Browsing Tag

Lip Treatment

Clarins Lips Skincare

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils

May 31, 2016

 

Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils ($25 each for 1 ml/0.1 oz) are among the most hydrating lip treatments I’ve tried and all three shades have made a come back this year. They launched a year ago in three shades which are still available today. I reviewed Honey before in this post, today I have a review on all three options: Honey, Raspberry and Red Berry. (Also shown above Lumira Darsana c/o previously reviewed here, Kate Spade All in Good Taste, Garance Dore Love, Style, Life). The Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils are lip treatments with a very slight tint and scent. They are like cushions for the lips with a gel-like oil formula that isn’t sticky but has a high gloss shine. For me the word “oil” in the name had me worried these would be thin, runny or goopy. They are emollient and have an oil feel but they do not slide around and stay put once applied. Clarins calls these plant-based which has ingredients to soothe and protect the lips. I really liked Honey because it gives instant relief to dry lips. Lasting power is very good and stays put for several hours before you need to reapply.

 

The two other shades Raspberry and Red Berry have a pink and red tint. The color is very sheer, almost transparent on my lips. In real life I can tell there’s a slight difference between the three, although I think the effect is almost identical – so if you’re looking for a lip treatment + color, these will barely have any color payoff in which case I would recommend you opt for the Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors (swatched here) or the Instant Light Lip Natural Lip Perfectors (new shades out now, review soon) or the Shimmer Shades for Summer (review soon).

I’ve mentioned in other posts I have high sensitivity to scented lip products, especially when it comes to added fruity or vanilla scents. Glossier Cherry is a no go for me although I do love the other options. Raspberry and Red Berry are noticeably sweeter than Honey. If you have a very sensitive nose and do not like berry scented lip products you may find them too strong. I personally found them both to be strong upon application but gave both a thorough test to see how the scent played out. Raspberry is the more wearable option scent-wise for me. The scent softens and fades shortly after application and about 5-10 minutes after I applied it I no longer noticed there was a scent. The scent of Red Berry seemed to linger a bit longer. I personally prefer the way Raspberry smells. With all three I didn’t detect any noticeable taste.

A closer look at the packaging and applicators. If you’re one who is concerned with oils and the possibility of them leaking – note these are very well packaged. The cap twists on tightly and in the time I had my original Honey I never had any leaking issues (I did with some of the YSL lip oils) – just make sure you twist on the cap all the way. That being said I would avoid putting these in the car or anywhere there will be a lot of heat. I’ve had sunscreen oils that are well packaged that I accidentally left in the car and the heat melted the oil to a consistency that it leaked through the tops.

 

 

 

Swatches:

 

As shown below, all three pretty much look the same on my bare lips. If you look closely you may be able to tell that Red Berry has more of a red tint than the others. All three have a really nice cushiony feel that hugs the lips nicely.

Thumbs up for the formula. If you’re looking for a no fuss lip treatment that you can easily carry with you and apply these are worth checking out as long as color payoff in a lip treatment isn’t important to you. You can definitely add these on top of lipstick for added shine however if you mix the applicators with your lipstick – they are bound to get messy and color transfer will happen in which case you may want to use a lip brush or fingers. Or sometimes I’ll apply a lip treatment first then take a clean finger and dab it into my lipstick then dab the lips for a bit of color/stain on top.

Since all three colors are sheer I wouldn’t call them a must to have all three. However if you like variety and love the formula there’s no harm in buying multiples of what you love to have one for your desk, one for your handbag etc.

You can find the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oils at all Clarins counters now. They retail for $25 each. Online at Clarins, Nordstrom, Sephora, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Harrods and Selfridges.

Have you tried these yet? Do you have a current favorite lip treatment?

 

Clarins Lip Oils provided courtesy of Clarins for review consideration.

 

Glossier

Glossier Balm Dotcom Universal Skin Salves in Rose, Cherry, Mint and Coconut Flavors

May 17, 2016

 

