Marc Jacobs Beauty Lip Lock Moisture Balm

Lip balm is one of the few products that I have a hard time paying a lot of money for.  I use lip balm all the time and I go through tubes of lip balm faster than any other makeup product.  I keep one tube next to my bed and a separate tube in my purse, I am always trying new formulas but I feel like I keep coming back to either Burt's Bees or the C.O. Bigelow Mentha Matte formulas.  I have often wondered how different the formulas can really be between the lowest and highest ends of the lip balm range but I couldn't bring myself to buy any of the very high end formulas since I burn through every tube very quickly.  Would a more expensive be made with "better" ingredients and therefore would it be more effective in hydration and protection?

I have dry, chapped lips all throughout the year and my love of matte lipsticks make the problem even worse.  My lips tend to get even worse in the cooler months and they will get to a point where I can't wear lipstick for more than one or two days in a row.  This issue will not end until the end of March so this is the best time of the year for me to try any type of new lip balm formulas.  I have often wanted to try a really luxurious lip balm but could never bring myself to spend the money on this type of product.  Lips cannot hang onto moisture as they have no oil glands in them so lip balms need to be reapplied every few hours to maintain moisture level, there are no ingredients that will "cure" this issue and therefore I would need to use every type of lip balm at the same rapid rate.

With my last Sephora order, they were offering a deluxe sample of the Marc Jacobs Beauty lip balm as one of the Point Perks and I decided that this would be a great time for me to see how luxury lip balms perform.  "A buttery, rich lip balm with SPF 18 that locks in hydration.  Meet the ultimate makeout accessory—the addictive and refreshing minty flavor will keep you coming back for more. With nature’s best exotic oils and butters like andiroba, buriti, shea, and avocado, this moisture balm is too good not to share. Indulge. Hydrate. Repeat.  Broad spectrum SPF 18 protects lips from harmful UV rays which are the number one cause of premature skin aging, leading to skin discoloration, loss of elasticity, and the appearance of fine lines.", states the Sephora website when describing the Marc Jacobs Beauty Lip Lock Moisture Balm.

The active ingredients in this product are as follows: Andiroba, Buriti, Blackcurrant Seed, Meadowfoam Seed, Jojoba Seed Oils, Shea, and Avocado Butters.   This ingredients "provide immediate, locked-in hydration".  This product also contains Momordica Grosvenoir: Exotic natural sweetener known as the longevity fruit, "providing antioxidants, polysaccharides, and glycoprotein".

This lip balm feels heavenly when it is applied, it is soft and glides on the lips.  The texture is creamy, not oily, and is one of the best feeling lip balms that I have ever used.  I can see why this lip balm feels like a little luxury to those who purchase it, It hydrates like a dream and leaves my lips feeling soft and smooth.  The Marc Jacbos formulas feel nicer than either of my go-to lip balms when applied and when on the lips.

I was sold on this product until I drank coffee and ate breakfast with this product on my lips.  Every morning, I try to apply lip balm with my morning skincare routine and then let it sink into my lips before makeup application.  I usually lose most of the product that hasn't sunk in once I drink coffee and eat my toast and this product performed exactly like every other formula in that regard.  I have to reapply the Marc Jacobs formula just as much as I have to reapply my Burt's Bees and C.O. Bigelow formulas and therefore I don't really see the point in purchasing a full size of this product.

I have come to the conclusion that this is a lovely formula but it lasts just as long as every other lip balm and needs to be reapplied just as often.  I have burned through nearly half of my deluxe sample in about a week and I would need to repurchase tubes of this product all the time.  I mostly won't be ordering any of these in the full size but I will take the time to check out every Marc Jacobs Beauty set released in the next year to see if I can score more tubes of this product while trying other products from this company out.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Figs and Rouge Tinted Lip Balm Tubes

One of my favorite treats to reward myself for good grades is to splurge on issues of UK Cosmo and UK Vogue, I have to find them at Barnes and Noble and the extra cost of them fully qualifies as a special treat for good grades.  I have spent more time and energy on school in the past semester than every before and I feel that this will qualify me for quite a few issues to relax with this summer.  The one big drawback for me with buying magazines from the UK (other than not fully understanding the pound versus dollar calculation at any given time) is that I find designers and beauty product lines that I really want to try but are not available in the United States.  The only way for me to remedy this situation...order overseas and be very, very picky with the items that I absolutely must try (at least the ones that 100% cannot find in the United States).  One of the items that I could not get out of my head was the lip products in the Figs and Rouge lip product line and after thinking about it for months, I decided to reward myself and order the products from the United Kingdom (and hope some British flair came with them!)

Figs and Rouge is a lip product only line that I had never heard of until reading British fashion magazines and one that I wish was much more widely available than it is.  It is a skin and lip product line that prides itself on only making products that are 100% organic and natural and are used to boost the natural beauty of the wearer.  If you are going to wear organic makeup, the one item that you most want to wear is lip products because the average woman consumes about seven to eight pounds of lipstick in her lifetime.  Organic and natural products won't hurt you when you accidentally chew or lick it off your lips and is the one item that every women should consider trying an organic formula.

"Hydrating colour lip tint.  Delicious moisture protection.", is the item description from the company's website.  This is a very creamy formula lip balm with a slight tint of color, this formula is great for lazy days or wearing against dramatic eye makeup.  The formula is extra soft and hydrating and makes my lips feel 100% better after one application.  This formula could last much longer but then it would not be as hydrating as it is, it will come off very quickly after eating or drinking and I have found that I must carry the tube around with me on the days that I choose to use it.

This product is available in four very sheer shades, I have the Cherry Blossom shade and I am considering what others I would like to order on my next round.

