Friday Faves: Lip Balm

I’m a massive lip balm freak and pretty much buy one whenever I can. Having dry lips is horrible and I try my absolute best to avoid it at all costs. Unfortunately our lips aren’t weatherproof though so as the bitter cold rolls in we need to up the ante with our lip care. These balms are the ones I reach for regularly when my lips are feeling the cold.

Nuxe Reve de Miel – reviewed here. It’s a gorgeous lip balm and creates a lovely barrier whilst hydrating your lips. Quite pricey but definitely worth it.

Dr Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips – reviewed here. Another firm favourite. Made of pure medical grade lanolin, not only is this amazing for during the day but it’s also a fantastic overnight lip treatment. If your lips get really dry, flaky and chapped then you need this baby in your life.

Simple Kind to Lips Intensive Lip Moisturiser* – reviewed here. This gives a lovely glossy finish and creates a nice barrier on your lips, so it’s perfect for days when you’ll be outside braving the cold. It contains paraffinum liquidum (a type of mineral oil) so it’s not exactly hydrating, but a great dry lip preventer nonetheless.

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser – This feels like more of a cream than a balm, but it does wonders on cracked lips. I often pair it under the Dr Lipp at night if my lips are cracked or sore.

Molton Brown Vitamin Lip Saver – I’ve had this for ages so the packaging has changed now, but it’s a fantastic balm. Very thick and very moisturising, if my lips are dry and I apply this I can literally feel them coming back to life.

Carmex – A solid favourite and a lip balm staple. Love the medicated scent and also that you can feel it working. It doesn’t last as long as some of the more dense lip balms, but it never lets me down.

Nivea – Another staple. This is probably my favourite out of all Nivea balms. It’s got a very waxy texture so it’s perfect for sealing lip stains. I love to use it when my lipstick has started to fade and I’ve forgotten to bring it out with me. It freshens up the colour and stops my lips drying out.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner – Although it’s a stick it’s got a very thick texture so it’s another perfect overnight treatment. However I don’t find it as heavy duty as Dr Lipp or Molton Brown. It’s also another balm that’s perfect over stains or underneath lipsticks. Love, love, love.

Elizabeth Arden 8hr Skin Protectant* - reviewed here. I don’t use this on my lips very often, but when I do it’s usually because I don’t have anything else at hand. It’s a great multiuse product, and the mineral oil means it’s a great protector.

  

What’s your favourite lip balm? Have you tried any of these?

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Review: Nuxe Reve de Miel Ulta-Nourishing Lip Balm

I’m a lip balm freak. I carry about eight different balms in my bag and I’m always on the hunt for something new. Nuxe Reve de Miel has been on my Beauty Wish List for such a long time and when I spotted it on sale for £6 I just had to buy it.

I love the weighty, frosted glass jar – something you don’t tend to get with lip balms. And the smell. Oh the glorious smell. Honey. Citrus. Deliciousness. I want to bathe in it.

The texture is strangely gritty, like really fine grains of sand, but when you apply it it smoothes out into the moist gorgeous, matte balm. It’s really thick but it makes the perfect lipstick base.

It’s lasts for absolutely ages and makes the perfect overnight treatment, although I use it constantly throughout the day too. It’ll be perfect for the coming cold months when my lips get extremely dry.

The price tag is a little hefty, but it’s so, so worth it. My boyfriend and I have been using this daily for the last month and we’re barely halfway through it – so it’s very cost-effective. I know the finger-dipping pots put off some people so it’s also available in a stick version too.

Bottom line: It’s fantastic. Period.

  

Nuxe Reve de Miel is available from Feel Unique, Escentual and SpaceNK, priced at £9.50. However it’s currently on sale in Marks & Spencer for £8.55.

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Review: Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1

Kiehl’s is a brand that’s relatively new to me. I’d never tried anything of theirs before I started beauty blogging, but there are a few Kiehl’s items that are firmly in my skincare regime – including the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser.

I first came across Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 when I was working with a girl who would apply is liberally every couple of hours. Being a sucker for pretty packaging I didn’t really give it a proper glance, but with Kiehl’s celebrating 40 years of Lip Balm #1, I knew that there must be something special about it.

The formula reminds me a lot of Vaseline but it feels a lot more moisturising. You can almost feel it sinking into your lips, which is really nice. I like it when I can feel/see a product working, so this definitely ticks those boxes.

Excuse the sore-looking lip line. I'd swatched lots of lip products and constantly been rubbing them off and reapplying.

My main issue with the balm is the fact that I feel I can only apply it at night. As someone who suffers with very dry lips, if I don’t apply balms constantly throughout the day my lips flake up like fish food and peel. So obviously I expect my lip balms to combat this.

However, I feel that this balm almost encourages my lips to peel. Not in a bad way – it kind of lifts the dead skin, so it’s perfect to use before and after a lip scrub. But not as a general day balm – loose bits of skin on my lips while I’m out and about? No, ta.

Plus it's got parabens in it. I do usually try to avoid products with parabens, as I don't think there's any need to include them in beauty products anymore - there are suitable alternatives. However, since I don't use this that much it's not a big issue for me.

The lip balm comes in original or scented versions. I have both the original and mango scents, but from the images on the website I think it comes/came in Vanilla and Pear too (perhaps just US?).