Glossier just launched three new flavors of their Balm Dotcom Universal Skin Salve ($12 each for .5 fl oz/15 ml) in Rose, Mint and Cherry and they are super cute. Everything from the pink plastic pouch, design on the boxes and color block design of the tubes screams fun. I’ve been a fan of the Coconut one and liked it enough to repurchased it (and ordered multiples as gifts for friends) so when I heard there were more launching I knew I had to try them. (Use this referral link to save 10% off your first order.)
  • Mint is a clear shade that has a very nice mint flavor and scent. I find mint hit or miss – yes it can be refreshing and cooling, but some scents or flavors are ones I don’t want to wear. Mint is one that can have a toothpaste vibe which I like for toothpaste, but not to wear. Luckily the Glossier Mint is one of the good variations.
  • Rose has a soft rose scent that isn’t overpowering and isn’t overly sweet. This one has a soft pink tint but after a few minutes it basically looks clear. It feels smooth and lush on the lips.
  • Cherry smells exactly like a candied cherry and has a cool-red-pink tint that shows up on the lips like a soft stain. I personally do not like cherry at all (I won’t eat anything with cherries or cherry-flavored) so this one is a no-go for me. I’m not sure if it’s my aversion to cherries that affected my opinion on this one but I felt this one to be on the thick side – and not in a good way.
  • Coconut is one I reviewed when it launched last year. It sold out quickly and was out of stock on their website for months. I thought it was a limited offer and would never come back but I’m glad that it did. If you compare the old post to this one and look closely you may notice they changed the packaging slightly. Now there is a longer tube with more product but the overall design is pretty much the same.
Formula-wise these are described as universal skin salves that you can use on lips, face, cuticles – basically anywhere you have dryness. These have a medium to thick texture that I prefer to use on the lips or cuticles only (I haven’t been brave enough to test on the face). They add moisture to my lips and because the flavors are fun (cherry excluded) I don’t mind reapplying.

 

A quick look at the packaging and swatches:

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

 

If you’re one who doesn’t like reapplying product or if you want something more intense, I do think the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Masks are better – but the ingredients, concept, packaging and purpose is completely different. The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Masks are designed to be a leave-on lip mask and they don’t have any petroleum (while the Glossier products do). They are also more than two times the price (but I don’t mind). Below a look at Champagne and Smashed reswatched on the lips.
After I reviewed Coconut last year, a few of my friends asked me, “it looks cute but do you think it’s worth the price?” These are friends who are ok with a higher price tag for foundation, concealer, powder and some skincare, but for lip balms they are type who won’t spend more than $5 and will always go for what they can find at the drugstore because according to their assessment of the ingredients, they say “they’re exactly the same.”
I do think these are worth it. I love the packaging, the marketing and the cute zipped pink pouch they come inside. When you order these from Glossier the box it’s shipped in is also very cute, but I have a lot of appreciation for little fun touches. Things like a simple printed interior of the box with fun branding and cute sayings, adorable stickers (even though I won’t ever use them, I gift them away) and extra touches on the actual product boxes all get me excited. Even though the boxes are a throw away kind of thing, I still like them. If you’re budget conscious and also ingredient conscious (or perhaps as some may say more practical and less frivolous) then stick with your staples and what you love.

 

 

 

 

 

I really like the new launches, but my heart still belongs to Coconut because it’s like summer fun in a tube. Out of the new ones, I was surprised to find I really liked Mint because I’m really not a fan of mint-flavored beauty products. Rose is also really lovely. Cherry is a no-go for me but that’s primarily because I don’t like cherry anything (lemon or blueberry would also have been a no-go for me).

 

You can find the Glossier Balm Dotcoms in four flavors, Coconut, Rose, Mint and Cherry for $12 each. Right now they have a Trio Set for $30 (with Rose Coconut + Mint) which I believe is a limited-edition offer. If you click this referral link here you can save 10% off your first order. At this time I believe the only place you can buy these is directly on the Glossier website.

 

When I ordered these, there was a website glitch for the trio sets and they sent more than I ordered. Apparently it happened to more than one person and the Glossier team sent out a nice note saying we could keep our extras for ourselves or for friends. I’m giving away three sets + the coconut flavor and you can enter in the widget below. Details are as follows:
  • 3 distinct winners will be selected at random to win 1 pack of flavored balm dotcoms (coconut, rose, mint and cherry and pink pouch will be included!)
  • open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter
  • enter through widget below (comments to the blog post are welcome but will not be considered valid entries)
  • entries will be collected through May 21st, 11:45 PM PST
  • winners will be selected via widget the following week after giveaway ends and contacted by me directly, names will be announced on widget in this post
  • prizes will be mailed out by May 28th to the 3 selected winners
  • please refer to all terms and conditions in the widget for more details

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

 

Barneys New York By Terry

By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur New Shades in Coral Stellar 7 and Mauve Moon 8

March 2, 2016

I made a quick stop to Barneys a couple weekends ago and picked up up the two new By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs in Coral Stellar 7 and Mauve Moon 8 ($56 each for 7g/0.24 oz). I intended to take a quick peek, but it was love at first swatch for both shades and I could not resist the smooth lush texture and pretty colors that made me go “ooooohhh.” According to my rep at the counter, Mauve Moon is a limited-edition shade, but she wasn’t sure about Coral Stellar. She suggested I wait for the Love Yourself Beauty Gift Event coming up just around the corner (starts March 8, details soon), but I decided to go for it and am beyond thrilled with both. Each shade comes with a steep price tag, but the formula does not disappoint. I’ve reviewed and featured a number of other colors before which I will link at the bottom of this post. These are very expensive for a tinted lip balm. Anything over the $40 mark for lip products in general is pretty hard for me to justify, but there are a few brands where I’m willing to splurge and By Terry is one of them. The formula, colors and texture make it worth the splurge to me.

