The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder...

Is it just me or is The Body Shop's makeup often overlooked? I'm one of those who doesn't know much about it and so recently after reading a post by Monika of Rocaille Writes, I really wanted to try their bronzer. Imagine that, a bronzer, MEEE? :D

Right after I finished reading I went to their website to see all their makeup was a 50% off and so the next day I went to a store. The deal was only online!

I turned away!

One frustrating detail about The Body Shop is their website specials rarely translate to their stores and I never buy online so I decided to forget about it. This week I stopped by a store and boom! The 50% on makeup was on!

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder...

It comes in four neutral matte colors and I must admit, I'm pretty impressed by the texture of 02 the one I chose but I wouldn't really qualify it as a bronzer unless one has very fair skin. For a natural sun kissed glow, 03 and 04 would definitely be more appropriate especially on darker skin tones.

So, 01 and 02 are in my opinion a little pale to be called bronzers but perfect to give a light natural and even satiny glow to the face and for those who don't take any sun in summer or don't like bronzers in general, these would be perfect. This may sound surprising but if you've been salivating over either one of the two lightest shades of Chanel Les Beiges compacts but don't want to make your wallet angry, these are almost dupes once on skin, really they are! The big difference is they will give a somewhat more opaque coverage, almost between a finishing powder and a powder foundation.

The texture? Extremely soft, almost creamy with hardly any fall out and at first I thought it was a bit hard and wondered if I was picking up any powder with my soft no name blush brush but I was. Impressed is what I was! Such a beautiful finish!

I've used it as a base over my BB cream and as a finishing powder and it gives just enough of a color boost to give me an all over lite glow.

Would I recommend The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powders? Yes!

A pretty "powder-not-powdery-finish", it's soft and like I said, satiny and since the two lighter shades have no orange undertones I do believe they're suitable for pretty much any carnation. I like 02 on my neck to make it look less pale without enhancing the fact that it's starting to go down if you know what I mean. A regular bronzer is too harsh and Chanel Les Beiges in N°10 (almost identical although a smidgen more pink to Honey Bronze in 01) too light to make much of a difference on that area at this time of year.

The two lighter shades of Honey Bronze 01 and 02, would work well as finishing powders on medium skin tones and give a nice healthy color on the fair and very fair who'd rather not tan or are maybe a little intimidated by a more traditional bronzer.

Oh I almost forgot to mention the fact that it controls oil pretty nicely. Using it as a finishing powder in the morning I don't have to reapply for at least three hours and these days it's pretty good if you ask me. Now of course that's if the temperature doesn't come into play. If it's hot and humid, forget about it, nothing will stay on my skin!

The compact, although not as sturdy as Chanel is rather nice and I wouldn't mind taking it out in public for touch ups if it came with an applicator. For some reason there are two different compacts, one which is plain and the other, the one I purchased with a nice reflection of hexagonal honeycomb for which bees are so famous.

Regular price, $20.00, got it for $10.00!!! Now that's a sweet deal for a whopping 11g. By the way, Chanel Les Beiges in N°10 is $60.00 for 12 g. Talk about a nice cheap thrill! Oh and yes, I would recommend even at $20.00!

If I didn't already have so many bronzers I would have purchased all four, really I would have!

Do have a look at Monika's entry where she compares The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder to others she's tried, here.

As a little perk I also got the Honey Bronze Shimmer Lip Gloss which comes in the cutest container in the shape of a bee hive!

Have you tried any of The Body Shop's makeup? Anything else I should look into?

Maybelline New York Color Elixir...

Recently at the drugstore I stumbled upon a new display of these little beauties! I've been looking at pink shades for lips more and more but before going for that high end lippie that will take me back $40.00, I figured I would start with less expensive options, for the colors, to see if I would really wear pink again. Seeing these I figured why not give them a try?

Maybelline New York Color Elixir by Color Sensational...

Twenty shades in all, these go along the new trend of hybrid lip products that are popping up everywhere. The Maybelline version is said to have a trio of concentrates to deliver color, care and shine. These apparently came out last November but for some reason I had never seen them in Montreal until now.

The colors... 

I chose Captivating Carnation #080, a pretty bright pink that pulls a little coral on my lips and Mauve Mystique #025, which appears like a deep berry in the container but for some reason looks more like a mauvish lilac on my lips. Neither are saturated but they go on smoothly and the colors can be built up but high saturation doesn't last that long on me because I tend to rub my lips a lot with this type of formula.

Ok guys, look at those colors... WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME???

You do know I'm a NUDE lippie girl don't ya?

The formula...