- Cocoa Rose - blush pink
- Cherry Blossom - soft cherry
- Mocha Orange - nude shimmer
- French Vanilla - clear

The Cherry Blossom shade is the sheerest of red, it gives the "just ate a Popsicle" look and it is the perfect gateway for any woman who thinks that she cannot wear red.  Trust me, anyone can easily wear this shade and feel pretty and confident in it!  The only other shade that I want to try is the Cocoa Rose shade, this will be a pretty rose that will work with every single piece of eye makeup that I own.  With how sheer of a formula this is, I can skip over the nudes and clears because they will just appear on the lip as a clear balm.  I prefer to have a bit of pretty tint and am very happy with this company's products so far.  I will have to keep ordering from this line and see what else they carry!

photo courtesy of Figs and Rouge

Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment

One of the products that I go through the quickest is lip balm, especiall in the winter months.  Therefore I know that I need to find and buy a good one before temperatures start to regularly dip below freezing during the night.  I have used some good lip balms over the past few years but I often end up trying balms that don't deliver at all or that I go through much too quickly for the size of the product, in fact the only product that I have continued to purchase over the years is the Rosebud Salve from Smith.  Even though I have been let down very often in the past, I still continue to buy and try new lip balm formulas in the hopes that I will find at least one more formula that I really love.  Perhaps I will be successful one of these days...

This time I decided to try a lip treatment product from Clinique, I had never seen this product before until I browsing one day on the Sephora website.  I don't quite know why I have never seen this at the counters before, I can only assume that I missed it somehow as the packaging is very plain and I don't know if it was grouped with the lip or the skincare products at the counters.  Or maybe it is a newer product that has just been released, I haven't visited one of the counters in at least a month.  Whatever the case may be, I ordered the Superbalm Lip Treatment from the Sephora website the other week and have been using it the past few days.  I have been impressed with many of the Clinique skincare products in the past and I have used and loved many of their lip products so I had very high hopes for this product.

From the Sephora website, "Deeply hydrating balm that helps to repair distressed lips and replenishes moisture loss."  I realized that I had actually used and liked this formula before, the Superbalm gloss is the same hydrating formula with just a hint of color.  I had used these glosses for the past few years and still have them in several shades. 

Basically, if you have ever used one of these glosses, this product is just like that lip gloss without any of the pigment.  It is on the thicker side of liquid balms and therefore lasts pretty well, I usually get about two to three hours wear out of it before I need to reapply (it lasts longer at night of course) hwoever it will come out as soon as anytime touches my lips or I drink/eat anything.  This balm is very hydrating when it is applied to the lips but I do think that it could hold the moisture in a bit longer after it comes off, I may never be happy with any product in this respect but I still believe that this product could have performed a bit better in this aspect and this is the major downfall of the product.

This product is a very good basic lip balm, it hydrates but doesn't provide any unique or fanstastic results.  I like that it is housed in a simple squeeze tube and a small amount of the product goes a pretty long way, this product lasts much longer than other balm I have tried since I do not need to apply it quite as many times as I do other products.  It has no real smell or taste, an aspect that doesn't really bother me but isn't exactly a plus.  This balm is too glossy for a male to use it so this is strictly female usage product.  This is one of the better balms that I have tried and will work well for a purse or pocket since I hate dipping my finger into the pot of Rose Salve when I am not at home.  This balm is better than Rose Salve for when I am on the go, I would be more likely to keep this in my bag and the Rose Salve by my bed for nighttime.

Good, solid performing product and it will get me through the next few weeks.  This is one of the few products that I would consider repurchasing when I run out of.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Several days ago, we talked about lip balm formulas and why the Vincent Longo Cushion Lips SPF 20 product didn't work for me since it didn't last on my lips and I always needed to reapply it.  I am very particular about lip balms and there are very few that I really like and that really work for me.  I am currently using a lip balm that I really love and is actually working out for me so far, the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.  I received this product for the Sephora Beauty Industry Birthday Gift this year, the original product and a tinted version of the balm were included in a small set for all Beauty Insiders.  This is one of the only lip balm formulas that I have used over the past few years that I actually like as much as my favorite Smith's Rosebud Salve.

My favorite lip balm formulas are thick and soft, not waxy, greasy, or a thin cream.  Most formulas that are a thin cream disappear on my lips within an hour and I always need to reaply quickly to see the benefits from it.  I want a product that will stay on my lips after I apply it and continue to hydrate them for several hours.  I don't care if the lip balm is in a stick or a pot form as long it is soft, hydrating, and lasts for more than an hour or two.  Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is one of the best that I have tried and will be a formula that I will continue to purchase over and over again.

From the Sephora website, "A hydrating treatment that nourishes, protects, and plumps the lips.  Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 blends reparative oils and waxes with real sugar, a natural humectant, for delectable and dependable moisture.  Sweet and tart black currant oil, rich in plumping essential fatty acids, cushions the lips while antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E provide protection from wrinke-causing free radicals.  It also provides essential, year-round protection from damaging UV rays.  This lip-loving essential has a bright, clean citrus scent and is free of petroleum, mineral oil, and lanolin." 

This product started out as being a traditional lip balm but in the year following the initial release, Fresh created a whole line of Sugar Lip Treatments, all of which start with the original best-selling formula and have the addition of some type of tint.  I am currently using the original formula and the one that I still believe is one of the company's best selling products.  I know so many fashion magazines that recommend this product and it is always displayed at Sephora.

The simple fact behind why this product sells so well is that it works well and has a pleasant scent and texture.  I have had lip balms that worked well but either didn't smell very nice or the texture was thick and waxy.  This is one of the few products that works very well, lasts from when I put it on unitl I eat or drink, has a pleasing texture, and manages to smell great yet too.  This is one of the best lip balms that I have ever used and is one of the very few that I would repurchase.  I also love that this lip balm has fewer chemicals in than many other formulas as the average woman ingests about seven pounds of lip product per year...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Vincent Longo Cushion Lips SPF 20

I am one of those people who cannot exist without lip balm, I carry one with me everywhere and am using it all throughout the day and night.  My lips are on the larger side (which I love) and get dry so very easily so they chapp very easily in the fall and winter months so I need some type of lip balm even more than I normally do.  Over the years, I have tried many products that have worked well and many that have not done a thing to help my chapped lips.  I am currently in love with my tube of Fresh Lip Sugar and have not had any major issues with my lips since I started the tube last month.  I might be content right now but trust me, it took a long time and many errors for me to get to this point.  One of the errors was the Vincent Longo Cushion Lips SPF 20 lip conditioner...