Coral Stellar is a stunning soft iridescent peach and Mauve Moon is a unique lilac color that flashes violet, pink and blue. By Terry now has eight shades of her tinted lip treatment, these are the first ones that have any shimmer in them. The shimmer is luminous and glowy and not frosted.

The texture is smooth and creamy with a lush thick finish. They glide on the lips and have the signature By Terry rose scent. The formula does have some added skincare elements designed to nourish, smooth and help regenerate the lip. It’s also described as having Shea Butter, Essential Rose Wax, Vitamin E, Filling Spheres. I’ve used a number of lip balms and treatments (most recent lipbalm roundup here). The By Terry is one of the most lush formulas I’ve tried. For tinted balms, hers are among the best. A closer look at both shades with swatches at different angles to show the luminous glow these have:

Coral Stellar is a lush peachy shimmer. It has a deeper brighter orange base which makes it look bright, but it has a pretty soft shimmer to it which lightens the color and gives the lips the most luscious soft peachy glow. It is on the sheer side but it’s not so sheer that it’s invisible on my pigmented lips. If you love the color and aren’t focused so much on the treatment aspect, I’ve swatched a few gloss colors that I think have a similar effect.

Mauve Moon is a stunning violet lilac shimmer. It’s a color I’ve always been obsessed with for lips. If you used Trish McEvoy in the 90’s or early 2000’s you might remember she had a gloss called Lilac. It was a straight up soft purple in the tube but on the lips it was the prettiest soft cool pink ever. This reminds me of the color.

Not sure if you can tell the difference between the two swatches on your screen, but the first one is swatched sheered out a bit. It has a soft pinky lilac glow.

Here it is a little heavier where the blue undertones are more visible.

Some swatch comparisons below to some similar colors:

Featured above from left to right:
  • MAC Cremesheen Glass in Imperial Light
  • Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer in Uproar (swatched here)
    MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar
  • Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer in Pink Steam (swatched here)
  • MAC Lipglass in Cultured
  • Buxom Full-On Lip Creme in Purple Haze (lip swatches here)

One last look (on the nails RMS Luminizer):

Both are stunning colors and I’m smitten with both shades. The pots have a pretty decent amount of product which will make these last a long time. I think they are both worth checking out although the high price tags will put these into the luxurious treat category versus a must-have. There are a couple events you might want to look into if you have these on your list. Barneys New York Love Yourself Event happens 3/8 to 3/12 (details soon). Space NK Discover promotion starts tomorrow on 3/3 thru 3/9 where you can save $20 off orders $100+ online with code EXPLORE16 at checkout.

Other By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur swatches linked below:
Rosy Babe and Mandarina Pulp here and here
Cherry Bomb here and here
Bloom Berry, Fig Fiction and Toffee Cream here
You can find both Coral Stellar and Mauve Moon at Barneys New York, Beautylish and Space NK.
Uncategorized

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Lip Balms in Pink, Coral and Lilac

January 8, 2016

This spring Dior has launched a new shade of their Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Lip Balm in Lilac ($33, limited-edition). These are balms that have a transparent quality and a slight tint but once applied on the lips, the formula reacts to your lip chemistry to create a glow that is unique to you. Many of these transforming lip glow products tend to turn fuchsia on my lips. The original Pink 001 color is one of those – it turns into a lovely flushed pink within a few minutes but as time goes on it turns into a bright pink that stains my lips with an un-natural pink. I personally love the formula, texture and feel, but Coral 002 reacts better with my body chemistry (or face chemistry) to give a better natural glow. Lilac 005 is the latest addition for spring and it’s absolutely perfect. It applies like a flushed soft pink that has slight cool undertones.

These will look different on everyone, but I thought I’d share swatches anyways since many of you have been curious about the new Lilac shade. Below is a look at the three lip glows, Pink 001, Coral 004 and Lilac 005. All three have the same smooth balmy feel. They are unscented and glide on the lips with a moisturizing glossy feel. The finish is semi-thick, not as thick or balmy as the Creme de Rose Lip Balm (reviewed here), but just as moisturizing in my experience.

A quick note on the pink one – I don’t recommend you expose it to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. The direct sun will fade the color and remove any color transforming properties. I had to cut off the tip that was exposed because after a few minutes of being in the sun it turned clear. The other two colors seem unaffected by direct sunlight.