More sheer than a liquid lipstick, not as sticky as a gloss and a little more "there" than a balm is how I would describe them. These will last a few hours but will not resist a meal. They are very comfortable to wear and their textures remind me of Clarins Lip Perfectors (if you go have a look at the first phrase of that post you'll see why I think I've flipped!), the only products I own I could compare them with, but with more color. Sadly they don't have the same lovely caramel/chocolaty taste. I couldn't quite put my finger on what they tasted like so I had a peek at reviews on Makeup Alley and one reviewer had the perfect description. These have a floral, almost laundry soap kind of taste that I just don't get and it lasts a little too long for me. The weird thing is that when you take the applicator out of the container, these smell like vanilla! That I could have lived with.

As you can see the colors are way more saturated than my beloved 

Clarins Lip Perfector in Candy Shimmer on the right.

A few hours of wear, first the shine goes and then the color but it disappears evenly even with the darker Mauve Mystique.

The applicator is a little flimsy and honestly they could have gone with a classic doe foot type but I guess this one makes the product more in tune with the times. Sometimes I wonder if companies are trying to reinvent the wheel! :)

Do I recommend Maybelline New York Color Elixir? Yes...

If you can get past the taste (I'm having a hard time to but I know some don't really notice it), these have a lovely formula and you can get three for the price of one high end lipstick. Great to try colors your not sure you would wear on a regular basis.

What annoys me the most about drugstore brands...

The sticky tape they use to keep people from opening the products is such a pain to remove!!! The fact that their offerings are box less for the most part is what makes these less expensive and I do get it but how many times have I gotten to finally use the product only to still have either tape or glue traces on the packaging oh and good luck in removing those traces. In some cases oil works but sometimes it doesn't. I don't mind much for a concealer but for a lip product that can be taken out of one's purse in public, me no likey!

Notice the nice traces of tape on the caps! Grrr!

What do you dislike most about drugstore brands?

Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush in #459 Charnelle...

Recently I brought you a review of Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush in #683 Esquisse and already I had my eye on another. I love Esquisse but it's an almost bright color, not really a nude and so I'm not comfortable wearing it everyday. Rouge Dior Grège 1947 is still a favorite but it's more on the beige side and not very moisturizing even with it's slippy formula. I wanted a slightly more pink nude!

Presenting my first favorite of the year...

... Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush in #459 Charnelle...

Oh how I love thee!

Again, the beautiful house of Dior cannage pattern and although 

you can't see it on this picture, Dior is embossed on the bullet.

Look at that elegant jeweled detail!

The perfect every day color for my skin tone which doesn't make my lips disappear! When you think of it, the idea of "my lips but better" is a bit silly. Why would we want that instead of a burst of color? Well, to put it simply, it's not always appropriate to have bright or dark vampy lips in daytime. I personally much prefer to put emphasis on my eyes and since most days I opt for dark eyes I can't reach for a lipstick color that would make me look like I'm wearing a lot of makeup.

There needs to be a balance. Light eyes, dark lips, dark eyes, light lips. That's my motto.

I do like the nude lip fab but not everyone can pull it off. There's a fine line between a nude lip and a disappearing pout! It can look gorgeous on pictures with the right lighting but in real life it's not always flattering. A little color is needed and whether it pulls on the warm or cold side totally depends on personal preferences and/or skin tone.

For the every day go with everything "nude" I say try to find one that will complement your skin tone. Believe me, it'll truly go with everything!

Esquisse, Grège 1947 and Charnelle.

I found mine and it now they have a permanent place in my purse!

Charnelle is a soft warm pink that pulls one tone darker than Grège 147 on my lips and since it has a little more pink it looks more natural with my skin tone. They are very similar so you may not need both but on my lips I do see a difference and I'm glad to have them.

Esquisse, Grège 1947 and Charnelle.

I think the difference between Grège 1947 and Charnelle is apparent on the swatches above. Both would suit light to medium skin tones. I find that when I wear a little more bronzer the first works best but the second is the most natural for my carnation and it truly enhances my lips which have good pigmentation to begin with.

That's the thing with "nudes", one has to be careful not to go too much lighter than the natural lip color. That's when it somehow starts to look not so flattering.

The formula is identical to Esquisse and so doesn't last quite as long as the regular Rouge Dior. I'd say about three hours leaving a light even tint behind. The Dior claim about plumping? Well it does none of that for me but I don't mind since I didn't buy it for this. I bought it for the color and the fact that it keeps my lips moisturised and comfortable all day especially when it's super cold out.


About the Dior Nude Lip Blush range...

I spoke to two different Dior ladies and both told me that it was here to stay. Rouge Dior Grège 1947 did start as a Nude Lip Blush but was relaunched last fall to complement Dior Vernis Nuit 1947 and thus became a Rouge Dior.


Do you own a good nude lipstick? If so, which is your favorite?

Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush, Esquisse...

