Lip Balm

A main beauty obsession of mine is lip balm. I can't abide by a minute without something on my lips. I remember my freshman year in high school, where I would set my huge, chunky Bath and Body Works chapstick on my desk and apply it a dozen times or so during each class. It appears my "problem" hasn't subsided... So, here are some of my current favorites, with their pros and cons.

  

You'll notice I have some tinted balms mixed in with un-tinted ones. I probably own like three or four true lip sticks. Everything else is a gloss or balm. So, to add some color to my daily routines, I love to use tinted balms.

Nuxe Rev de Miel Nourishing Lip Balm - $19

I found this product while feasting my reading eyes on my most recent addiction, Essie Button. Being a yank (correction: Southern yank), I rarely get to buy all the fun things I see all the across-the-pond beauties rave about. When I saw this on Birchbox's website {AND free shipping} I just could not pass 'er up! 

It's foundational ingredient is honey. It smells so pure and sweet (with some citrus hints). It also goes on a bit gritty, but then your body heat takes care of the granules - much like putting honey in or on something warm melts it. Many balms go on glossy, but I love how this just settles in subtly. It doesn't appear you have anything gooey and healthy on, so topping it with a lipstick or gloss is just fine. 

It also last for eons! 

The only con (for me - and it's not really a con in real life...) is that it's in a pot. It's a beautiful glass pot, but it's not quick and easy to swipe on while driving. So, it tends to stay at home in the bathroom where I use it in the evenings or when I'm lounging about. 

One other thing - what are the darn ingredients? I cannot find them online anywhere. It was probably on the box, but I'm terrible about tossing packaging. So, I am curious as to whether it's really as healthy as it seems.

The website also says to use it on cuticles and small burns. I haven't done that yet but will definitely try to remember to!

EOS Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Pomegranate Raspberry - $3

Let's be real... this is more fun than practical. In a normal tube this product would be considered good...average...run of the mill. But put it in a ball and call it a "Smooth Sphere" and you've got yourself a niche-y winner! 

I saw this at my local Target recently and had to snatch it up. I like the smell, though I am not a huge fruity flavor person. It goes on well (somewhat thinner) and lasts a good amount of time. 

I'm really attracted to it being organic, paraben free and sweetened with stevia (as opposed to saccharin or sucralose). 

I also love the shape of it. It's easy to find this "ball" in the bottom of your purse (while driving... I tend to need to moisturize during that daily drudgery). 

I also feel like a little kid every time I apply it. I hope someone is watching, thinking Man, I wish I had her lip balm! Silly... I know. 

Only con is how little it's available in my area. This flavor is the only one I've seen locally. However, I recently found the Sweet Mint EOS at ULTA (which was like a 45 minute drive...). Love it, though!

Whole Foods Market Organic Peppermint Lip Balm - $1.99(!!)

Speaking of mint... For years I've been addicted to Burt's Bees original Beeswax Lip Balm Tube. Who isn't?!? It's $3 on their website, but I'm pretty sure I've seen it higher in stores... a bit on the high side for a boring ol' chapstick, so when I stumbled across this goodie in Whole Foods at the check out stand I grabbed it up. (Kudos to your add-on skills, WFs!) It was LESS than $2 (crazy talk), organic (and a bargain?!?) and it's mint (perfect). 

And in case you didn't know this about me... 

I'M A MINT ADDICT!

I once bought 6 boxes of my favorite mint green tea online because they were discontinuing it. 

The only facial water I can stand is Caudalie's elixir which has what some describe an obnoxious minty smell. (Disagree!)
I also use peppermint essential oils to relieve headaches, add to drinking water, and rub into sore muscles.

I even sniff it! (At least it's that and not Sharpies... though I do think there is something kind of disturbingly good smelling about those...? Right?)

Back to the balm... I once lost this puppy for two days and tore the house up looking for it. My husband said, "Just buy another one..." Are you kidding me? I don't leave a product in the lurch like that - especially my best, brightest and most loyal! Abandonment was not an option; I finally located her; and we've been inseparable ever since.

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Rose - $7
Because I do love all things Burt's, I have to include this goodie. Although the packaging it came in was fun and almost keep-able, the tube itself is not fun or sexy. Good! It's easy to use. I can blindly grab it from my bag, swipe it on without a mirror and toss it back in.
It doesn't feel especially healing or treatment-like, but the pigment is a fun extra to add to an already great lip balm. I like how many color options there are. I've owned two of these, and this shade was the most pigmented on my lips.
Like I said before, I do love me some Burt's original beeswax balm, but the tint makes this my current go - to.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Rose - $22.50

Keeping on the same tint track...
I would definitely consider this a more luxury item. Granted it is only a few bucks more than the Nuxe, but being that it's heavily tinted, it's not as versatile. (ie. Use before bed or under lippies).