I first tried this product a bit ago and initally liked the results so I ordered a tube of it.  It worked well at first but couldn't sustain any type of hydration.  I will admit that I made a mistake when I purchased this product, I normally prefer thick lip balms and this thin gel formula is not what I normally use.  Maybe I expected too much from this product but I found that it did not perform up to my high standards for lip conditioners.  

"Cushion Lips SPF 20 is a gel conditioner that adheres to lips and maintains lip moisture for hours, while helping shield lips from the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays.  The unique golden apple colour compliments the skin tone of all lips, accentuating the natural-flesh undertones.  Use Cushion Lips SPF 20 as part of your beauty routine, while traveling in flight, when lips are exposed to the environment, as well as for professional wear.  Complete UVA protection plus powerful UVB filtering.  Amazing lip comfort and long-lasting conditioning.  Universal complimentary colour.  Perfect travel-size, on-the-go lip refresher."

The Vincent Longo website advises the following to receive optimal use from the product, "Apply to dehydrated, chapped, and irritated lips as needed, and prior to environmental exposure.  For the more natural look, and as part of your bedtime beauty routine, apply a small amount of Bang Bang Lip Volume Lotion to clean, bare lips.  Wait 15 seconds and follow with Cushion Lips SPF 20.  You will encourage firm, plump lips and drench your lips in shiny conditioners for the softest, most kissable lips imaginable."

I first tried this product a few years ago when this brand was still carried at Bath and Body Works, I tried it on and it worked well initially but the store was sold out of the product so I wasn't able to buy the product.  I remembered that I liked it intially so when I was browsing on the Vincent Longo website several months ago, I added a tube of it to my cart thinking that I would still love it. 

The product works well when it is first applied, however this product cannot sustain the same type of results that it provides when first applied.  When I first applied it, it instantly hydrated my lips however I didn't see any type of plumping effect (not that I really would if I am going to be very honest).  The hydrated effect lasted for about an hour then faded away and I needed to reapply the product.  This cycle just continued over and over again for the next few days until I had the product finished up in slightly under two weeks.  The fact that I had to keep reapplying is the reason that I would not order this product again, Smith's Rose Salve works better and lasts much longer.  I felt like I was just throwing money away on this product since the result never lasted more than an hour or two.  Also I never saw the point of Longo making a fuss about the shade of the product, my lips never looked any different with the use of this product then when I wasn't using it...

This product would have been better for me if it would have lasted longer, there is no point in me using a lip conditioner that I have to keep repallying to reap any benefits of...

photo courtesy of Vincent Longo

Caudalie Lip Conditioner

Over the past few years, I have found a common beauty trend among almost every lady that I have talked to about beauty products.  The one common trend that I have seen over the years is that no matter what type of makeup style you wear or how high maintence you consider, everyone needs a great lip balm and this tends to be one fo the hardest products to find.  I rarely meet two people that love the exact same lip balm and I know so many people that continue to search and search to find their perfect lip balm.  I can honestly say that I haven't found my Holy Grail lip balm yet however Rose Salve is the product that has come the closest so far.  My major complaint with Rose Salve is the package, I hate dipping my finger into the balm and then getting the product all over my hands and this is not a practical product to keep in my purse and use during the day.

I was hoping to find a stick lip balm that is both hydrating and lasts longer than an hour on my lips, I wanted a product that I could carry around with me during the day and use to touch up when I wear a more drying matte lipstick formula.  So far, I have just been using C.O. Bigelow's Mentha Lip Shines but I was hoping to find a product that didn't have a glossy finish and would just hydrate without changing my lipstick finish or shade.  This became a much higher priority for me ever since I have been using the Illamasqua Lipstick formula, a formula that is matte and longwearing but can get very drying throughout the day.  I decided to purchase a new lip balm formula and went with one of the only products that I have never tried from Caudalie.

In addition to all of their skin and body care products, Caudalie makes one lip balm with the same type of anti-oxidant protection that is found in their facial products.  This is one of the top rated lip products on the Sephora website and based on how much I love the brand, I didn't hestitate at all to purchase this product the last time that I went to the store. 

"A total lipcare essential for everyone.  This 99.5 percent natural treatment provides a powerful blend of anti-oxidants and nutrients that protect, hydrate, repair, and soothe dry lips while lending antiaging benefits.  It makes an excellent lipstick base."  This product has two active ingredients, stabilized grape seed polyphenols and shea butter.  The grape seed polyphenols "offer the most powerful anti-oxidants in the vegetal world".  Shea butter "intensively hydrates" the lips and help to maintain their hydration level throughout the day.

This lip balm is pleasantly scented with a light fruity floral fragrance that is only really noticable during application.  I love the fragrance of this product because it reminds of the scent of some of the other Caudalie products but if you like your lip products with very little to no fragrance, this is not the product for you.  The texture itself is more of a waxy texture than a creamy stick, I was honestly expecting a bit more of a creamy texture just based on the other types of products from this company, I wasn't as huge a fan of the texture as I initially thought that I would be, it reminded me of Burt's Bees lip balm instead of a high end hydration product.  With the shea butter listed as one fo the active ingredients, I was expecting a very nourishing creamy stick instead of the waxy texture that was left by the product.  The product performed well in the hydration property but wore off a bit too quickly for my taste, I wanted something that would really last throughout the day. 