Below, a look at the labels/colors. I’m sure there were Lip Glows in 002 and 003 released in previous seasons, but they were never on my radar, so I’m not sure what colors they were:

Another look at the balm colors:

Swatched on my lips, along with a shot of my bare lips. All the Lip Glows were photographed after having been applied for at least 5 minutes to make sure the color transformed. Do note these will look different on everyone because they are designed to react to your own body chemistry. On one of my friends who has the same skintone as me (just slightly more pink) the Coral turns more of a bright pinky peachy on her, while on me it’s distinctly coral. I didn’t swatch on the arms because they pretty much look clear on the arm.

On the nails, Louboutin Miss Loubi

Dior Addict Lip Glow Coral had been my favorite one for the color until Lilac arrived. In terms of pink transforming lip tints, the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in Pink 3 and IPKN Twinkle Lips in Pink Glow far surpass the Dior Addict Lip Glow in Pink in my experience – both transform my lips into a really pretty natural pink glow without making them look fuschia or stained. Also both have a thinner finish that is more weightless while the Dior is more hydrating/thicker.
I highly recommend you check out the new Lilac Lip Glow – it’s limited-edition and so pretty. It’s such a lovely way to add a natural tint of color to the lips.
You can find the Dior Addict Lip Glow in Pink and Coral at all Dior counters. The Lilac is listed as limited-edition for now, but in past seasons the Coral shade was a limited-edition color that sold out almost instantly and after a while they brought it back. With the whole limited-edition factor, sometimes you just never really know how long something will be around. Some items have received such a positive response brands have brought items back. In this situation I’d recommend you buy sooner than later just in case. It’s that good I think it’s a must-have.
The Dior Addict Lip Glow in Lilac should be available at most counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dior.com.
Laura Mercier

A Few New Discoveries from Laura Mercier

December 22, 2015

Several of you have asked for swatches and more thoughts on the Laura Mercier In The Glow Trio ($38, featured here). Unfortunately by this time it has sold out everywhere but I thought I’d share swatches anyways along with a review of other recent discoveries from the line. I’ve had the Lip Glacé ($25) in Rose Gold Accent on my radar for months. I was hesitant about the sparkle but decided to cave and buy it and I’m glad I did. The Lip Parfait Creamy Colorbalms ($25) launched earlier this year. I fell in love with the creamy formula and wanted so badly for Amaretto Swirl to work for me – alas I found it too pale for my pigmented lips and decided to opt for Cinn-ful instead. Last but not least, I’ve been playing around with some skincare. I’m one who likes the soothing calming effects of skincare with rose, but my super sensitive nose makes it hard for me to wear rose-scented products sometimes. The Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose ($24-$68, or $110 for the trio set) items are really good for dry winter skin but are super gentle on the fragrance.

Up first is the sold-out In the Glow Trio Set. It had mini sizes of the Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Highlight 01 (0.06 oz.), Bonne Mine Stick Face Colour in Peach Glow (0.12 oz.) and a Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rosegold (0.03 oz.). You can buy all the items in the full-size version. I had been wanting to try both of the face products and thought this would be a good starter set to test out the items without splurging on the full size. For my medium-olive toned skin, I found both the cheek products very natural on me. 

Bonne Mine Stick Face Colour in Peach Glow gives a very natural peachy glow. Because it’s a close match to my skintone, it gives a barely there glow. It’s a lovely natural cream blush but I suspect it would be more visible on fairer skintones.

The Matte Radiance Powder seems like a contradiction with the both of the words matte and radiant in the same name. On my arm it swatches like a shimmery pale champagne. On my face it translates into more of a matte finishing glow. Long-time readers know I am beyond obsessed with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light (it’s my holy grail powder highlighter). The Laura Mercier Highlight 01 Powder by comparison swatches paler on the arms, but applies on the face sheerer and less glowy. I’m probably not fair enough to be able to use it to set my entire face, but it does act more like a soft finishing powder on me.

Rosegold Caviar Eye Color Stick is a no-fuss easy to wear kind of lid color. I use it regularly (at least 2 times every week) as a base or a quick swipe-and-go kind of color. Here’s an eye look with three of the colors including Rosegold in this post here.

I’m glad I was able to test the 2 face products, I will use them to the end. However I prefer the darker Matte Radiance Powders as they show up better on my skin and add life and a very natural contour. The Bonne Mine Cheek Stick is lovely, but also too light for my medium-olive skin to show up other than having a natural glow. That being said it makes for a good base under powder blushes or bronzers.

Up next are the two lip products I picked up: Lip Parfait Creamy Colorbalm in Cinn-ful and Lip Glacé in Rose Gold Accent.

