best bets

Best Bet: Crude Lip Balms

When it comes to makeup-bag essentials, a go-to lip balm ranks right up there with mascara. New Park Slope–based beauty brand Crude gets back to basics. The small-batch balms are made from all-natural ingredients — mainly beeswax and mango butter — plus a handful of sweet-smelling oils (lavender, avocado, etc.). The sticks come in sixteen shades (each flavor can also be ordered in clear), colored by natural ground mica powder. The sparkly but smooth Heart of Gold is a standout, spiked with 24-carat pure-gold powder to give lips a warm sheen.

$12 each at CrudeProducts.com.

Best Bet: Crude Lip Balms