This lip balm performed like many of the others on the market, it helped to hydrate and soothe my lips but wore off withing an hour of application.  I am beginning to be convinced that I will never find a stick lip balm formula that is hydrating enough to compete with my Rose Salve, which is such a shame since sticks are what I prefer to keep in my bag throughout the day.  My hugest complaint with this product occured when I tried to use it over lipstick, it took way more product off than I expected that it would and created a cycle of repplication of lipstick.  It left my lips with a rich creamy look to then, I was happy that it didn't create that glossy finish that the Mentha created but it wasn't special enough to warrant me making this product my end all for lip balms.

This is a nice lip balm but I am beginning to think that I will never find a stick lip balm that I really love and is worth ending my lip balm search...

photo courtesy of Sephora

C.O. Bigelow Lip Butters

Earlier this season, C.O. Bigelow added a series of lip butters to their extensive lip balm selection.  For those who shop at The Body Shop, these lip butters will look very similar to those classics from this company.  I love the Mango Lip Butter from The Body Shop so I was very interested in this version from C.O. Bigelow.  C.O. Bigelow has made some of my favorite lip glosses (Mentha line) and moisturizers (Rose Salve) over the past few year so I get very excited every single time that they release a new product.  I have been using the Rose Salve for years every winter since my lips get so dry and chapped and this is the best formula that I have ever found to soothe them.  However, the new Lip Butters come in both Coconut and Mango!  I love these scents and would love to take the fragrances from summer into the winter.  These products really remind me of the lip treatments from The Body Shop...even down to the fragrances, all of these are classics from The Body Shop....

This new formula is waxier and less soft than the Rose Salve, waxier formulas usually stick on the lips longer and help to protect them when they worn outside in cold winter air.  My lips get really bad in the winter months so anything that can help protect them when I go outside is needed.  I am thinking that I can use the soft Rose Salve formula at night to really hydrate and this waxy formula to help protect in the daytime.  "Our new C.O. Bigelow Lip Butter is infused with intensely hydrating ingredients that offer comfort and moisture to dry, damaged lips.  It leaves lips soft, smooth, and deeply conditioned.", states the Bath and Body Works website. 

This formula is offered in four new fragrances; Coconut, Mango, Cocoa, and Shea.  The Coconut and the Mango promise to be my favorites of the collection since I love both fragrances and the Cocoa Butter is one that I will skip over since I am not a fan of the natural scent of cocoa butter.  I wasn't aware that shea butter has much of a natural scent since I already own a pure shea product and it has little to no natural scent. 

The Coconut Lip Butter is described as a "creamy rich coconut flavor" and it smells lovely indeed.  It is a true, rich, warm coconut scent that reminds me of the summer months and the beach.  I was really considering buying this one but I decided to try only one to begin with and decide how much I liked the formula before I bought several of them.  The debate was really between the Coconut and Mango and the Mango won out since I have less choices for a natural mango scent.  The Mango is the product that I bought, it is a "tropical, refreshing mango flavor".  It is the perfect natural mango, both sweet and crisp.  I love this scent and was so excited that I could find it somewhere other than just The Body Shop.

The Shea Butter product has next to no natural scent, this wasn't my favorite of the bunch and was an easy choice for me to skip over.  "A nourishing, rich shea flavor" is the description on the website but it has little to no fragrance.  However that is what I have come to expect from natural shea so I wasn't disappointed with the fragrance, this is light enough to make it a great choice for someone who wears no makeup or a man that needs help with his chapped lips.  The Cocoa Butter one smelled awful and I actually liked it even less than I thought that I would, this one didn't appeal to me at all and will completely be skipped over.  It is a "comforting, rich cocoa flavor", this one just smelled slightly sour and wasn't for me.

I wanted to love these Lip Butters, I really really wanted to love these Lip Butters and make up reasons to buy both the Mango and the Coconut.  However, this formula just didn't work out for me, I much prefer the Rose Salve formulation and the less waxier texture.  This texture was hard to apply and didn't spread as well as I would have liked on my lips.  I had more issues than I would have liked in spreading it and it actually made my lips worse to begin with.  The texture didn't hydrate as well as I would have liked, it would be better in a stick formula to spread and apply.  I bet that it will help protect my lips but it was so hard to work with that I would prefer to find another formula that comes in a stick instead of a pot.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

Several years ago, Fresh had a very successful lip balm called the Sugar Lip Treatment, it is hydrating and clear while also smelling like homemade cookies.  It is still one of their top selling products as are many of the products in the Sugar line.  Within the past few years, that lip treatment has spawned a series of balms made with the same great formula yet contain a tint in order to match the makeup trends of the seasons.  We have already looked at the first version of the tinted lip balm, the Sugar Rose which contains a sheer rosy red hue.  Today we are looking at the Sugar Plum tint, the one that is most suited to the fall and winter seasons with its deep berry hue.

I have always been a fan of tinted lip balms, my lips get dry very easily throughout the whole year and this is one of the few ways that I'm not trying to deal with the use of two products throughout the day.  If I wear a deep lipstick shade, I have to bring a balm with me in my bag and reapply it delicately throughout the day (over whatever lipstick shade I am wearing) in order to keep my lips hydrated and nice looking.  Tinted lip balms are also a great product to use in the morning when I am running late and don't have the full amount of time to spend getting ready.  A neutral eye shadow and a tinted lip balm are really great ways to quickly create a polished, professional look that can get me to work on time.

"A lip treatment that moisturizes, repairs, and protects the lips while imparting a deep plum tint.  Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 offers sheer coverage or buildable color and is the perfect partner to the best selling Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15.  It's formulated with sugar, a natural humectant that prevents moisture loss, and a superior blend of nourishing oils and protective waxes to soften and smooth dry lips.  Anti-oxidant rich vitamins also work to defend against wrinkle causing free radicals.  It also provides essential year-round protection from damaging UV rays with SPF 15.", states the Sephora website. 