The Lip Parfait Creamy Colorbalm in Cinn-ful is a super creamy lush brown cinnamon color. On me it’s a darker/warmer your lips but better kind of shade. Amaretto Swirl looks like the most wonderful nude and it is – just on me it was too pale. I suspect I could make it work with liner, but I picked up Cinn-ful to test out the formula. It’s one of the creamiest lip balms I’ve tried and even though it’s a balm, pigment and color payoff is quite impressive. Most tinted balms are sheer to medium in color. This one acts more like a lipstick in terms of finish.

The Lip Glacé in Rose Gold Accent is part of the Candleglow Collection. I had my eye on the Candleglow Palette but after seeing it in stores I decided to pass. The colors, shimmer and pigment are all excellent – it still very tempting, but I found the pans of the top four colors too small to justify the splurge. Rose Gold Accent is a sparkling gloss with a baby pink base. It’s basically clear with loads of shimmer on the lips but I like that it makes the lips look full and healthy without being too glitzy. It’s been a while since I backed-up a lip gloss, I may back up this one.

Last but not least is the Infusion de Rose Nourishing Skincare Line. There are three items in the collection which are available in a limited-edition Infusion de Rose Nourishing Collection set for $110 (it’s a $44 savings). I am smitten with all three items, I think they are particularly good for winter weather right now. The rose soothes and hydrates the skin and makes it feel super smooth. I can’t emphasize enough how thrilled I am that the rose scent is very soft and barely there. Some rose-scented creams are so strong I can’t wear them at night because it prevents me from falling asleep. The ones from Laura Mercier are soft enough that it doesn’t bother me.

You can buy all the items separately which includes:

  • Flawless Skin Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil (1 oz.) is a super lightweight nourishing oil. It conditions the skin and leaves it glowing. I normally wear beauty face oils on weekends (no makeup days) or at night as I find many interfere with the lasting power of foundation. This one worked really well for me under foundation.
  • Infusion de Rose Nourishing Creme (1 oz.) is a smooth feeling cream. It’s emollient and super hydrating. I will say that it is on the emollient side but it doesn’t feel super heavy and absorbs nicely into the skin. A little goes a long way, I really like that it has a smooth lightweight texture.
  • Infusion de Rose Nourishing Lip Balm (0.4 oz.) is a new lip balm. It’s super hydrating and makes the lips feel soft and moisturized. Review in my lip balm roundup here. Right now it’s exclusive to Laura Mercier’s website (if you want to buy it separately). I suspect it will launch at other retailers soon.
I think it’s a winning skincare set. I’ve been testing the items for a full month now and can say they have been really good for dry winter weather but still gentle enough for my normal/combination skin.

I hope you found this mini review helpful. I think the Rose Gold Accent Lip Glace is a winner, even though I usually don’t like super sparkly lip glosses, it’s really pretty on. The Infusion de Rose Skincare collection was a pleasant surprise because I ended up liking the entire collection. I was really lucky to receive the In the Glow Trio as a press sample, but after testing it – I can’t say that I’ve discovered any new must-haves. The only must-have in the set for me is the Rosegold Caviar Eye Stick (and I already own the full size). Still sets are a nice way to test something at a cheaper price before committing to the full size.

Do you have any new Laura Mercier favorites? I just saw the Candleglow Foundation popped up online at Sephora. This upcoming month is going to be the season of new foundations and I can’t wait to test them!

You can find Laura Mercier at a number of different retailers. Online at Laura Mercier, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales.
Note if you’re shopping for last minute gifts, many are offering expedited shipping upgrades with qualifying purchases. The best one I’ve seen is Nordstrom is offering expedited free shipping until noon EST by December 23rd on qualifying items, each item has an indicator, no min-purchase needed.
Press samples featured include the In the Glow Trio and Infusion de Rose Set.
Uncategorized

Lip Balm Testing and Recommendations for Winter Weather

December 14, 2015
Winter Lip Treatments Balms

Above: Tray from J.Crew (similar here and here), Clare V Wallet Clutch, Celine Knot Bracelet, Gorjana Crossover Cuff

I’ve been testing a number of new-to-me lip treatments, balms and oils since late fall. I did a roundup of rosy red tinted lip treatments for holiday last month, but it’s been a year since I rounded up what I’ve been testing and loving in the non-tinted version. Today after weeks and weeks of testing, I have thoughts on 16 different lip balms in multiple formulas to share today. I’ve split the lip balms into three categories: the pots, the tubes, and the squeeze tubes.

