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?

---

Review: Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On

Back again with another Simple review, but this time it’s the Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On*. I really like this product but I’ve got a bit of a love/hate relationship with it. 

Simple says: Our special blend of Simple revitalising goodness containing Pro-Vitamin B5, Cucumber Extract, Glycerin and Lupin Extract, helps to reduce puffiness and wake up and revitalise tired eyes. 

This product does exactly what it says on the tin. The roller ball dispenses enough product for it to be effective underneath or on top of makeup, but not so much that there’s excess or any dripping. It feels amazing. Honestly. You know when you’re really hot and you have an ice cold drink – that refreshing feeling? That’s what it’s like for your eyes. 

When I’m tired my eyelids feel so weighed down, and the roll on instantly perks them up. When the product dries it leaves behind a ‘tightening’ feeling; not horrible, but a constant refreshing feeling. And I love the fact that you can apply it at any point during the day, even over my makeup.

BUT. 

It’s just a feeling. I don’t see any difference in my tired eyes. The roller ball is great, so I don’t doubt that it helps my puffiness – along with the Simple Soothing Eye Balm. But apart from that I just don’t think it does much else. 

 I also love/hate the roller ball. Rolling it over my ‘made up’ face is just a recipe for disaster. Those who use clear mascara and know what happens to them after a while will get what I’m talking about. 

Bottom line: It’s a great product. I love the fact that it isn’t limited to just your morning/evening routine. If tired eyes are a big problem for you then I’d definitely give this a try, or even if you just need a pick-me-up from time to time. 

Realistically though, you could probably get the same result with a few slices of cucumber followed by a decent eye cream. 

 Simple Kind To Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On is available from all chain drugstores and major supermarkets, priced at £4.99.

---

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.

---

Review: Simple Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm

I’ve dabbled in eye creams before but haven’t found anything I’ve loved that has made a huge difference to my eyes. I’ve got dark circles and always have bags, and I don’t mean normal bags I mean suitcases perched on top of my hamster cheeks. When I’m really tired they look like they’re fit to burst.

Simple Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm* has been my saviour of late and it’s now a staple in my skincare regime. The product is supposed to reduce puffiness and relax tired eyes, and although I’m not sure if it relaxes my eyes, it has definitely had an effect on my bags. In fact, they’ve almost gone. It’s not irritating at all so it’s great for people with sensitive eyes.

The product itself comes in a 15ml tube with a pointed nozzle, perfect for application around the eye area. I usually dispense a small amount under my eye, smooth it across the skin with my ring finger and then pat it in. If my bags are particularly bad then I’m a bit firmer with my patting, although careful not to damage the skin around the eye. Most days I use this before bed, but if I’m quite tired I use this in the morning too. It sinks in really easily and is fine underneath my makeup.

I’ll most definitely be purchasing this when it runs out, but tube seems very generous so I know it’ll last me ages.

Simple Kind To Eyes Soothing Eye Balm* is priced at £3.99 and is available from Boots, Superdrug and most drugstores and major supermarkets.

---