
The brand, by makeup artist Gucci Westman, is all about elevating makeup essentials to their most luxurious forms. But luxurious doesn’t mean fussy in this case, as the products are insanely easy to use. The textures are creamy and blend effortlessly with fingers, and most of them come in a breezy stick form. The packaging is simple and chic, but weighty, and justifies the higher price points. And of course, every product is made with clean, quality ingredients—and without parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, phthalates, and silicones.
The Squeaky Clean lip balm is the perfect example of this, it’s the best possible version of a tinted lip balm. It has a thick texture, and is loaded with organic oils like jojoba, shea, almond, and argon to moisturize and nourish lips. The packaging is heavy and incredibly chic, and though it’s tinted, it’s sheer enough to apply on the go without a mirror. It’s no wonder it took home the prize for the best clean lip gloss at the 2022 Glamour Beauty Awards.
To prove how good it is, we have five Glamour staffers put the Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm to the test. Read on for our honest thoughts.
Talia Abbas, commerce editor, wearing Chou Chou
When the team announced that Westman Atelier’s lip balm won a 2022 Glamour Beauty Award, I wasn’t surprised. The product looks good. My suspicions were confirmed from the first swipe. It’s so good, in fact, I’ve forgotten all about my other lip products since this pretty little thing came into my possession. The formula is juicy and glides on smooth, delivering a sheer wash of color that makes my lips look plump and pouty—and vibes with my no-makeup makeup aesthetic. The packaging also deserves an honorable mention: The matte black case is sleek and has a nice heft in your hand; something you want with a $38 lip balm. Saying I found my new “go-to” feels cliché, but truth is, I’m hooked.
Leilani McQuay, commerce producer, wearing Pipsqueak
Chapstick is usually my go-to lip product; I find most lip glosses too sticky or too oily for my liking. I was skeptical about this product at first, but as soon as I applied it, my lips felt instantly hydrated. I love that the applicator is flat, which helps the gloss go on evenly; and the texture is silky and smooth. You don’t have to worry about stickiness or the formula bleeding. I adore the color Pipsqueak: It’s a beautiful, subtle red that gives my natural lip color the perfect pop. I did find I was applying it every 45 minutes to an hour to keep a fresh lip, but I didn’t mind because of how refreshing the gloss makes my lips feel! As a makeup minimalist, this gloss fits perfectly into my small collection.
Ru Wolle, associate editor, wearing Nana
I have never been much of a lip gloss person, but this balm gives enough color that adds a nice watercolor effect on the lip while being super hydrating, silky, and non-sticky—I love that it’s a hybrid lip balm and gloss. And overall an easy product to reapply since it leaves the lips moisturized after wearing off.
Bella Cacciatore, beauty writer, wearing Nou Nou
I have tried my fair share of tinted balms—my latest favorite lip formula—and this one is up there with the best of them. It’s thick and juicy, and has a nice cushiony formula that’s great for my incredibly dry lips. It’s not quite as shiny as a gloss, but it’s also not as sticky as one either, and leaves you with a sheer wash of color—in the case of my shade Nou Nou, it’s very subtle but some of the other ones can be built up more. I understand that $40 is a lot to hand over for a lip balm, but the weighty packaging and sophisticated formula makes it totally worth it.
Shanna Shipin, commerce managing editor, wearing Garconne
I’ve used this product so often since I first opened, swiping it on is muscle memory at this point. There’s truly nothing more juicy, luscious, or luxe to have graced my lips, I’m putting this oil on every wishlist possible. What I love about it is that it provides the perfect amount of gloss (tinged with a moody berry color) while nourishing my lips. No cracks in sight. Just gorgeous gleaming berry. Forget donut skin, this gets you lip glaze like no other. I’m usually not this effusive about a product but damn, it’s a holy grail for me.
Looking for more incredible product recommendations? Check out all 264 winners from the 2022 Glamour Beauty Awards.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty writer at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellcacciatore_.