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Potted Lip Treatments

Fresh Dior Chanel Tatcha Nuxe Lip Balms

Some of my favorite lip balms formulas are in pot format even though I prefer the tube or stick version so I don’t have to stick my finger in. I’ve raved about the By Terry Baume de Rose so many times I thought I’d round up some others I’ve been testing.
  • Fresh Sugar Nourishing Lip Balm Advanced Therapy ($30) – I had high hopes for this one as I really like the stick sugar lip balms but find they can get soft and be prone to breakage. One in pot format seemed more ideal for a soft formula, but this one is actually harder in texture. I had to take a lip brush to break the surface and get enough product for my lips. With just fingers I could barely get anything on and the result was a barely-there veil of moisture. If you dip into the surface and dig out enough of the product to layer on the lips, it makes the lips feel moisturized, smooth, slightly minty and cool but without the tingle. Unfortunately it doesn’t give the lips a long-lasting moisturized feel. I would say the effects are immediate and temporary for fall to winter weather. It would be better suited for warm weather.
  • Nuxe Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm Rêve de Miel ($19) – This is one I bought in the limited-edition packaging, but the formula is the same as the regular pots with the white caps. This is an ultra creamy highly concentrated rich balm that smells like honey and grapefruit. I find it on the thick side of creamy so it really coats the lips with a cushion of moisture. It stays put and doesn’t slide around. It comes in a hefty glass jar. The scent is very natural and barely has any taste. I like this one for an ultra rich and creamy treatment.
  • Chanel Hydra Beauty Nourishing Lip Care ($50) This is one I used up and repurchased. I go back and forth with this one, mainly because it comes with a very high price tag. It’s smooth and lightweight in feel but does moisturize the lips. If you read my post from last year I said I would probably use it to the end but not repurchase (well I ended up repurchasing). It’s a good basic lip balm that works for me, but I think others like the Nuxe or the Clarins Lip Oils have a deeper more moisturizing treatment and more affordable.
  • Dior Crème de Rose ($28) – This has been on my radar for years and I finally bought it and tried it this year. It’s super smooth and creamy without the greasy feel. It has the most lush rose scent, similar to By Terry but slightly less floral/sharp which makes it easier for those with sensitive noses. It’s very hydrating and the effects truly make a difference in the moisture of the lips.
  • Tatcha Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm ($36, also in the Travel Kit and several other holiday sets) This is an extra special lip balm. It’s such a unique formula. The base is a clear jelly-like balm that smells refreshingly sweet. It’s dewy and adds the perfect amount of moisture to the lips and feels lightweight. It’s topped with a thin layer of 24-karat gold leaf that gives it an ultra luxe look. It’s a winner and I really can’t imagine life without it.

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Lip Balms in Squeeze Tubes

Amore Pacific Laura Mercier Lip Balm L'Occitane First Aid Beauty Bite Beauty Malin+Goetz

Squeeze tubes are the best format for lip balms in my opinion. They’re compact, easy to use and don’t require fingers. Many come with angled applicators which makes it easier to apply these days. A few new ones along with tried-and-true favs:

  • Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment ($35) This is something I tried because so many of my readers raved about AmorePacific. This is a tiny tube of balm but the formula is excellent. It offers instant relief to super dry lips. There were a few days my lips were painfully dry and this helped restore them to their natural state. I would say that it’s almost entirely scent and taste-free. I can’t detect any scent but it’s possible there’s a slight natural scent to it. Out of all the tubes, this is in my top 3.
  • Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Lip Balm ($24 or in the Rose Infusion Set* for $110) This is a new launch from Laura Mercier. It was first exclusive to the Rose Infusion Set, but you can purchase it separately now at Laura Mercier. It’s a nourishing lip balm that smells like soft roses. It has Rosehip Seed, Kukui, and Macadamia Seed Oils helps soothe and comfort lips – I really like the way this feels on the lips. There is a slight floral taste to it – it’s not bad or too strong, but definitely noticeable. I really like the way it hydrates the lips.
  • L’Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm * ($25, from the Hugs and Kisses Set) is one of the most gentle lip treatments for super sensitive skin that’s still hydrating. Since it’s lightweight the lasting power isn’t as long as some other treatments, but it still does the job at adding moisture and soothing the lips. Many lip treatments make my lips go numb (like Kiehl’s and almost all the drugstore brands), whenever I’m in doubt I go with L’Occitane.
  • L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Pamplemousse Rhubarb Lip Balm ($25 from the Voyage Trio Set) is part of the Pierre Hermé Collaboration. It has the most delicious grapefruit scent to it and adds a tiny bit of moisture. As a quick fix it’s good, but the formula is pretty light in terms of moisture and texture. If you don’t mind reapplying the scent is heavenly, but if you’re looking for a deep treatment, you may want to pass.
  • First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy* ($12, or in the FAB to the Rescue Sampler Set $32 and Freshen Up Duo $15) This is a life-saver for dry lips. It’s got a minty scent which I’m not the biggest fan of, but it’s a pleasant mint. It’s super smooth and emollient and has just the right texture of creaminess to it. It gives the lips instant relief and really helps with dry lips.
  • Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne ($26, swatched here, Smashed swatched here) is a tinted treatment, but it’s pretty much clear. This is one of the best lip treatments I’ve tried. It’s super plush and hydrating. I use it on no-makeup days and it fixes dry lips like magic.
  • Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm ($12) is a long-time favorite. There are two formulas of lip balm, both are equally good. I think the Mojito one is fun because it’s scented in a fun mojito flavor. It has a clear almost gel-like consistency. I like the way this feels on the lips the best out of all the lip balms. It’s moisturizing and you can feel it, but it’s not heavy or greasy.

