Tag: lipbalm

Budget Lip Balms for Winter

I am always reaching for a lip balm, but this time of the year I seemed to constantly have one at arm’s length. No wonder I fly through them in a jiff. So I always appreciate a good value. These three are my three recent favorite budget buys:

Softlips Cube Lip Protectant: My high school favorite reinvented. This little cube houses a dome of pure goodness. I keep Fresh Mint at my blog desk and Pomegranate Blueberry at my desk desk. They are chic but affordable and keep my lips hydrated but not sticky all day long.

Carmex Lip Balm Jar: I haven’t grabbed this classic in years but there was something that was so appealing about this throwback. And it works just as wonderfully as ever. I know the scent is unique, but if can get on board, this really is a workhorse healer for seriously chapped lips.

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm: These formulas are natural and paraben-free and feature nourishing beeswax. I love all the flavors but Vanilla Bean is especially cozy on winter days. And when I need a perk up, I grab Coconut & Pear for a tropical escape. Wild Cheery is actually clear and will please any lover of fruity scents.

Note: Don’t miss Burt’s Bees’ fun event now featuring original songs on Vine and Twitter – share yours with the tag #UnCapFlavor.

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AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

VenEffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment GIVEAWAY

I hadn’t had a chance to dive into the world of VENeffect skincare, but it certainly has been on my radar since it appeared on counters at Neiman Marcus not too long ago. Now, I’ve been trying their Anti-Aging Lip Treatment for a couple weeks and can totally see getting hooked on the whole line.

VENeffect focuses on the influence of estrogen loss affecting collagen, causing fine lines and wrinkles. The product line uses 100% natural phytoestrogens to enhance collagen and, in turn, improving the appearance of skin. Makes sense that hormones would play a big part in our youthful glow!

The Anti-Aging Lip Treatment targets this approach especially for the lips, softening and plumping. Don’t expect a greasy balm – this is more of a thin cream with a weightless feel. I usually prefer balms, but since this is less of a hydrator and more of an anti-aging treatment, I look at is as a lighter serum for the lips.

I’ve been using the treatment twice a day (and sometimes more often). I do think my lips are softer. The anti-aging ingredients promise to minimize vertical lines and plump and enhance to a “rosy glow”. VENeffect products are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and paraben free.

I’ve teamed up with VENeffects to get three lucky readers a chance to try the Anti-Aging Lip Treatment valued at $85. Enter using the widget below. Sorry, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Five Tips for Holiday Makeup from Neutrogena

Amy Oresman, celebrity makeup artist from Neutrogena, shares some of her tips using for holiday makeup. I’ve been test driving these items too over the past couple of weeks and am also sharing my thoughts on these drugstore buys.

1. During the holidays when you’re running from one event to the next, your makeup can take a beating. To help you look picture perfect, it’s important to start with a good base. The Healthy Skin Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 15 instantly smoothes skin imperfections so makeup applies more evenly and lasts longer.

Editor’s note: I LOVE, I mean love, this primer. It evens skin just on its own while cooling and hydrating. I love the SPF (non-irritating at that). And there is no balling and sliding under makeup.

2. Between parties, shopping and cooking, the holidays can leave many women feeling and looking rundown, often showing up as bags and dark circles under the eyes. Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector is a do-it-all product that not only brightens and conceals but is clinically proven to de-puff and treat dark under eye circles. Formulated with optical eye brighteners, this silky formula instantly boosts radiance and lightens shadows around the eye area, leaving skin looking refreshed and more even-toned, so you’re close-up ready!

Editor’s note: I’ve had one of these in the rotation for a couple months. This is not an illuminator pen – it really conceals with a radiant and moderate-coverage finish. I love using it around my eyes and down the sides of my nose.

3. Often times, the photo flash can make your look washed out. To really make your eyes pop, eyeliner is a girl’s best friend. Nourishing Eyeliner contains a specialized blend of light-reflecting pearls that help make the whites of eyes appear whiter, while the rich color instantly brightens and defines eyes. What’s more, the formula is enriched with skin-conditioning ingredients including olive oil, rainforest shea butter and Vitamin E to help nourish the delicate skin at the base of the lashes.