It does feel heavenly, and it provides a major pop of color. 

A few dry-shampoo, sock bun Sundays ago I wore it with highlighter, mascara and fuschia blush and got a compliment on how my makeup was "glowing"! I was the best looking hobo in Tennessee... 

It lasts quite a long time, too. 

A pro and con: the packaging. I love that it's a metal tube, it's beautiful and feels really cool. However, I have to twist it up (and back down) every time I use it. And the topper screws onto the tube. So, it's not a one-hander. The downside to the metal part of the equation, I found, is that if it's in your pocket your body heat will be conducted by the metal and melt the balm. Mine is now all kinds of lumpy and melted. When I apply it, the stick pushes over the side. For $22 I would expect it to not be so soft, unless they put it in a pot. Despite the packaging and application issues, it's still a enjoyable "treatment." It smells divine - lemon-y and fresh!

I received it as a Birthday gift from Sephora, so I am not complaining too much. However, I will probably just enjoy it while it lasts and not repurchase. I just might have to resort to a lip brush... and it will be worth it.

Although it's paraban, sulfate, phthalate, etc free, it does score a 7 on EWG's Skin Deep database for a sizeable list of other undesirables. Disappointing! Another reason I won't repurchase but will enjoy in the meantime.

Vermont's Original Bag Balm  Protective Ointment - $9

I included this balm in my January Favourites post. I've had it for years and years. It is probably  the best bang for my buck in this post. Ten ounces for $9!?! Amazing. 

As ranchers were milking cows and applying this to their udders they realized how soft their hands were getting. The rest is history.

I mainly use it on my lips (big ol' blob!) before bed. I also like to put a huge dollop on my feet, then socks and sleep on that for softer tootsies, too. 

I have used it on my cuticles before, but it made my polish bubble up... Twice. Weird! I avoid that now.
Being that you don't really find this in health food stores, I wondered how non-toxic it could be. I was pleased to find it scored a 1 on EWG's Skin Deep database!

Only cons are 1) it will last until I die, so I probably won't ever try anything else again that is similar. I have my eye on some Badger Balm. And 2) it smells a little weird. Just think, cows don't care about fragrance.

What about you lovelies? What lip-savers do you trust your kissers to?

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose

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Beware the Fake Naked 2 Palette!

Heed this my cautionary tale, for I hath been bamboozled*!

That's about as much silliness as I can muster. Back to real English.

How many of you are regular deal hunters? I sure am. I frequent Sharing Spree for those deals pretty often. About a month ago there was a  doozy of a spree for the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette for... Wait. For. It. ... $25! Yes - twenty-five dollars. I was so stoked, because I had already told myself I wouldn't be purchasing any more palettes after the Lorac Pro and Unzipped robbed me of quite a bit of mula recently. But how could I pass up a $50 palette for half off?

You might be a more realistic, logical person thinking, Tara, that's too good to be true. It's probably fake! Well, where in the heck were you?! In my defense, I had no clue that fake UD palettes were a thing, or I would have been paying attention to it. (Or rather no clue that counterfeit makeup was a thing!)

What first clued me in was the shades were terrible! I mean it. I'm no expert, but I have used quite a bit of shadows, and I felt like I was using chalky children's fake makeup... I was thinking, What is the deal with this palette? All these beauty bloggers are insane..." Then I started to notice small details.

Like, the mirror seemed warped, and I could hardly see myself as I used it. The pans containing the shadows are bent. When I looked at pictures online of the brush, the real one's bristles were a different pigment, and the font went the opposite direction of the one I have. Lastly I wondered why the writing/font was already wearing off (see the "U" on the brush?).

On the back of the real one there is a sticker with a batch number. This did not have one.

I also noticed that the palette comes with a lip gloss through Sephora. This one didn't. 

BUM - freaking - MER!!

After sulking and thinking all kinds of negative "what is this world coming to" thoughts I started to google it. I stumbled across The Beauty Belle's story of experiencing a similar problem. She has great photos of comparisons between the two (packaging and swatches).  An even better post regarding this is by Vicky Hoang. She even found more issues than I ever saw. I was really quick to toss my packaging, but there are many discrepancies in that, too!

I reached out to Sharing Spree and the company that sold it - Bella Sweet Boutique. Sharing Spree jumped right on it, refunded my money and is providing a shipping label to send it back. Kudos!

I'm thankful they responded VERY quickly. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Bella Sweet. I see that there is an active deal for the same product on their Seattle page today with over 200 sold. So sad; I hope they both rectify it soon!

Ultimately, I know I got what I paid for. I think what bothers me the most is that we have no idea what ingredients are in the duped palettes. Since ingredients are important to me - and I try to avoid toxins as much as I can - it scares me to think what unregulated crap is probably in these fake 'uns! This article even quotes Interpol as saying counterfeit makeup helps fund terrorism and drug trafficking! Aaaah! It also relays that many tested counterfeits contain arsenic and mercury! So, if you are thinking, "I got it for cheap - might as well use it" please don't.

