5 Under $10

I’ll be the first to admit, I probably spend too much money on beauty. Designer brands from department stores just make my makeup bag happy. But my wallet? Not so much. Thankfully there are lots of lip luxuries out there that don’t cost double digits. These beauty bargains can perfect and protect your pout with just a little bit of pocket cash…Check out my five flirty finds under $10 bucks, because sometimes you need something to smile about that doesn’t require a credit card.

Express isn’t just a prime destination for trendy fashions at reasonable prices. The retailer is now getting into the business of beauty. Express Easy Glide-On Lip Gloss ($7) offers 12 tasty varieties that deliver sheer color and serious shine with no sticky texture. I’m partial to Apple Sour, which only looks green in the tube. Caramel Drop and Watermelon Mist are my other lip-smacking picks.

For high-powered color that pops, pick up N.Y.C New York Color Extreme Lip Glider Lip Gloss ($3.99).  Ten super-smooth, super-saturated shades give your pout a sleek, wet shine with a light-weight glassy finish. Plus, Vitamins A, C and E, and conditioning extracts and oils nourish and soften lips. The slim, pen-like shape of the tube and slanted applicator tip ensure a precise application every time. And for dessert, a juicy flavor that hints of a watermelon Jolly Rancher. My faves: Downtown Brown, Chinatown Cherry and Plaza Punch.

You can give your lips the royal treatment for just 5 bucks with Rimmel London Royal Gloss ($4.99). The best-selling brand has been treating women in the UK like Her Royal Highness since 1834, and it’s high time American women conquered that throne. Rimmel’s Royal Gloss goes on silky and thin but looks rich and wet. Vitamins A, C and E keep lips hydrated. I lust for Sweet Lust, Cookie and Gourmet.

Girls who surf could care less about catching rays. They’re obsessed with catching waves. Smart Girls Who Surf, the brand of SPF products, created by Orange County mom, Jennifer Taylor, is all about skin “surf-vival” – protecting girls of all ages from the harmful effects of the sea, sand and sun. But you don’t need to live on the West Coast or own a board to take advantage of the brand’s Surf-Vival SPF15 Sunscreen Lip Balm ($3.99). In Iced Pear and Spearmint, these balms pack powerful protection in a pocket-sized package.

Chocolate Sun, a line of natural, organic sunless tanning products, focuses on giving your skin a golden glow without any harmful UVs. But we can’t hide from the sun forever. What fun would that be? So when outdoor fun calls, the brand’s Chocolate Sun Lip Treat ($8) answers. The vanilla-scented balm indulges lips with moisture and hydration, while shielding them from the elements – a true treat. Call 310-450-3075 to order direct.

The gloss•a•ry is PrettyCity’s monthly roundup of all that glitters from our own wand-toting shimmer expert, Michelle Carney. Tune in each month for the latest and greatest in pout perfecting products utterly devoted to your sparkly, sexy and oh-so-shiny lips. Please contact Michelle Carney with story ideas or product suggestions

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