This little beauty was purchased back in November, I think! Well not long after getting my beloved Rouge Dior Grège 1947. I so fell in love with the formula of Rouge Dior that I had to go and get a few more almost on the spot! I must say that Dior was my favorite formula ages ago and I'm glad to say this new incarnation doesn't disappoint. I purchased two more barely a week after Grège but realised once home that they were different.

Rouge Dior Nude Couleur Blush Voluptuous Care...

The packaging is stunning with its luxurious house of Dior cannage pattern and jeweled CD on top. On the bullet itself there is of course the Dior name embossed. Such a decadent treat!

The formula...

Described as a rich and creamy balm it's an extremely comfortable formula. Meant to plump, smooth and hydrate lips to create a beautiful elegant finish with a light illuminating effect.

In other words, it's more than a lipstick and it's more than a balm. It truly is both!

663 Esquisse...

Given the fact that it's a little darker than what I usually wear it took me a while to warm up to it.

Baby steps, baby steps... It's finally getting some love! In fact, in the past two weeks I've found myself reaching for it often.

A lovely warm berry that's a step above the usual "my lips but better" look for me. More than flattering, it's the perfect complement to a more natural eye look. On the picture it looks much darker than in real life and it's also not quite as pink, it's a little more warm than cool. It truly is a pretty color, suitable to many carnations.

On the left one pass, on the right, two.

Here is the best I could do for swatches (I know, blurry!). The difference between the two pictures is on the left, the lighting is slightly brighter. I've seen this color described as sheer! Well it ain't that sheer as you can see. It feels buttery and soft but for a lip treatment it's got nice color payoff and excellent wear time. I'd say I get a good three if not four hours of color and even when the moisturizing feel is gone there is still a nice natural stain on my lips. It fades evenly and unlike Grège 1947, it doesn't leave a wonky line on the inner rim of my lower lip. As for the plumping effect claims, well there isn't much of that but then it would have to sting and irritate a little which it doesn't. It's a very comfortable formula and that's what counts for me.

Love!!!

There seems to be five colors in all in Rouge Dior Nude Couleur Blush Voluptuous Care...

#123 Trompe L'Oeil
#319 Trench
#459 Charnelle
#618 Twill
#683 Esquisse

A little confusing is that I've seen on some sites Grège 1947 as part of this range but as you know I do own it and mine is a Rouge Dior.

Rouge Dior Nude Lip Blush are for me worth the splurge. So comfortable with such a lovely finish, I mean next pay day, why not treat yourself to a little something that will make you feel special every time you use it?

I got my eye on #459 Charnelle next...


Have you seen/tried this incarnation of Rouge Dior?

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue...

I think by now pretty much everyone knows that my favorite lip balms are for night, Nuxe Rêve de Miel in the jar and for day, Caudalie Lip Conditioner. Even so, I still enjoy trying new ones and when they are less expensive and good, all the better! In recent years I've tried my share of drugstore lip balms and although they can keep lips protected they don't really treat them. Some could have been contenders if they didn't have that much slip while others had the right formula but the taste was just unpleasant and got to me after a while.

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue...

I picked up these "babies" at my local drugstore. I think they must have just received them since they had a surprising large display that was quite full. I chose 35 Too Cool which is transparent and 45 Just Peachy, a light frosty peach.

They are lovely! For less than $5.00 a piece I'm glad I got two. In fact I purchased three, a second Just Peachy for Catherine. I think she already owns a few of the other versions of Maybelline Baby Lips but these are my firsts.

They go on smooth and moisturize on contact. I'd say they last a few hours and are excellent to protect any pout from the cold weather although I don't think I would rely on them for skiing if it's below -20 Celsius. With the wind it would be preferable to use something a little thicker like Nuxe Rêve de Miel or even a waxy stick like good old LypSyl which is way more convenient to reapply when one wears mittens or gloves.

I don't ski but I know what extreme cold winds feel like!

When first applied they have a faint minty flavor that disappears after about 20 minutes or so. I would rather they have no taste at all since mint gives a refreshing sensation and in winter, outside, no need for this but like I said, it fades relatively fast.

Would I recommend Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue? Yes!

Super affordable I'll bet they will even be on sale once in a while so you may look for specials and stock up. One for every coat pockets and if you live north of the 45th parallel (and even a little to the south), believe me you need them because we all know, cold weather can dry up our lips and make them sensitive in no time. Three for the price of my beloved Caudalie is quite a deal and yes, they do compare!

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue in 45 Just Peachy...

I wasn't able to do a proper swatch but do know that it's quite frosty so I wouldn't lay it on as thickly as I would the 35 Too Cool the transparent version. I was surprised by it's color for it's very light. If you want a nude lip à la 60s this one's perfect!