Editor’s note: This creamy liner is easy to use and especially great for a smudgy look (there is a smudging sponge at the other end). I love the in-cap sharpener and addition of vitamins and conditioners for delicate skin. This sadly doesn’t work on a water-line, but could be great in conjunction with your favorite eye kohl (remember: layering liners makes them stay longer).

4. My must-have accessory for any holiday look is mascara! My personal preference is HEALTHY VOLUME® Mascara because it builds lash volume by 400% with the triple benefits of olive extract, Meadowfoam seed and sweet almond for fuller, more conditioned lashes. The exclusive super sized Visible Volume brush quickly coats and builds every single lash, without clumping, smudging or flaking, resulting in beautifully defined lashes that are conditioned from the inside out.

Editor’s note: This mascara not only conditions and improves your lashes, but boosts volume in a major way. The large brush is my preferred tool and adequately coats each last for more length and fullness. There is no dry, crispy feeling (hate when that happens).

5. No holiday look is complete without the perfect pout to round off the picture perfect look! Every woman wants soft, luxurious lips, but achieving them isn’t always so easy since many products can leave lips feeling dry, especially during the winter months. Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20 is formulated with with ion₂complex™ Technology that offers a surge of moisture and improves lips’ overall appearance. In just one week, this sheer tinted balm is clinically proven to improve the texture of lips while restoring lips’ rosiness.

Editor’s note: It is hard for me to not love a good balm. These did not disappoint They really are hydrating with a fruity flavor. I love “Sheer Shimmer” for an easy translucent lip and “Petal Glow” gives a subtle hint of rose, both leaving my lips super shiny.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm

Self-adjusting makeup items always cause me a little bit of a side eye. As usual, the Dior Lip Glow was met with skepticism. But after a couple weeks of use, I am sold. I’m not sure exactly how this “responds to my color chemistry” but all that matters is I like it. The effect is a slightly pinky nude. The best part is the hydration and sun protection. And that classic fruity scent. Have you guys tried any color adjusting products?

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm is available at Neiman Marcus.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter

This is my current drugstore MVP. Not only is it my favorite drugstore lipstick, but it actually performs just as well as other more expensive lip color products. What distinguishes this price performer is the butter-like balm consistancy.

Lip color looks awful on dry lips. I’m known to just forget the whole lipstick thing in those dry winter months. But I have found that Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter can actually heal dry lips with mango, shea and coconut butter. After the first couple of days of testing these guys, my lips actually looked better – healthy and moisturized.

I’ve found the coverage depends on the shades, but they all have a shiny finish. Of my three favorites, Red Velvet is the most opaque. Strawberry Shortcake is a sheer, frosty pink (perfect for spring). And Creme Brulee is a neutral, sheer peach. There is no scent or taste to these colors. And they don’t last longer than an hour or so. But they feel so good to apply, that I don’t mind.

Prices vary, but they are $7.49 at drugstore.com. And right now (through 3/9), drugstore.com is offering 20% off purchases in their Beauty department. Just click here and use code BEAUTY20.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment

I have an obsession with lip balm and my most recent selection has been my constant companion over the last couple weeks. The miracle of not losing it (as often happens with lip balm) is a testimony to how much I adore this stuff and won’t let it out of my sight.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment is a gentle and soothing lip balm that just happens to repair, nourish, plump, and smooth wrinkles. And it is scientifically proven to work with ingredients like Hyaluronic Spheres (fills and plumps) and sea fennel extract (smooths and defines).

I love the way Fresh packages their lip treatment in a metal case with a screw top. The screw top ensures that you will never lose the cap and risk that nasty debris at the bottom of your purse contaminating your new favorite lip balm.

“You have to treat your lips the same way you treat your eyes. For these delicate areas, you need ingredients that not only correct but also prevent. With this in mind, we blended effective skincare ingredients with sublime textures for nourishing formulas that offer soft, supple, and youthful lips.” —Lev Glazman, Fresh Co-founder