The scented version is probably my favourite over the original, as the original tends to have a bit more of an oily taste. They both do in fact, but the taste is masked under the strong mango scent.

The tube is 15ml, but feels very generous and I can see them both lasting a very long time.

Bottom line: It’s a decent balm, but I’ve tried cheaper alternatives that perhaps perform better. It only contains SPF4 so if you're looking for better sun protection then this isn't for you. But if you’re prone to a flaky lip, then I’d recommend trying this as a way to alleviate it.

Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 is available from Kiehl’s online and in store, priced at £9.50/15ml.

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Beauty Wish List

Cash has been a bit tight of late, but I’ve got a lovely cheque coming through next month so I’m planning on go on a slight spending binge.

Beauty Wish List by LolaStarHearts

DivaDerme Lash Extender, £15 from Amazon 

 I keep seeing this pop up on Wowcher and the reviews look great. I’m not sure if I’ll get this exact one but I definitely want something similar for my stubby lashes.

Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter, £7/6g from Feel Unique  

As a lip balm fiend I need this in my life. I’ve read a lot of reviews on this and have got to get my mitts on one.

bareMinerals Tinted Mineral Veil, £17/9g from Feel Unique  

I love bareMinerals, it’s the only foundation I trust for full coverage that doesn’t break me out. This veil is supposed to set the foundation and give an airbrushed finish. Yes please!

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm, $3-$4/4g from Amazon  

I’ve put the US price of this because they’re much cheaper there and I’m asking for one in my US swap (I’ll be posting about this soon!). They look great and Grape looks like it’ll give a subtle flush of colour.

L’Occitane Almond Skin Supple Oil, £29/100ml from L’Occitane  

 I’m really annoyed at myself for buying this because I love it. If you’re looking for something to reduce the look of stretch marks then I can’t recommend this more. I hauled it here and I’ll do a full review soon.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her EDP £56.50/50ml from Boots  

 I got a 1ml sample of this in the Harrods Glossybox and loved it. It smells amazing! A tad on the pricey side, but I’ve got to have it.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm, £9.50/15g from Feel Unique  

 I warned you I was a balm addict. Seven months ago I wouldn’t have dreamt of spending so much on a lip balm but hey, addictions only get worse right?

Caudalie Vinsource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, £26.10/30ml from Feel Unique  

 My skin is addicted to this. It absorbs really quickly and makes my face feel amazing.

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, £30/50ml from ASOS

 I got a sample of this in Liberty a few weeks ago and it reminds me a lot of the Monu Radiant Peel I reviewed here. Going to get it from ASOS so I can take advantage of my student discount – unless they will be any REN offer floating around.

Burberry Body EDP, £46.75/60ml from Feel Unique 

I did a project on this at uni and Harpers Bazaar press office sent us a bottle and it smelt so good. I can’t wait for this baby to join my fragrance collection!

Di Palomo Orange Blossom with Wild Honey & Olive EDP, £22/50ml 

 I reviewed a set of Di Palomo hand creams here and the orange blossom is now my favourite. If the perfume is anything like the hand cream then I know it’ll smell delicious.

I don’t even want to work out how much all of this is going to cost, but it has to be done!

What’s on your Lust List?

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Review: Simple Kind To Lips Intensive Lip Moisturiser

I’m a complete lip balm addict. I don’t have a huge collection, but I’ve got enough to last me a while let’s say. But whilst I have so many, I’m really fussy with what I use on a daily basis. I didn’t realise that Simple produced lip balms, but I was dying to try one when I found out. Queue Simple Kind To Lips Intensive Lip Moisturiser*.

I love the applicator; it’s hygienic and means that I can apply it on the go without a mirror. Although, some of it tends to get in the seal so bits of lint stick to it in your bag – which is why I keep mine in my lip balm bag, yes I’m sad.

This product reminds me a lot of my Dr Lipp Nipple Balm For Lips – reviewed here – but it’s not as thick – and suitable for veggies. I’d say that it’s like a gloss/balm hybrid. It has the texture and consistency of a gloss, but when you apply it it’s very balmy with a glossy finish.

This is what a thin layer looks like applied on my lips. My lips were a wee bit flaky before I applied this so you can see how it has added a lot of moisture and enhanced my natural lip colour slightly too.

  

It lasts quite well, probably around 2-3 hours before you need to reapply – even through eating and drinking. I like to apply it at night if my lips have gotten particularly dry throughout the day, and it’s always still there in the morning. This was sent to me about two weeks ago and I’ve used it religiously since.

I tried using this underneath my lipstick to see how it fared as a primer, and let’s just say it’s not primer material. However I found that it was perfect for those lipsticks that really don’t suit me.

Here’s what I mean …

The left is Elizabeth Arden in Ginger alone – hideous on my skin tone, and the right is Ginger applied over the Simple Lip Moisturiser. It dilutes the colour enough to make it wearable.

  

The left is bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Colour in Confidence. I love it but it’s way too bold and doesn’t last well if I blot it. The right is Confidence applied over the balm.

  

The left is Collection in Coffee Break, a very shimmery brown but too orangey for me. The right is applied over the balm, the camera hasn’t picked it up but it gives a really subtle shimmer.

Bottom line: It’s a must-have in any lip balm/makeup bag!

You can buy Simple Kind To Lips Intensive Lip Moisturiser from Superdrug at the bargain price of £1.49.

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