The Sephora website also provides the inspiration for the product, right from the Fresh co-founder, Alina Roytberg.  "'On a recent summer vacation, we spent time on a farm in France where there was a magnificant plum orchard that stretched to the horizaon - plum trees as far as the eye could see.  At first light, the sun would stream through the orchard, warming the irresistable, juicy plums.  Ripe for the picking, I tasted one and was surprised at how at the deep, dark skin of the plum gave way to a translucent burgundy pulp.  Inspired by this unveiling, I created Sugar Plum Lip Treatment SPF 15, a dark bullet that delivers a mysteriously sheer and utterly sensuous tint.'"

I have played with all of these at the Sephora counter and this is the one that I ended up buying the last time that I was there.  It goes on smoothly and keeps my lips hydrated all day.  With one coat, the shade is a soft berry tint but after multiple coats, it can build all the way to a true plum tint.  I usually try to keep it soft but as I reapply it throughout the day, I have built it all the way up without even realizing it.  This shade is the most pigmented of the whole line so this is a best one for a lipstick lover to try first, the others could be a bit disappointing if you prefer more of a tint on your lips.

My least favorite part about this product is that it does need to be reapplied more frequently than many other forms of lip products.  However, that is the nature of a tinted lip balm, they are not long lasting and will need to be reapplied throughout the day.  Personally, I still find a tinted lip balm formula to last longer than many of the lip glosses on the market today. 

Tinted lip balms are a great choice in the fall and winter months when my lips get dry and chapped and adding lipstick or gloss can only make them worse.  This one is one of my favorites since it quite pigmented and can still create a polished professional look without much effort. 

photo courtesy of Sephora

C.O. Bigelow Tinted Lemon Lip Balms

Last spring, I raved about the berry versions of the C.O. Bigelow Lemon Lip Balms and fell madly in love with the Black Cherry and Lemon flavor.  However, like the spring season, these balms are long gone and I am so glad that I picked an extra Black Cherry one up at their sale in June.  But of course Bath and Body Works wouldn't disappoint me and they have released a fall version of these lip balms.  This time around, it is tinted version of the product and it reminds me of the Fresh Lip Balms that have been such a hit over the past few years.  I love tinted lip balms overall and these might take a place in my top favorite products.

This product comes in three shades; Blackberry, Strawberry, and Ginger.  The Blackberry is the one that I bought and have been trying out over the few days. 

The Blackberry shade was the one that caught my eye first, most likely since it is the darkest of the three shades and contrasted the most with the other products on the lip table at Bath and Body Works.  "Fresh from the fruit groves, our delicious Lemon Blackberry Tinted Lip Balm softens and smooths lips while adding just a hint of color.  Tints lips a soft plum color.  Flavors lips with a delicious blend of tangy lemon mixed with fresh blackberries."  I have tried out all three shades and this one is the most dramatic of the three, it looks very scary in the tube, but turns a deep berry plum shade on the lips.  This is one that I will be saving for fall, it was a bit off looking with my summer tan.  This one will be best for someone with a cool toned complexion, it won't be flattering on you if you can't wear any type of purple shade.  This one is the best of the group and I am glad that this is the one that I was able to get. 

The Strawberry shade is the only other shade that I like in the new collection, this is a better shade for the spring and summer.  "Fresh from the fruit groves, our delicious Lemon Strawberry Tinted Lip Balm softens and smooths lips while adding color.  Leaves a soft pink tint on lips.  Flavors lips with a delicious blend of tangy lemon mixed with sweet strawberries."  This one turns a light pink hue on the lips and is very sheer.  This one has very little tint and is barely noticeable on the lips.  This one is best for the days when you aren't wearing much makeup or against a stronger eye makeup.  I didn't buy this one since I already own a bunch of light pink tinted lip glosses and this one is not that unique at all.

The last shade is the Ginger, my least favorite of the three.  This one is the warmest of the three shades so this is one that wouldn't work with my skintone anyway.  This one is totally see through on the lips and really could be completely skipped all together.  When applied, this shade looks almost no different from the actual Lemon Lip Balm itself.  "Fresh from the fruit groves, our delicious Lemon Ginger Tinted Lip Balm softens and smooths lips while adding just a hint of color.  Leaves a soft natural tint on lips.  Flavors lips with a delicious blend of tangy lemon mixed with spicy fresh ginger."  This one is the easiest to skip of the three, it is a nice hue but it is so sheer that there is almost no point in using this one. 

The Blackberry is the most dramatic of the three shades but the others had little to no tint at all.  Of all the products, the Blackberry is the one most worthy of a purchase.  The other two are so sheer that they could be skipped on altogether.  I will be saving the Blackberry shade for the fall, it will be right on trend with the lip shades that are being released by many other beauty companies.  The scnet on these if the natural lemon and the fruit mix so it is strong at first and disappears very quickly afterword so this is a good choice for someone who doesn't like strongly scented products on their lips.  I love that Bath and Body Works is really keeping up on the some of the new makeup trends.  I would love to see a red tint in this collection...one that tastes like black cherry of course!  I would have also liked to see more color from the Strawberry and Ginger lip balms since they are so sheer.  A deeper pink or neutral shade would have been lovely and give these two balms much more of an impact.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

C.O. Bigelow Lemon Lip Balm Collection

Bath and Body Works has been releasing new items like crazy the past few weeks but it seems like there has only been one new release from the C.O. Bigelow line and is from the Lemon Lip collection. The original Lemon stick lip balm is one of the few products that I have never tried and had used the Lemon Lip Cream instead. The Lip Cream is very soft and hydrating but I have found that it doesn't last at long as I would like it to. The Lip Balm stick seems to be a thicker hydrator and stays on much longer than the other formula.

Bath and Body Works describes the original product with the following description. "Formulated with a high concentration of lemon oil and extract (3.5%), this addictive Lemon Lip Balm is packed with vitamins and minerals, providing a major dose of Vitamin C. 100% natural lemon flavor provides a tangy burst, while ultra-moisturizing shea butter (1%) nourishes and conditions lips. The creamy formula glides on smooth, leaving lips feeling soft and moisturized. Untinted balm prevents dryness and chapping while providing a dew-kissed sheen." The original is pure lemon and really moisturizes the lips. The stick is a bit more waxy then the cream but stays on much longer and helps to protect the lips in cold, harsh weather.

