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Best Budget Lip Primer + 3 Other Options You’ll Like Too

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Looking for the best budget lip primer? We have the answer, but it’s honestly pretty boring. Chapstick. That’s right — plain, old Chapstick works like a charm underneath your boldest reds and keeps your lips looking dewy and luscious at the same time.

How to use Chapstick as a budget lip primer

Chapstick is a great, inexpensive way to keep the color from flaking and fading. The application does take a few minutes of planning though. Apply your lip balm at least five, up to 10 minutes before you add on the color. And…that’s it. Seriously.

You can use original Chapstick or cherry for an extra red tint. Either way, the cost is about $3. If you fall in love with Chapstick as a cheap lip primer, you can buy a 12-count box for $24.

3 more budget lip primers

If you can’t get into the Chapstick thing, your cult-favorite budget beauty brands have some options for you too.

  • To start, there’s NYX Lip Primer pencil, a vegan formula that improves texture of your lips and enhances your color, too. The price is an easy $7.
  • Next up is e.l.f. Primer and Plumper. It’s less than $7 at Walmart, but the reviews say this primer only delivers a 3-star performance.
  • And finally, there’s Rimmel Lip Conditioning Balm. This may be the best option outside of Chapstick. It costs only $6 and 500 Amazon reviewers give it 4.5 stars.

martha

Friday 16th of March 2007

I have a better one - Clinique Lip/eye sunblock stick, spf 30. It holds my lipstick or lipgloss on my lips, and I know I can use the extra UV protection after wiping my mouth after eating, brushing teeth etc….It costs more but lasts at least a year.

Fiona

Thursday 15th of March 2007

OK what am I doing wrong? I find that if I apply chapstick before lip color, the color just slides off in no time.

julie

Wednesday 14th of March 2007

I’ve been doing it for years! It really does help. I can’t say it will work for everyone but it does for me. I like the cherry but I love the moisturizer one with aloe.

fashiongirl

Wednesday 14th of March 2007

Cherry Chapstick is on clearance at my CVS (Houston) this week for 42 cents!! :)

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