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Twist Up Sticks and Oils

lip oil clarins hourglass nuxe lip balm caudalie lip balm

Last but not least, a few others in oil and stick format:

  • Clarins Instant Light Lip Confort Oil in Honey* ($24) Lip Oils were really popular this time last year. I tried a few different brands and found I didn’t really like the concept of oils because many just felt too runny and thin. The Clarins is phenomenal though. It does offer instant comfort and a natural shine. Honey is pretty much clear on the lips but it has a thickness to it which prevents it from feeling like it will slip off your lips. Cafe Makeup did a review on the pink version. I think her thoughts and review are excellent.
  • Hourglass No. 28 Tinted Lip Treatment Oil in Icon* ($42, review here) is also tinted. I’ve tried both the original clear and tinted version. Both have a really good nourishing formula I find unique and extremely hydrating. The red one is fun for holiday and pretty sheer/natural so if you’re a neutral lip lover like me, it’s definitely wearable. It’s one of the deeper treatments I’ve tried for lips – it has a press pump to dispense product. I think it’s definitely worth the splurge.
  • Nuxe Lip Moisturizing Stick Rêve de Miel ($9) is something I’ve loved and used up. The stick for right now is probably too light in the sense that it doesn’t give me enough moisture. If you’re a Reve de Miel fan, go for the pot instead.
  • Caudalie Lip Conditioner ($12, also in this Winter Favorites Set or Winter Duo) this is my favorite twist up tube balm. It has a really nice fruity fresh scent and taste to it. It glides on the lips easily. It hydrates my lips nicely. I used up the tube from last year’s post and repurchased it in one of the duos.

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If you’re looking for a new lip treatment I hope this roundup helps give you some ideas of what to try. My bottom line:

Top Formula Picks for Fall/Winter Weather

Most hydrating formulas:

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment
Bite Agave Lip Mask (any of the colors)
Dior Creme de Rose
Nuxe Rêve de Miel (pot)
Clarins Lip Oil

Best for everyday, lightweight but still moisturizing:

Caudalie Lip Conditioner
Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm
Tatcha Camellia Lip Balm

Best in luxury:

Hourglass Lip Oils

Ones I’d pass on if I could do it over:

L’Occitane Pierre Herme Pamplemousse Rhubarb – nice but not hydrating enough
Fresh Sugar Nourshing Lip Care – just not what I expected

As always, I’d love to hear about your favorites! If you have any tried and true – please share in the comments. 

Some press samples included in this post indicated with a * from L’Occitane, Tatcha, First Aid Beauty, Hourglass, Clarins.
Fragrance

L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe for Holiday 2015

December 5, 2015

This holiday L’Occitane and Pierre Hermé teamed up to launch an exquisite collection of the most delicious smelling products for lips, hands and body. Both brands have a special place in my heart. I’ve been a long-time L’Occitane fan and this past summer I was able to try Pierre Hermé macarons for the first time when I visited Paris (they are truly out of this world). A partnership between the two brands is heaven sent and I have fallen head over heels in love with both fragrances launched for holiday in Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe. Today I have a review on both fragrances along with a few of the gift set options. Do note some of the online sets are online exclusives, also different countries have slight variations in the options and packaging.

Out of the two it’s hard to pick a favorite. I initially thought I would
favor the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe because I love grapefruit scents. The
Pamplemousse Rhubarbe is a sweet grapefruit but there’s some cedar mixed
in to balance it and round it out so it’s not quite as sharp as a
regular citrus. The rhubarb adds more warmth to it. Everything is so beautifully packaged and colorful.

According to L’Occitane: “When Pierre Hermé places Grapefruit at the heart of a creation, he means to celebrate all its facets. And that includes the slightly bitter, white inner skin – its character underlined by the green and crisp aromas of Rhubarb. This beautifully balanced note is soon ruffled at its heart by sensual, piquant spices. In this original composition, woody notes of Cedar conjure up the sensation of mischievous Grapefruit cutting through the tartness of Rhubarb stalks.”