Just Peachy is lighter and frostier than the color on the tube 

and here it does look a little darker than in real life.

The only thing missing...

They have no SPF so do keep that in mind. UV rays reflected by the snow... If you are the type to enjoy winter sports, you better skip these and go for for lip balms with sunscreen.

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue comes in 6 moisturizing shades...

From the left, 35 Too Cool, 40 Pink Me Up, 45 Just Peachy, 

50 Soothing Sorbet, 55 Coral Crave and 60 Berry Soft.

One quick note...

If you have peelies on your lips it would be better to skip the colored versions and stick with the transparent one since they can make your lips look worse. The pigments grab onto any irregularities and that's not a look anyone wants. Depending on the state or your lips, these can give them back their smoothness in no time, in other words, you could start the day with the transparent one and switch to a color by noon.

Maybelline claims a "renewing" effect but it's pretty basic. Although not miraculous, it's still an excellent little lip balm that's way less expensive than many. You can wear it under a lipstick but that this will make it quite slippery and will diminish it's wear time but hey, in winter you gotta do what you gotta do to not only look good but feel good.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner remains my daytime favorite but at about $15.00 I'm not about to buy 3. In my purse it resides but these Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue will be perfect for my coat pockets!


Reviews:

Makeup Alley: 3.8 / 5 lippies for 17 reviews (these will likely increase since this is new)
Beauté-test: there are no reviews yet which is not surprising. It's not even showing on the Canadian website.


Ingredients:

Do you have a lip balm you keep in your coat pocket or a favorite at the moment?

The Body Shop Honeymania...

It was unavoidable, Fall is here! The days are colder and last night I've had to wear my winter coat!

Argh!!!

It won't be long before this is a daily occurrence because winter IS just around the corner. Tomorrow will be "yard cleaning, tarp off gazebo, furniture putting away day" and that makes me sad. I've read somewhere that this winter may be milder than last year which is good but we may get more snow. In other words we're in for six months of quasi hibernation resulting in red noses every time we go out!

All bundled up, covered from head to toe, the outside cold combined with indoor heating means for many drier skin and if you're like me you'll be looking for thicker formulas to provide instant comfortable smoothness.

The latest permanent line introduced by The Body Shop is a perfect one to turn to and it's got a beautiful fragrance to boot.

Honeymania...

This line was introduced earlier this month and so this means that it has been mentioned in the blogosphere quite a bit by now. For a full description I will refer you to Beauty Reductionista where Liz has smartly written the best one I've read. If I were to go at it I would have the impression of copying her article. As usual she is thorough and her writing style, impeccable!

Fall is barely a few days old and yes, I have a cold!

At the end of last week Catherine got home from school and it was clear she was starting a cold. I did all I could to avoid it, wiping every surfaces (especially my lap top which she prefers to hers), washing my hands almost every thirty minutes or so, in fact I thought I was going to be the stronger one...

The cold won!

Nuxe Rêve de Miel for lips, The Stick Or The Jar?

Here I go again with my Rêve de Miel Lip Balm! What can I say except it IS my absolute favorite, so far. In fact it's been the case for at least two years now and that's saying a lot considering all the lip balms I've tried before and since then. I've mentioned this little wonder a few times already, among other places, here.

 Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm & Lip Moisturizing Stick

Smith's Rosebud Salve / Review

Last week at Sephora while waiting to pay for my new NARS Tolède lipstick I just had to look in the little bins, you know the ones that are filled with tempting goodies, just before you get to the cash register? Smartly placed if you ask me. Last minute little indulgences, that's what you find there.

What I stumbled upon is this, Smith's Rosebud Salve. The tin was so darn cute with it's old apothecary look, I just couldn't resist. An extra $7.50! *sigh*

When I got home and opened it, surprise! Look at that beautiful soft pink! Lovely, just lovely!

The texture, that too was a surprise. That evening I stuck my finger in it thinking it would be hard like Nivea Lip Butter but no. The texture is quite close to petroleum jelly, maybe just a little firmer but quite similar.

The fragrance, think that famous baby product smell but it's quite pleasant on lips.

Smith's Rosebud Salve has been around for a while, in fact since 1895 and was originally developed as a multi-purpose balm. It's many applications include lip balm and gloss, diaper rash remedy, skin blemish, dry skin moisturizer and minor burn relief. Now I'd be careful about the skin blemish mention but I can easily imagine this salve working for  dry skin, boo boos and of course lips. It does leave a glossy finish, again, similar to petroleum jelly which is it's main ingredient.

How does it perform? Nicely.

Quite nice and the fragrance is pleasant but in all honesty, it's not life changing. I used it four nights in a row and didn't see much difference compared to other basic lip balms I've used that where less expensive but it did last longer on my lips than plain petroleum jelly. By morning I could still feel it on my lips.