The original formula has been around for at least a year or two but this season, Bath and Body Works has brought out three new versions of it, all of which are the lemon mixed with berries. All of the new formula lip balms are anti-oxidant spiked to contribute to overall lip health and hydration. The first one is the Lemon and Raspberry blend which I thought was the lightest scent of the three. This one was my least favorite because the balm smelled strongly of lemon with very little raspberry mixed in. The second new fragrance is the Lemon and Blueberry. This one is a medium strength scent with a stronger scent of lemon. However, the blueberry is more prevalent in this one than the raspberry in the other. The last of the new balms is my favorite of the three. Lemon and Black Cherry is a great combination, more tart than the other two but the best mix of the two scents.

So far, I have bought the Lemon and Black Cherry mix but I do plan to purchase the original Lemon formula and maybe the blueberry one also in the near future. I am happy that this line of lip balms has come out to update the line for spring but I would be very happy if the Lemon and Black Cherry came out in an entire body product line. Hint, hint...

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Korres Lip Butters

I'm in a bit of a beauty rut right now, I have all of my winter products and shades and really won't buy much of anything until the spring collections begin to hit. Also, with the addition of Christmas shopping, I haven't much spare cash to be spending on beauty products for the next week or two. But I need a little something. Enter Korres. I have trusted this brand for ages since I first tried their skincare a few years ago. I am now venturing into their color line with my first look at the Lip Butters.

I have seen these butters on the Sephora site for ages and have noticed them used in many photos in beauty magazines. So far, I have bought one and want to try many more. Sephora classifies this product as, "A buttery balm that melts onto the lips and cheeks for a pretty touch of color". They provide a more detailed product description with the following, "Korres Lip Butter gives lips a lovely, shiny finish and offers a natural flush when applied to the apples of the cheeks. Its shea butter infusion conditions and heals lips and provides a softening touch to the skin". Korres products are on the natural side so anyone can feel good about using this product on their lips.

The colors that are available...

- Guava - clear

- Jasmine - sheer natural pink

- Mango - sheer peach

- Quince - sheer rose

- Plum - sheer lavender berry

- Pomegranate - sheer coral

- Wild Rose - sheer deep red

I have the Guava and I treat it more as a clear lip balm than an actual lip gloss shade. It is a very soft lip balm, very easy to apply and sinks right into my lips. It really helps to hydrate and soften but I don't feel that it has much staying power against the elements. The Guava shade gives very little to no color and a medium amount of shine. Looking at the shades that are also offered, I could see myself liking the Quince and the Wild Rose a lot. I am willing to bet that I will like the Jasmine shade but I wondering how different it will be from the Guava. Since the description states that it is a "sheer natural pink", I am doubting that it will have much pigmentation. i will have to find out the next time that I get Sephora.

The only dislike I have about this product is that I don't like when lip balm comes in a tub, especially any shades that have pigment to them. I feel that I have to wash my hands after I dip my fingers into any pigmented balm and I can't always do that. I will have to see how much this bothers me when I try out a more pigmented shade.

photo courtesy of Sephora

LUSH Holiday 2010 Collection - Snow Fairy

I have been blogging about Snow Fairy since last Christmas when I first read about all the hype behind it and it's yummy goodness. Last year, a friend of mine knew my obsession for sweet LUSH products and she bought me a giftset full of sweet products. With a bottle of Snow Fairy shower gel! It is still my favorite gift of all last holiday season. I have been waiting to buy myself a back-up bottle of this shower gel and that time of the year in finally here!

The LUSH website states, "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas at LUSH without that familiar pink hue glowing on the shelves. Yes, the Fairy is back again for her legions of fans. The sweet bubblegum and cotton candy scent of this shower gel has made it a clear winner with our customers ever since we first released it. If you're one of the poor souls left yet to try Snow Fairy, pop in quick for a big bottle of our addictive pink shower gel. Washing your body with the pink, ethereal fairy will make you smell like freshly spun cotton candy at a fairground, and your entire body will glitter with the magic of the fae all through the day. Don't stop there though - Snow Fairy works wonders as a shampoo or laundry detergent for sweetly scented sheets. Go ahead, spread the sparkly magic! You know you want to."

This scent has now been released in a lip balm to take the cotton candy yumminess to the next level. "Our customers always tell us that Snow Fairy shower gel should be edible (or should we say drinkable?). To save you from quaffing your bottle of fruity shower wash, we created a delicious raspberry, icing sugar, and sherbet lip balm; with the candy smell of Snow Fairy and just a touch of vibrant pink colour. When inventing the lip balm, Helen wondered what kind of things the Snow Fairies would eat, which lead her onto a sugar confection idea of perfection. She combined moisturizing butters with icing sugar and fizzing sherbet for sweetness and texture, and dried raspberries for fruitiness. After all, the fairies need sugar, too. Dried raspberries add to the pink colour and sweetness of the product".

I just love my Snow Fairy shower gel, this one is a top favorite product of mine. I just love the fragrance and the sheer fun of being covered in pink iridescent bubbles is the icing on the cake. I am glad that I can get this product in a 16.9 oz size so that I can enjoy it all time until next holiday season...

photo courtesy of LUSH

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

As I was talking about several days ago in my column about the MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner, my lips are dry, cracked, and generally wrecked already this season. While searching through my traincare for any hydrating balms or glosses that are also pretty colors, I have stumbled on my ancient tube of Tutti Dolci Apple Torta Lip Gloss. This long-discontinued gloss smells like apple pie, hydrates, and turns my lips a pretty shade of red. And this product hasn't been made since 2005 but I need to find another gloss/balm that is sheer red and very hydrating. MAC doesn't have one yet so I turned my search to the Sephora website. I have been reviewing the Sephora site daily during the Friends and Family Event so I decided to find another item to add to my wishlist.

The Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 was sold out at Sephora for months after it was first introduced last year, for the longest time I couldn't even get my hands on a tester of it. Now that the hype has calmed down, I can order a tube of this to decide how well it fares against the Tutti Dolci gloss. Sephora describes this product as, "A sheer rose-tinted lip moisturizer that hydrates, repairs, and protects lips". The More detailed description follows, "Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 is everything you love about the original Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, but now you get the added benefit of a natural rose tint that provides buildable color. With one slick, this stick provides immeditate hydration and smoothness - instantly soothing cracked or chapped lips and diminishing the appearance of fine lines. It provides SPF 15 UVA/UVB protection to shield your lips from the damaging effects of the sun and delivers a hint of tint for a natural, universally-flattering look. It's packed in a travel-friendly, screw-top tube".

Oh I love that this product is in a twist up tube instead of the round tip of many other glosses. This feature makes me really biased in it's favor. I do need to see the exact color of the tint though, the Tutti Dolci gloss that I love so much is more a deeper midtone red and I am hoping that this is one is similar and not a lighter shade. I am betting that I will add this to my Sephora Friends and Family cart though...

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15

How did it get cold outside all of a sudden?! After a week long bout of the common cold, my lips were left dry and super chapped, making my love of red lipstick to not be an option until they are healed. So my solutions to this problem have followed the normal procedure; stay hydrated, lip balm applied before bath, and always carrying something in my purse. While I am in the healing phase, I have also been doing my eyes up much more to distract from the chapping.

But I need to speed up this healing phase, I bought Heartless from Venomous Villians and I am dying to break it open. I am now going to find a lip product that is still very healing but is tinted enough that I can wear it all day long and still look pretty. Enter MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15.

I first noticed this product in the Hello Kitty collection for Spring 2009. These tubs were long sold out by the time that I actually got to the counter to buy my products (this was before I was a MAC addict that indulged in pre-orders and stalking the MAC website for the new releases as soon as they are posted). The MAC website gives the following description of the product, "A protective, emollient balm formulated with SPF 15, a sheer wash of colour, and an all-natural sheen. Conditions lips, locks in moisture. Contains Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Avocado Extract, Wheat Germ Oil, Vitamins A and E". This product is currently available in four permanent shades.

- Fushcia Fix - deep pink sheen

- Petting Pink - pink sheen

- Plum Perfect - plum/wine sheen

- Soothing Beige - beige sheen

I want the Petting Pink and Soothing Beige shades. I am going to wear Petting Pink with silver and gray eye looks and the Soothing Beige with the gold, copper, khaki, and olive looks that I have been stuck on the past few weeks. I need something that is pretty and glossy while is still hydrating and healing and I am betting that this MAC balm will fit the bill perfectly.

photo courtesy of MAC

C.O. Bigelow Classic Mentha Lip Shines

I believe that there is no one in the country who hasn't tried a C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine. This line started out with only the Original Formula being available. But after the fantastic sales of this lip gloss, the line expanded to include colored formulas, organic formulas, and special edition flavors for every single new season. Needless to day, I have tons of these lip glosses, from every single collection and season. I have dubbed the clear glosses as the classic Menthas since these are the most widely available and I believe are the still the best sellers from the Mentha Lip line.

First, we are going to look at the first and original formula. "This lip preparation is the ultimate three-in-one moisturizer. Combines high gloss, incredible moisture, and long-lasting breath freshening with a refreshing, minty, cooling sensation. Can be worn under or over lip color". The next formula that was available in this collection is the Ultra Mentha Lip Shine. This is a pumped up verison of the original that doubles as both a lip gloss and a lip plumper. "We super-infused our classic Mentha with more intense flavor and longer lasting breath-freshening to create the ultimate balm. It provides the same glossy high shine with an even greater refreshing, cooler sensation. Made with 100% natural mint flavor".

The lip gloss is also available in Spearmint, which is my personal favorite of the line. "Our spearmint-infused lip balm provides a glossy high shine with a refreshing cooling sensation. Lips stay moist and protected while Spearmint gives breath long-lasting freshness". The Spearmint is one of the top sellers and is a personal favorite of mine and several of my friends.

The next two lip glosses are mixtures of mint and other herbs. The first is the Cinnamint Mentha, which is the only one that I have tried from this group. "Our Cinnamon and Mint-infused lip balm provides a glossy high shine with a refreshing cooling sensation. Lips stay moist and protected while Cinnamon and Peppermint give breath long-lasting freshness". The second lip gloss in this category in the Vanilla Mint Mentha. This one is my second favorite flavor, right after the Spearmint. "This lip preparation is the ultimate three-in-one lip moisturizer. Combines high gloss, incredible moisture, and long-lasting breath freshness with a creamy and minty, cooling sensation. Can be worn under or over lip color. Developed by Bigelow chemists".

The last product in this collection is a lip balm instead of the lip gloss and balm combination.
The SPF 15 Mentha Lip Balm Stick is a no shine, no gloss formula and therefore makes this the best selling product for men from the C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip line. "Our SPF 15, mint-infused lip balm soothes and shields lips with shea butter, leaving behind a smooth, matte finish. Lips stay moist and protected while peppermint oil give breath long-lasting freshness".

These lip products are great purchases for yourself or for little gift for family and friends. I have purchased all the above products with the exception of the Cinnamint (since I hate cinnamon) and will continue to purchase them as long as I am able to.

photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Rosebud Salve

If there ever was a one-size-fits-all cult product created, this one would win the award. I have used Rosebud Salve for years and so have many of my friends. All of us had differnt skin types and tones and all different makeup styles but this is the one product that we can all agree on and use on a daily basis. For me, this product is mainly used as a lip balm but I have tried it out on my cuticles and under my nose when the skin gets raw from tissues. I have never been disappointed at it's performance.

