Some consumer couplings are clearly made in heaven. Diet Coke with lime. Shampoo and conditioner in one. Dallas-based company Miss Oops touts its Pucker Protector as a winning combination of lip gloss and lip balm–all the comfort of good old ChapStick with the lovely sheen of a high-end gloss. But while some combos live happily ever after, others–such as the Pucker Protector–end up more like strained marriages. The gloss feels sticky on the lips, with a fake, saccharine taste. And though its minty smell seems herbal and natural, one look at the ingredient list proves otherwise. On the plus side, it does provide SPF 30 coverage, and lips do feel a little softer when the gloss wears off. But I’ll trade the glamour-puss angle for practicality: Pass the Blistex, please. $14 at Target stores and missoops.com.