Now I did use it on a minor cut and it was quite soothing. So I do believe I'll use it more for dry irritated spots as well as for cuticles.

Do I recommend Smith's Rosebud Salve? Yes and no.

If you're looking for an outstanding lip care product, no. If you're looking for a basic all purpose salve you can keep in your purse, yes. Plus, the tin does look a little more elegant than a jar of petroleum jelly.

Update: It is available in tube form. You can see it below when you click on the link for Rosebud Perfume Co. :)

Only three ingredients: cotton seed oil, the main vegetable oil produced in the United-States in the 1940s gives this balm stability and longer shelf life. Aromol, a secret oil blend which has been trademarked. It does have oil derived from roses. Petrolatum.

You can learn more about the history of the Rosebud Perfume Co. as well as see their other offerings, here.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors / Review

It's official! I've decided, bright colored lipsticks aren't for me anymore!

Well, for now anyway!

I love to see all the beautiful shades my bloggerettes friends try on, Chanel, Givenchy and Dior all have fabulously bright colors this season. Candies or jewels, you choose your definition.

Yesterday I roamed through a small cosmetic department in my area

I don't know when exactly these came out. As some of you know I was out of the loop for a bit and missed a lot. I do think they have been reviewed several times by now but I just got mine and thought I would add my thoughts about them to the lot.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors = LOVE!!!

Imagine a balm mixed in with a gloss and a hint of color that is non sticky. So comfortable to wear with a taste that's like a mixture of caramel, vanilla and chocolate. Yes, to me it reminds me a little of chocolate.

A balm quality, I feel my lips getting softer as I wear it.

A gloss, yes it does have that effect on lips but can you imagine a gloss that doesn't trap your hair when it's windy? Long haired girls, you know what I mean! For that, this is quite simply amazing.

A hint of color, just enough to give your lips a nice light polished, fresh look.

If you need a bang of color, this is not for you. If you want your "gloss" to last hours, this is not for you. If you want shine, sheen that lasts, this is not for you.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip perfectors do exactly what the name describes. Natural, light shimmer and color with the benefits of comfortable feeling lips is what you'll get. I reapply every 2 hours or so. I started to wear them last Thursday night and haven't had dry lips since! At night I keep using my beloved Nuxe Rêve de Miel but during daytime, Clarins is "da bomb"!

As seen above I purchased two of the new colors. 05 Candy Shimmer and 06 Rosewood Shimmer. The tip is a sponge applicator through which the product comes out when you press on the tube.

05 Candy Shimmer & 06 Rosewood Shimmer *

I'm very sorry about the quality of the pictures. For some reason they didn't come out as clear as expected. Oh and no, my skin does not have a weird color although the Lip Perfector shades did come out rather true. Weird.

05 Candy Shimmer is not as bright on lips and 06 Rosewood Shimmer doesn't come out as brown once applied. Again, they are sheer and wear their names well, Lip Perfector.

There are in all six different colors available the last three being the more "opaque" I didn't purchase 04 Petal Shimmer for I feel it would have been pretty much invisible on my lips. If you have dark pigmented lips, you may want to pass but for light to medium, these are great.

For a few weeks now I've been looking at lipsticks, mainly brighter colors to change from my usual neutrals. So far, no luck! I'm having a real hard time of letting go of my usual. Even my daughter last week told I should take a risk but for some reason I just can't do it, yet!

Ok I'm not totally shutting the door on bright colors...

Baby steps, baby steps...

For now, I'm more than happy with these and they go perfectly with my "Precious" Diorskin Nude Tan Paradise Duo in Coral Glow!  :)

If this is not your case and you want more pigment, shine and balm like quality, have a look at these...

These are visually stunning and look much better in real life. 

Their texture, dreamy! $27.00 each.

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm. A core full of color trapped in a translucent gel casing that does remind us of crystal. You can either go for a light or a more opaque effect depending on how much you apply. With the Lip Perfectors I don't always use a mirror but with these, if you want the more pigmented look, I suggest you use one. These two shades 05 Crystal Rose and 06 Crystal Mandarin came out with the new Clarins Splendours Summer Collection and are limited edition.

One last note...

I've had a chance to "play" a bit with the colors from the new collection and all I can say is, they are fabulous! The texture and look of the bronzer is just amazing and would suit any carnation. The eye makeup palette, it's colors, flattering to anyone. Oh and the liner, is deep purple!!! Gorgeous!

We don't mention this brand often enough in my opinion. High quality with reasonable prices.

I'm sorry but I just had to show these to you again. Do note that the bronzer is much bigger than the palette. I came real close to buying it but it would have been overkill. Beautiful texture, slightly more matte than the Bronzing Duo Mineral Powder reviewed here, it really is suitable for everyone. If you don't own a bronzer yet, this one is an excellent option.