The Sephora website states, "This cult-favorite, multi-purpose lip balm soothes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and soothes the sting of minor burns. Try dabbing on dry elbows or knees to condition, and reliever dryness. Also an excellent remedy for the treatment of diaper rash". I have never used it as a diaper rash cream and hopefully never will but all of the other listed uses are accurate. I find this lip balm to be very soothing to my dry, cracked lips in the winter because of the calming effects of the rose extract. It smells faintly of rose so I adore the fragrance but if someone really hates rose then this is not the product for them.

The original rose formula has been available for years but the company recently updated the product a bit by offering two new versions of the balm. The first is the Minted Rose Lip Balm, which delivers the same hydrating benefits but with a minty tingle. On my lips, this product appears as a red stain so I do not advise trying it out on any other part of the body. With the mint oil in it, I also do not recommend this for chapped, dry skin because it might irritate more than heal. The second new option is the strawberry formula and is lightly scented with sweet strawberries. Again, with the fragrance in it, it may not be fully suitable for use on any area other than the lips. This one appears to be more on the pink side, so I doubt that it has the same amount of pigment as the Mint version.

I own the traditional and mint versions and I bought them so long ago that I don't remember where I got them or even how long they take to finish. I know that I got the Mint version sometime in 2007 and the original before that and I am just beginning to hit the bottom on them. There is a huge amount of product packed into that little container and I will be using them for years to come since they perform every single time that I apply them.

photo courtesy of Sephora

A Beauty Blogger Goes to the Movies...

The other night I went with my boyfriend to see the new Tom Cruise movie, Knight and Day (his choice). Good special effects, story was ok, but I kpet noticing throughout the movie how great Cameron Diaz pulls off her "natural" look. And in one scene, we see her reapply her Korres Lip Butter in Guava. Lovely natural lip look that can stand up to chase scenes...

This is what I notice at the movies!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Clinique Superbalm Lip Gloss

It really seems like that some of my best lip glosses are ones that the sales associate suggested to me to balance out the stronger eye makeup that I was at the counter purchasing. The first instance of this is when I purchase the MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink. The second instance is when I was at the Clinique counter for an event and the Eye Shadow Trio in Ebb and Flow was used on me. This is a beautiful trio of greens, from dark green to seafoam. To balance this out, the makeup artist used the Superbalm Lip Gloss in Grapefruit on me. I bought both items in addition to several other things that day. The eye shadow? Used it once... The lip gloss? Quickly became a favorite...

Clinique describes this product as a lip gloss with many hydrating benefits above and beyond the normal lip gloss formulations. "Lip balm with a colorful twist. Luscious, high-gloss shades treat your most undermoisturized skin to soothing skin. Instantly relieve dryness, protect with anti-oxidants and more". The overall finish of the glosses is described as sheer and the major benefits is stated to be the moisturizing properties of the gloss. Under the "How to Use" area, Clinique states that this product can be used by itself or over lipstick. I have only used this product be itself so far and am quite happy with the results.

The product is available in eight shades: Rootbeer (sheer coffee brown nude); Grapefruit (pale pink blue with white shimmer); Apricot (sheer pinkened apricot); Ginger (midtone nude brown with a hint of pink); Mango (soft orange with slight pink hue); Currant (rich reddish deepened purple); Raspberry (bright punch of sheer cherry red); and Lilac (pearly violet). I have Grapefruit and even though it appears bright pink in the tube, it goes on quite sheer and comes out more to the color that is described by Clinique.

Clinique doesn't have their Spring collection up yet but it wouldn't surprise me if this product played some type of role in it or they released new shades of this gloss. This gloss is the perfect spring gloss to balance out bright or pastel eyes or just for a more natural look. At the moment, I have my eye on Lilac and Raspberry for this season and Currant for next Fall.

photo courtesy of Clinique

Laura Mercier Stickgloss

The Laura Mercier Stickgloss is a hybrid of both a gloss and a lipstick combing the best of both products and leaving out what I sometimes tend to dislike about each product. Another benefit to this product is that it is also hydrating and therefore is able to combine a lip balm into this product. This sounds too good to be true so let's check it out fully.

The Laura Mercier website gives this as the official description of the lip product, "Laura Mercier Stickgloss cares for your lips while delivering colour in a sheer and sophisticated finish. Part Lip Balm, part Lip Colour, and part Lip Glace. Provides a sheer wash of colour, creates dimension, and adds fullness to the lips. Ultra hydrating and longer wearing than a traditional Lip Glace". I just love it!

I tried this product out at the Laura Mercier counter and I must say that I am very impressed with it so far. The consistenty of the product is on the softer side and is less waxy than I have found other lipsticks to be. The colour is sheerer than a traditional lipstick shade and just gives a slight tint of color that I found to be quite flattering. It hydrated relatively well, it is isn't a good as a traditional potted lip balm but it hydrates more than the usual sticks or glosses.

Here is a list of the colors that this product is available in...

- Azalea - soft berry pink

- Baked Earth - warm brown red

- Black Orchid - neutral black cherry

- Brown Sugar - wearable brown pink

- Courtisane - mauve rose pink

- Cranberry - red plum

- Maple - earthy red

- Patchouli - neutral brown

- Peony - deep aubergine plum
- Plum - soft violet pink

- Pomegranate - yellow brown red

- Poppy - bright coral rose

- Purple Haze - vivacious plum

- Quartz - bronze rose shimmer

- Rosewater - soft sheer pink

- Tiger Lily - golden peachy pink

My two favorite shades are the Black Cherry and the Rosewater shades. The Black Cherry is the perfect black red stain that leaves the coveted "just bitten" effect without the use of a messy stain. The Rosewater shade is a great shade to wear every day and is very flattering to my paler skintone. This shades will also complement all the dramatic eye makeup looks that I have been trying out lately.

photo courtesy of Laura Mercier