This post contains gifted items.
Until the past year or so, I have never really absolutely needed to use a lip balm, as my lips have never really gotten all that dry. I don't know why this year is different, but at least it has given me the chance to try out some amazing lip care products. I have classics, tinted balms, flavoured balms, treatments and lip products containing SPF. Let's get into it...
Starting with the classic, I always remember when I first went to Orlando back in 1999, and my Mum was on the hunt for some Carmex Lip Balm. She said it was a must-have product and everyone was raving about it, but at the time you could only get it in America. Fast-forward 22 years later, and Carmex is now readily available in the UK, and is one of the top-selling lip balm products on the market. The Carmex Don't Lose Me Pouch* (£5.50 for 7.5g & 20g) contains a pot of the original Carmex Lip Balm formula and the Cherry Carmex Lip Balm. The iconic medicated lip balm contains a Triple Force Formula that helps to protect from cold, wind and dry weather and contains Cocoa Butter to moisturise the lips and Camphor and Menthol to soothe and cool irritated skin. The Cherry Carmex has the exact same formula, but with a yummy Cherry fragrance. You really cannot go wrong with this classic lip balm.
For affordable lip care, I would highly recommend the Essence Lip Care Booster Lip Peeling* (£1.79 for 5g). The formula contains 10% Avocado Oil to care, repair and moisturise chapped lips. Just like with the peeling foot trend, this product also has a peeling effect when used several times, ridding the lips of any dead skin cells and therefore ensuring smooth, supple, fuller lips in no time. The Lip Peeling is nourishing and plumping and has a no-touch stick format so it is completely comfortable and hydrating to wear, with zero stickiness. The balm itself is green, but fear not as that doesn't transfer onto the lips as a colour!
Another product from the Essence Lip Care range is the Essence Lip Care Booster Lip Butter* (£1.99 for 12ml). The Lip Butter comes in a mint green squeezy tube and the has been formulated using 10% Coconut Oil to repair and moisturise chapped lips. As with this and the Lip Peeling, they are both cruelty-free and vegan and the nourishing, plumping butter regenerates damaged lips to ensure they look and feel smoother, softer and fuller. The Lip Butter does have a balm-like texture and even though it contains Coconut Oil, it doesn't leave any oily residue behind on the lips, but it does have a delicious coconut fragrance to it!
If you like a hint of colour with your lip care, then I would highly recommend the Eve Lom Kiss Mix Colour* (£18.00 for 7ml) in Demure. There are other shades available, but I adore this pretty soft pink for everyday occasions. The Kiss Mix is a moisturising, lip plumping and protective treatment that is going to rejuvenate, revitalise and soften the lips. I love the moisturising formula and it keeps my lips feeling hydrated for a couple of days, which means I don't have to keep re-applying the product if I don't want to, so it lasts a good amount of time. The Kiss Mix will helps to protect the lips from extreme weather and its gentle formula is perfect for daily use, and the sweet little pot is super handy to pop in a purse, handbag or pocket.
For a touch of flavour or fragrance with your lip care, I have been loving the Lanolips Lip Water* (£13.00 for 10ml) in the Watermelon scent. I love anything watermelon flavoured or scented, so this is a definite win for me! The Lip Water comes in a squeezy tube but it does have a brush applicator, so you don't have to use your fingertips with this one. This is a weightless gloss that enhances the lips with shimmering colour whilst also providing moisture to the lips. The formula is infused with a host of nourishing ingredients, to combat chapped or dry skin and Hyaluronic Acid to attract water and keep it locked in, providing the lips with a smoother, plumper, healthier look, with a tint of colour and a lot of shine.
The Carmex Naturally Intensely Hydrating Lip Balm* (£3.95 for 4.25g) comes in three different flavours - Berry, Pear and Watermelon. It comes in a traditional twist-up stick form, and has a 93% natural formula that contains hydrating Fruit Seed Oils, sustainably sourced pure Capuacu and Murumuru, along with a dose of Colloidal Oatmeal to help soothe and calm irritated lips. The Balm has a quick-drying formula so you could either wear it on its own or go over the top of it with your favourite lip colour and it is super hydrating and packed full of antioxidants leaving the lips kissably soft, smooth and hydrated. My favourite scents are of course, Watermelon and then Pear! Delicious!
If a multi-use balm is more your thing, then the Lanolips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm* (£8.99 for 10g) is a must-have! There are other fruity flavours available, but yes, you guessed it, here I have Watermelon. Each fruity flavour has its own skincare benefits, but Watermelon in particular is boosted with Vitamin E and Watermelon Fruit Extracts to intensely hydrate the lips. The formula is made with Ultra Medical Grade Lanolin, which resembles and mimics your own skin oils to restore moisture unlike anything else and holds 200% of its weight in moisture. As the Balm is clear, and due to its skin-loving properties, you can of course use this on any other areas of the body that is desperately dry and in need of some tender loving care.