In some stores they are already out of the palette so if you are interested in it, you better not wait too long. Both the bronzer and the palette sell for $42.00 each. Just click on the picture to visit Clarins Canada.



* The nail polish I'm wearing is Essie Fifth Avenue. Two coats with one coat of Sèche Vite.

L'Oréal Color Riche Balm in Caring Coral 418 / Review

These have been out for a while now and for no particular reason, I wasn't drawn to them but I figured that I had to try at least one. I chose Caring Coral 418.

I'm feeling a coral period coming... I used to wear a lot of it years ago, got tired of it but this Spring I'm feeling myself drawn to it, again!

So, back to L'Oréal and this Color Riche Balm. What do I think about it? To be honest, there isn't much to think about. It's super sheer so you have to lay it on thick to have any hint of color showing. I've had to go over my lips at least six times and it still didn't show much. It ends up feeling almost like a gloss. The taste? Chemical and unpleasant. The only good thing it's got going is the SPF15.

Do I recommend L'Oréal Color Riche Balm in Caring Coral? No.

From what I've read, they are all pretty sheer so if you have pigmented lips to begin with, these will be a disapointment. On naturally light colored lips they may fair better but for me, the sheerness and especially the chemical taste make of Caring Coral a no go. After about 30 minutes of having it on, I've had to completely wipe it off because the taste was really getting to me. I will definitely not try any of the other shades.  :(

Nivea Lip Butter Vanilla & Macadamia / Review

These new Nivea Lip Butters aren't even on the Canadian website yet but can be seen on the American one. For a little over a week now other beauty bloggers have been reviewing them and I was quite anxious to try one myself. Ok anxious may not be the correct word here so let's just say I wanted to try one.

Carmex Lip Ointment / Review

I had never tried this lip balm. In fact I've only started to see it in drugstores recently. It may have been available for quite some time now but let's just say that I hadn't been paying much attention since I have figured out my winning combination last year. Nuxe Rêve de Miel lip balm for night and Caudalie Lip Conditioner for daytime are absolute favorites of mine. More information about them here.

For reviews sake I've been trying out different ones, some less expensive options. Here I've decided to compare Carmex Lip Ointment to La Roche Posay Cerralip.

I purchased the basic no flavor ointment in the tube on which you can read "for dry chapped lips and cold sores". When you unscrew the cap you're left with a round top with a little hole in the middle. Press and the balm comes out. The texture, feel on my lips is quite similar to La Roche Posay's Cerralip with a few differences. First unlike LRP's which has no taste at all, Carmex's has a chemical one. Faint but not very pleasant. Fortunately, after 4 or 5 minutes it disappears. Second, and this is quite surprising, it's more soothing and more moisturizing than the more expensive La Roche Posay. Carmex is $2.99!!!

This is the moisturizing lip balm, I have the lip ointment.

The tubes are almost identical.

Although I did find it more moisturizing than the other mentioned, I really didn't care for the taste. I may eventually try another with flavor but for now I'm good.

One last note, it does contain some salicylic acid which is a good ingredient to help with exfoliation. It would be advised to use another lip balm with SPF.

Reviews: 

MakeupAlley: The reviews are I believe all mixed up. They range from 3.0 to 4.5 lippies on a base of 5.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 97 reviews.

Ingredients (note these are not in order of concentration):
Petrolatum, lanolin, beeswax, cetyl esters, mineral oil, cocoa butter, fragrance, camphor, menthol, salicylic acid and vanillin, phenol, paraffin liquidum


Screen capture from Top Para

Herbacin Kamille Lip Balm / Review

Like me you've probably seen the hand cream from this brand but not the lip balm since I do believe this is new. I purchased it the other day out of curiosity.

The texture reminds of Caudalie's lip balm which is one of my favorites for daytime. It has a light vanilla scent upon application but this fades after a minute or so. Although I sometimes use Caudalie under my lipstick, this one I found a little too greasy to use in the same way. It does an honest job at moisturizing my lips, in fact I'm inclined to compare it to RoC's lip balm only Herbacin is much less expensive.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm / Review

Bran new display, the drugstore where I went today had just received these yesterday. I can't remember the last time I bought something from Cover Girl. In fact I think it was a foundation way back when they where promoting "clean makeup". I purchased this in the shade Mauve Twist 275. I'm not much of a fan of big crayons but at $7.49 I figured why not give it a try.

I'm so sorry I haven't swatched anything for you yet but I can't figure out where to do it other than outside and these days it's pretty cold. I tried with the brightest light I have in the house but it truly doesn't give a clear picture. I'll do a bit of research in the new year to figure out a set up for this.