Now I'm doubting all my Amazon and Ebay purchases for Mac, Elizabeth Arden, etc products. Is it worth a bargain to risk putting arsenic and mercury in your bloodstream?

So, tell me: have you ever been similarly duped? Any of you lovelies own the real Naked 2 and can concur?

*Indicates the author is 99.2% certain it's fake. Obviously there is a chance in hell that it's real and Urban Decay just has some inconsistencies. I'm just saying for all y'all who want to be annoying literal. K?

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January 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag!

Being a newbie beauty blogger I stumbled upon the world of beauty subscriptions a la Ipsy & Birchbox, etc while reading blogs and discussing it on forums. After reading lots of reviews and thoughts I decided to go with Birchbox, but was excited when I found Ipsy... It jumped up even higher on my list when I realized there was no waiting list (like Birchbox).

I've seen pix of Glossybox & Birchbox packaging, and they go all out! But Ipsy takes a minimalist approach with a bright pink bubble package. It's fun and simple! When you pull out all the goodies you won't find tissue paper or anything else other than one simple card with fun graphics and a sweet saying - perfectly pretty for a cork board or picture frame. On the back it lists the discount you'll find on each brand when you log into your account on Ipsy.com.

Gotta itemize it all!

• Pacifica Tuscan Orange Blood Body Butter - 2.5 fl oz - Retail $7
• Martini Nail Laquer in Frappe - Retail around $11-13
• Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil - .17 fl oz - worth about $4 based on Retail of .5 oz
• London SOHO Beauty crease brush - Retail $9
• Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray - 1.5 oz - Retail $12
• Black Ipsy makeup bag with stars on a white background - Priceless? Remember those MC commercials? Ha!

If you add all that business up, we've got an estimated value of about $42 on the low end. That's a great bargain, if you ask me!

I was excited to see the Pacifica body butter in Tuscan Blood Orange fall out of this glam bag. I'm a big fan of buying beauty products at Whole Foods (Whole Body), and I've seen this brand there many times. (I also adore Sephora and know they carry a few fragrances). It smells very fruity and citrus-y. I'm normally not a big fan of fruit scents in my body products but this is a sophisticated, rich smell. The shea & mango butters and chamomile help mute the sweet orange, rounding it all out & taking it from what one remembers as Lipsmackers (90's kids unite!) to L'Occitane. Of course I LOVE love LOVE that there are no parabens, no propylene glycol and no SLS. It's also made in the USA! While writing this post I started with a big dollop and still have silky hands (an hour later) without having ever felt greasy!

The nail Laquer wasn't the most exciting item, but its a good neutral. Here is a swatch with one coat - very sheer with a slight peachy undertone. After learning more about Nailtini I started to get excited. I like to buy Essie polishes (I mean... who doesn't?), because it does not have formaldehyde, and I was excited to learn this brand also prides it self on limiting toxic ingredients! Again, more natural and made in the USA!

Josie Maran's argan oil is actually one of my *Beauty Library* items, so I was stoked to find a mini bottle of it I can now use for travel or to toss in my bag. It's not scented and has a slight natural smell. What's fun is the packaging says it's cold pressed to maintain nutrients AND that the smell changes depending on the batch. So... your smell may not be my smell. :) It has many uses, but I mainly use it after I shave to prevent razor burn. I also use it in my wet hair before drying and as a facial moisturizer. I love that even the mini size has a dropper as part of the topper.

A makeup brush! How can you go wrong with that? I'm a big fan of tools and see them as an investment. I already have a great crease brush from Merle Norman but its not as fluffy (is that a proper MUA word?) as this one. I'm curious to see how well it focuses on the crease. It almost seems big enough to be a blending brush. But it retails $9 usually, so my $10 seems like a great deal!

I've used Big Sexy Hair's root volume spray before and it was so-so, so I'm curious to see how this hairspray works to volumize... I've never had a love affair with any hairspray. (The longest relationship I've ever had is with Rusk W8less, and it's because it smells delightful). We just don't mesh, generally, so we shall see...

I have so many makeup bags! That's perhaps one of my least favorite things about the Ipsy Glam Bags. Maybe if it was cute I would feel differently, but it's solid black on the outside - pretty underwhelming. I read on Sephora's Beauty Talk where someone had the idea to donate them to women's shelters with product you don't want. I just might do that!

So, what do you fellow beauty babes think about this January 2013 Ipsy versus other subscriptions you've received? What do you do with all the bags? Was it worth $10 + shipping? (I think so!...)


If you want an in detail review of one or more of these products let me know so I can write one just for you once I get to use it a good bit.

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