The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow* and Blueberry Bounce* Lip Pops (£19.50 each for 4.2g) are another multi-action lip product that I adore! These fun balms have a scrub-to-balm formula that not only hydrates the lips, but also gently exfoliates them to rid the skin of dead skin cells, so that the lips are altogether more smoother and supple. The Lip Pops have delicious flavours to them, and I cannot stop smelling them! The formula contains intensely hydrating watermelon or blueberry extract as well as watermelon/blueberry and coconut oils to nourish and soften the lips, and Coconut Sugar and Hibiscus-derived AHAs to gently exfoliate the lips to remove dead skin cells for a soft and even finish. The Watermelon Glow gives the lips a pop of pink that is unique to your pH, whilst Blueberry Bounce does the same, but with a unique flush or purple. The Lip Pops are going to be great for travelling with as you're getting a scrub, a balm and a colour all in one!
For something extra special, I would recommend the SkinSense Anti-Ageing Plumping Lip Cream* (£30.00 for 15ml). This lip plumping product comes in a fancy tube with a perfectly-shaped applicator for applying to the lips. This delicate cream helps to plump the lips and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth area. It is designed to not only restore volume and colour in the lips, but also to tackle the stubborn vertical lines around the mouth and thanks to the innovative formula, intensive moisture and softness lasts all day long. To apply, you take a small amount of the product on your ring finger, as this is the finger that applies the least pressure to delicate areas, and gently pat it over the lip area, remembering to take the product over the lip line to tackle small lines around the mouth. As this is definitely more of a treatment product, I prefer to use this on an evening before bedtime as that is when our skin is more receptive to skincare products.
One of my favourite overnight lip treatments is the Kiehl's Buttermask For Lips* (£19.75 for 10g), which comes in a sweet little pot. This Lip Treatment is infused with Fairly Traded Coconut Oil and Wild Mango Butter, making it the perfect formula to soothe, smooth and soften dry lips whilst you sleep. The Buttermask helps to reinforce the lip moisture barrier to visibly refresh the appearance of the lips, nourishing them with intense hydration so that you wake up to super soft lips by morning. To use on an evening, simply apply a generous layer at bedtime, and as our skin works overtime throughout the night, it is the best time for products to be soaked into the skin for a more intensive treatment. You can of course use throughout the day too, if you wish, as a lip primer, by applying onto the lips, leaving on for 15 minutes and then blotting the lips and applying your lip colour.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly night time product, the Catrice Lip Pyjama Night Mask* (£3.95) is an excellent option. It comes in a squeezy tube with a slanted tip for quick and easy application. The intensely nourishing and repairing formula contains calming Lavender Oil, Hyaluronic Gel, hydrating Shea Butter and invigorating Cranberry Extract to provide a deeply soothing and nourishing effect on the lips. As the name suggests, this is a night time treatment, and so you apply it before going to bed and let its formula work its magic whilst you sleep, so that you wake up to softer, smoother lips. Another appealing aspect of the Lip Pyjama Mask is that it contains a soft and relaxing Lavender scent, along with Melatonin to ensure a relaxing, peaceful night's sleep.
I always apply sun protection every single morning, no matter the weather and no matter where I am going, because UV rays can damage our skin and speed up the ageing process, and that is not something I want! The Ultrasun Lip Protection SPF30* (£8.00 for 4.8g) comes in a traditional twist-up tube and so is perfect to pop in a pocket, a handbag or a purse for on the go access and helps to shield and protect the lips from cracking and damage caused by UV rays. The formula is infused with Blackcurrant Seed Oil and rich in Omega 3 and 6 giving the lips some mighty intense hydration at the same time. The Lip Protection is also available in SPF50, and has a non-greasy formula so you can apply a lip colour over the top of it, and as it is fragrance-free and colour-free, both men and women can use it. I especially like to take one of these on holiday with me, as my lips always dry out in warmer climates.
For a lip product that has both SPF and a little fun when it comes to flavours, be sure to check out the Bondi Sands Lip Balm with SPF50+ (£5.00 for 10g). There are other flavours available, but this time I opted for Wild Strawberry, which smells delicious! The Lip Balm comes in a handy, squeezy tube with a slanted applicator and the formula is ultra-hydrating whilst giving your lips SPF50 protection against sun damage, whilst also nourishing and softening the lips. This does have more of a thicker texture, a little like Carmex, and so I would recommend wearing this on its own rather than underneath a lip colour. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free and reef safe, meaning that you can wear it in the water without it causing damage to the local reef and wildlife living there.
All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx
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