So, about this color Mauve Twist. First if you're expecting a lilac'ish or mauv'ish kind of color you'll be disappointed. It's much warmer than the picture shows. Actually I can hardly see any cool undertones in it. Second, if you're expecting good color payoff, you'll be disappointed. It's sheer, very sheer. You really must go over and over and over again to get any color on your lips. Finally, if you're expecting a glossy color, again, you'll be disappointed. It is not glossy at all.

It's got "Balm" in the name. Huh? No balm feel at all. It's actually almost kind of dry. Not at all what I was expecting. The feel is almost sticky and the color disappears rather quickly. No color payoff with this shade.

If you want to try this product, go for bolder shades like Scarlet Twist 250 or Ruby Twist 245 you may get better results. Still, I'm doubtful about the staying power. I think you'd be better off with a tinted lip balm like Burt's Bees or even better, Clinique's Almost Lipstick.

Sorry Cover Girl but it's a no no for me. :(

Update (2013-01-06)

As I was thinking, bolder colors give better results. Have a look at Michelle's review for the color 250, a beautiful sheer red. Plus, it looks smashing on her. See it on her blog, Lipstick Rules.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm no 250

From Lipstick Rules

Screen capture of no 275 from drugstore.com

Winter Lips!

It's cold outside, dry and overheated inside! What this means is that my lips are getting dry, tend to crack and peel. Ouch!

Now that's if I don't do anything. It's not an option for me not to treat them. For years I was able to keep smooth lips without the use of lip balms due to lipstick. Whether the formulas I was wearing where more moisturizing or my lips got dryer with time I have no idea. These days I have to use lip balms period!

Plus I do want to keep them looking as plump as possible for as long as I can. Lips don't have oil glands so we have to give them some. No collagen either so for anti aging an SPF lip balm of at least 15 reapplied several times during the day is a must if you spend a lot of time outdoors. For loss of volume nothing topical will make any difference. Lip plumpers will only work temporarily due to the irritants they include in their formulas like cinnamon, ginger, menthol and forms of capsacin (the spicy chemical found in chili peppers). For a more permanent solution only a surgical procedure will do.

The price range for good lip balms go from $1.00 to $100.00. You can get them at the Dollar store or you can go for brands like La Mer, Sisley or La Prairie. It's really up to you. Go for the ones you love. I'm just presenting you my own favorites.

Personally I don't go much for high end any more for skin care and that includes lip care. I've been able to find effective products that are more budget friendly.

My 2 favorite lip balms

Nuxe Rêve de Miel

New lips overnight! When I apply a good layer of this at night before bedtime I wake up with soft deeply moisturised lips. In fact by morning, I can still feel the balm on my lips. Most brands just disappear overnight but not Rêve de Miel. It contains among other ingredients, honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit essence.

Although I use Rêve de Miel mainly at night, it's great to apply over certain colors of lipstick to make them appear more matte giving lips a more natural look. This works great with shades like Clinique's Tenderheart.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner

The one I use in daytime. Also quite matte it helps keep peelies at bay. Although it almost feels dry at first, in no time you feel the moisture. The stick form makes it easy to carry. I love this one under lipstick and keep one in my coat pocket. Grape-seed polyphenols (have anti oxidants properties), Shea butter, Castor oil and beeswax are it's main ingredients. Since I started using this balm I've rarely sensed the need to exfoliate my lips because I do feel it helps with the skin's renewal process.

For UV protection

Neutrogena, La Roche Posay, Avène, Bioderma as well as several other brands make good lip balms with an SPF of 15 or more. Simply chose the one you like. I find that Neutrogena is pretty good myself and wears well under lipstick.

Other options

Avène, A-Derma, Weleda (Everon), Estée Lauder, Clarins..... Every company makes one and yes, it's ok to have a few. I have several and my daughter has an extended collection. We have them all over the house and each have our favorites. My daughter's is eos for now while hubby goes for a homemade balm made of half unrefined Shea butter and half coconut oil flavored with vanilla extract. I myself sometime simply reach for the tub of Vaseline Cocoa Butter Petroleum Jelly which tastes so yummy. Not as effective as my 2 favorites I still enjoy using it to give my lips a bit of shine.

Along with petroleum jelly another good option to keep handy is Aquaphor in the tube. Many actually prefer it to Vaseline. It is a little thicker but I honestly don't see much difference between the two. They are both good versatile options to keep handy because they are not only for lips but also for skin that is exposed to the element. Great for protecting the skin of young children when the weather gets really cold.

Both petroleum jelly and Aquaphor are great for exfoliating lips. You can apply a little to lips and wait 10 min or so then gently rub away dead skin with either your fingers or a baby washcloth. You can also add a bit of sugar or brown sugar to make the process faster but just be careful not to rub too hard and avoid the skin around the lips. Sugar is a no no as a facial exfoliant. It can non only irritate the skin but cause micro tears.