The items in the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe collection include:

The perfume is really pretty. It’s sweet but not too sweet.  Lasting power is pretty good on me. With three spritzes I find it lasts from early morning until around 3:00 pm before it’s completely faded. Layering the lotion helps extend the scent. The lotions are lightweight and absorb quickly into the skin and hydrate the skin nicely. The shower gel lathers up well in the bath or shower although I find the shower gels aren’t quite as strong in scent as the lotion/perfume. All the body and hand items are identical in scent. The Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Lip Balm is clear and lightweight. It hydrates the lips nicely. Online it’s only available in a couple of sets. I haven’t checked to see if it’s available alone in stores (if you’ve spotted it please share in the comments). The hand creams of course are incredible and not to be missed.

The Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli is actually my favorite of the two options which surprised me because Jasmin is one of those scents I like for the home but don’t usually like to wear. The mix of jasmin, immortelle flower, citrus of neroli make for me the most interesting combination. The scent is very soothing and feminine. According to L’occitane this one is described as “luminous, angelic, sensual…” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s so beautiful I am doing something I have only done once before, I am backing up the perfume.

Per L’Occitane, “Floral and absolutely feminine, the jasmine scented fragrance of pastry chef Pierre Hermé balances the white notes of gardens at dawn with the gold of a flower that still flourishes throughout the Corsican maquis. Sparkling head notes bring an unexpected sensation. In one deep breath, Lemon and Petit grain tantalize the palate as they come into contact with Pink Pepper and offer up a breeze of fresh air. The exhilarating heart of this bouquet blends the floral note of Jasmine and the softness of Orange Blossom with the wild, honeyed and aromatic scents of an armful of Immortelle from Corsica. This is a floral fragrance that captures the scent of the Island of Beauty, swept up in woody and musky notes.” 

Options in the Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli are the same as for the other fragrance with one slight variation for the lips:
The lip product for this collection is a tinted lip gloss. It is scented just like the other items in the line and goes on a sheer glossy pink (almost clear). It tastes surprisingly good – surprising to me because the scent doesn’t seem like something that would taste good, but it does. At the same time it should be expected that Pierre Hermé and L’Occitane would take extra care to make sure the lip products taste just as good as they look and smell.

Swatches of the lip balm and lip gloss that we received in the US:

A quick look at a few of the other sets that launched this holiday. There was a Pierre Hermé hand cream trio available online but appears to be sold out right now. I didn’t see it in stores a month ago but you may want to check to see if it popped up. It has the Mandarin Miel (warm citrus honey) as well which is still available for purchase separately online and in stores. The set offered a slight price break compared to purchasing the hand creams separately. Since everything is limited-edition I don’t think this one will be coming back online.

Also available are these cute Hugs and Kisses Duos that have a lip product with a hand cream packaged together. The sets are $20 each ($24 value) and come in a variety of options. I didn’t see these in store either – but if you’ve spotted them please share in the comments. I ordered the Pierre Hermé ones online.
Above: the Hugs and Kisses Hand and Lip Duos ($20 each) in Pamplemousse Rhubarbe, Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli, Shea Butter*, Delightful Rose*, also available in Zesty Lime.

There are lots of different gift sets at L’Occitane. My favorites are the Pierre Hermé ones. One more item I wanted to highlight because it’s so cute are the Holiday Baubles. These are only $14 each and make the perfect stocking stuffer. The Shea Butter Holiday Bauble comes with minis of the Shea Butter Hand Cream, Extra Gentle Milk Soap, Ultra Rich Body Lotion, Ultra Rich Shower Cream all packed into a cute ornament. There’s also a Shea Verbena Holiday Bauble option (also $14), or both in a Duo Pack Set for $28.

Bottom line: so much to love. The only downside is that a lot of the holiday items are limited-edition and some sets have already sold out online, my hope is that they restock, but I don’t suspect the popular items like the sets. If you have anything on your wishlist I suggest you visit your store sooner than later.

Out of all the items in the Pierre Hermé collection, I think the stand outs are the Eau de Toilettes and Hand Creams. The Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli Lip Gloss is special because it’s a surprisingly pretty pink shimmer even though it goes on pretty clear on my lips, it smells amazing and makes the lips feel smooth and glossy without any tacky feel.

This is perhaps my favorite holiday launch this year (or at least in my top three). You can find the collection online at L’Occitane and most items in stores as well. Some sets are online exclusives.

Did you check out anything from L’Occitane this holiday? My husband has some of the men’s skincare sets on his wishlist for Christmas and I just ordered a few today.

Some items featured include press samples indicated with a *. Press samples include the Body Lotions, Shower Gels, Eau de Toilettes, Shea and Rose Hugs and Kisses. All other items and sets featured purchased by me.