Reviews for Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm:

Retails for about $15.00

MakeupAlley: 4.2 / 5 lippies for 273 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 4 stars for 656 reviews.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel ingredients (from frenchcosmeticsforless)
INCI formula: Cera alba (beeswax), Olus oil (vegetable oil), lecithin, behenoxy dimethicone, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) extract, mel (honey), Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), dimethicone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil, caprylic (capric triglycerides), hydrogenated vegetable oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil, rosa moschata seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, citrus merdica limonum (lemon) peel oil, candelilla cera (euphorbia cerifera) (candelilla) wax, allantoin, calendula officinalis flower extract, BHT, citric acid, citral, limonene, linalool. 


Reviews for Caudalie's Lip Conditioner:

Retails for about $12.00

MakeupAlley: 3.8 / 5 lippies for 140 reviews.
Beauté-test: 4 / 5 stars for 478 reviews.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner ingredients (from Beauté-test)
Macadamia ternifolia seed oil*, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, caprylic/capric triglyceride*, cera alba (beeswax), copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax*, cetyl palmitate*, acetylated glycol stearate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit*, euphorbia cerifera (candeulla) wax*, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil*, cetearyl alcohol*, cetyl alcohol*, parmitic acid*, stearic acid*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, hydrogenated stearyl olive esters*; hydrogenated vegetable oil*, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, jojoba esters*, isopropyl myristate, parfum (fragrance), tocopheryl acetate*, palmitoyl grape seed extract*, ammonium glycyrrhizate*, hypericum perforatumextract*, tocopherol*.
* origine végétale


If you want to read more on the subject there are a few good articles on Discovery Fit & Health, source of some of the information given in this entry.

One final note, when I started this blog my very fist post was about lip balms. I revisited it and it was fun to see how much I've grown into this blogging thing. You can have a look at it here. Warning, the writing is not that good but the list of products is. :D

Kisses from Clinique

Now this is just too adorable to pass!

Four high gloss Superbalm minis with a cute little pouch! Who in Canada or anywhere cold for that matter, has enough lip balms? Not me! Dryness protection with lots of shine, yay!

Who wouldn't want to get this as a gift? $34.00 at The Bay

EOS the "In" lip balm of the moment / Review

It would seem that last week I became a "cool mom" without knowing! I purchased an eos lip balm for my daughter and apparently almost all the girls have one. Now that's a lot, considering that she goes to an all girls school.

Evolution of Smooth is what "eos" stands for. This brand which is new to me, makes lip balms, hand lotions, body lotions and shaving creams. Their lip products are the most known probably because of the egg shaped container. Made of a rubber like durable plastic with a twist-off top, it's easy to hold and easy to find if it falls on the floor. This is a good thing considering all the lip balms my daughter has lost over the years.

The one I got for her is the honeysuckle/honeydew flavor in the light green container. I picked it up for $2.99 (on special) at my local drugstore. In fact, most brands of lip balms are on special at the moment which is not surprising considering the weather is getting colder. Gotta love Canada!

It smells amazing!

Does it moisturize? Apparently not that much. Since last Thursday when I gave it to her, it's almost always in her hand and she keeps reapplying it. It seems that the taste as well as the moisture don't last very long.

Does she care about this? I think not. She loves the container and since she's one of only a few who has the green one she thinks it's pretty cool. She has more than a few lip balms. Caudalie, Avène, Nuxe, Kariderm, a ton of Avon's as well as almost all the Nivea's available. She doesn't care about those, this little egg is it..... for the moment at least.

If you want to be cool too and have a Costco membership, they have a set of 4 for under $10.00 at the moment. I plan to get her one next time I go. Since I took her to see Twilight's last installment, Breaking Dawn Part 2 yesterday, it may at least give me even more "extra cool" points!


Reviews:
MakeupAlley, 3.5 / 5 lippies for 316 reviews
Beauté-test, there are no reviews yet for this product.

Ingredients from eos
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cucumis Melo (Honeydew Melon) Seed Extract*, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract*, Limonene, Linalool. * Organic. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.

Best Lip Balms

Which are the best?

Winter!

Playing in the snow, skiing, skating & shovelling. Those are some of the fun activities we enjoy, the last one being our second national sport after ice hockey. For all of us who enjoy, or not, spending time outdoor there are some consequences: dry skin & dry lips. Lip balms are, for many of us, an essential part of our daily routine. The wind, the cold as well as indoor heating can all make our lips extremely dry, especially since they are deprived of sebaceous glands. Since they're more sensitive to climate changes, we need to give them some good protective moisture.

With all the options available to us, how can we chose only one?