Browsing Tag

Lip Treatment

Uncategorized

Rosy Red and Pink Tinted Lip Balm Treatments for Holiday

November 2, 2015

Today I’ve rounded up nine of my favorite rosy tinted lip balms for the holiday season coming ahead. Many of you loved last year’s roundup on holiday reds for lips and nails. This year’s version is for the neutral lip lover who is afraid to wear bold reds on the lips but wants to try something with some color. If you’re like me and almost always wears neutral colors on the lips, tinted lip balms, treatments and oils offer sheerer coverage and are more natural looking. I have a mix of pink and reds in a number of different formulas. If you’re looking for a good double-duty lip product that offers tint and hydration, I hope this guide will help you find a new one this month.

Below are a mix of potted balms, wand/gloss-like balms, squeeze tubes and twist up sticks. All of these offer a glossy sheen. As usual with most balms, lasting power will not be the same as with lipsticks, but this means that they fade more naturally. Oils often come with a stain built in so there is the hydration aspect but the color will stain the lips and last longer throughout the day. Several of these have been reviewed in depth before. I’ll link previous reviews.

Shown from left to right:

  1. By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur in Bloom Berry ($56, review) is one of the most expensive lip products I own. Splurging on the regular Baume de Rose made a big dent in my wallet and once the tinted versions launched an even bigger dent was made. This is a super lush thick rose-scented balm. Bloom Berry is my holy grail red lip balm because it for me it’s the perfect shade of berry red. The pot is really large so it will last a long time. I’ve had mine for over a year, there’s still a lot left and it hasn’t gone bad yet.
  2. By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur Cherry Bomb ($89 for set of 5, review) comes in the full-sized pot, but I have it from a holiday set (both the pot and wand are identical in color). For those who want a brighter cherry red, this one is a lovely color that is bright but not too bright. It will give your lips a natural flushed look.
  3. Hourglass No. 28 Tinted Lip Treatment Oil in Icon ($42) is the latest from Hourglass Cosmetics. If you’ve tried the original clear lip oil, you are probably aware of how luxurious, hydrating and amazing the formula is. It has anti-aging ingredients and oils to hydrate, condition and soften the lips while reducing wrinkles. The packaging is truly unique with a press-pump dispenser and a gold tip cap. Icon is a sheer glossy see-through red. It’s truly luxurious and gives the lips a healthy glow. Pigment is sheer but noticeable. It does fade to a natural shine throughout the day. Out of all the lip treatments this one feels the most hydrating on my lips.
  4. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Smashed ($26, review) is a classic lip treatment that works wonders as a lip treatment. As a tint this is one of the sheerest and lightest in pigment so if you’re super timid with color, this one offers a very natural wash of color. If you’ve tried the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Masks you are probably familiar with the thick but lush hydrating formula. It offers a veil of moisture that is really good for dry lips.
  5. Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment in Cherry ($18.50, review) is a tinted lip treatment that is a classic red cherry color. It has high shine and comes in a tube with a sponge tip applicator. These also come in the twist up stick form. The stick has more pigment while the tube is sheerer but offers more shine. If you have super dry lips, you may find the color from the tube will settle into lines. The color is a vibrant cherry red but is sheer so it’s not in-your-face bright.
  6. Burberry First Kiss Gloss Lip Balm in Rose Blush ($26) is a newer lip product from Burberry. I wanted the Crushed Red color but it’s been sold out at my local Sephora (I need to just order it online already). I have a couple of these lip balms sight unseen. Part of me was expecting to be disappointed because I thought they would be basic and sheer. The other part of me had high hopes because I’m a fan of their lip products. These lip balms are really amazing. They offer enough color to show up on the lips and also have an amazingly smooth feel. There’s slip but it’s not greasy. I’m head over heels in love. It’s also scent-free.
  7. Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector in Red ($25, review) is my favorite stick balm formula. You can read the full review with swatches of all the shade options linked above. The only downside is the size and price. They are on the small side which makes them pricey. The formula can’t be beat though.
  8. bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil Balm in Punch Pop ($16) is a twist up stick balm oil treatment. If you’ve tried other traditional tinted lip oils you may have been disappointed with the color payoff (I know I have). The oils in stick form from bareMinerals offer more pigment. They swatch sheer on the hands but the texture of the lips really picks up the color. The ones I tested have a slight stain in the pigment as well which makes the color last longer than most balms. The formula is plush and also unscented. I give these a thumbs up for pigment and coverage.
  9. YSL Volupté Sheer Candy in 04 Succulent Pomegranate ($36) is a pinkish fuchsia color that’s soft and sheer. I’m beyond obsessed with the Volupté Sheer Candy formula although for most it is either a hit or miss. If you want a super lush balmy feel with a glossy shine, these are among my favorite sheer lipsticks that offer hydration. They are scented like grapefruits or mangos (to me it smells like a mix of both) but it’s not overly sweet and they also taste good.
Swatched below in the same order:

Swatched on the lips:

My top picks:
By Terry Baume de Rose Bloom Berry for the best color
Hourglass Lip Oil in Icon for the most hydrating feel
Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector and YSL for the best texture
If you’re a neutral lip lover who is curious about rosy colors for the lips but want something a little more natural than the traditional bold red lipstick, I hope you found this roundup helpful! Do you have a favorite tinted lip balm or treatment?
Press samples featured in this post include items from Clarins, Hourglass and Bare Minerals. All others purchased by me.
25 Comments
Uncategorized

Monthly Beauty Favorites: Skincare

October 2, 2015

Happy October everyone! I hope you had a great September. It’s officially fall but we’re still having really warm sunny days in the high 70s and it feels like fall weather will never arrive. September brought about a number of new beauty discoveries, in particular new lipsticks. I think I fell in love with every single new lipstick formula I tried from Charlotte Tilbury (hands down one of the best mattes ever), Louboutin (oh so luxurious), Buxom Cosmetics (so many good colors with an amazing formula) and Tom Ford (how can you not love TF lipsticks?).

I decided to do a different favorites roundup this month and focus on skincare loves. Smooth clear skin has been a focus lately and I’ve been trying new things over the past few months. It takes time to see visible results – so here are some things I’ve been putting to the test and absolutely love. My skin has improved a lot – even my husband has commented on it. As always if you have any skincare recommendations I’m all ears! I just picked up this AmorePacific Moisture Bound Set because so many of you raved about the Enzyme Peel in the comments.

Here’s what I’ve been loving this month (the bag above is one of the pouches from the MAC Clearly MAC Trio):

My go-to moisturizer all throughout the summer has been the Eve Lom Brightening Cream ($110 for 1.7 fl oz). It’s described as a hydra-cream designed to “correct pigmentation and boost luminosity to reveal beautifully radiant and even-toned skin.” It has a brightening ingredient called Dermapep™ that corrects hyperpigmentation – after using this I’ve noticed my skin is visibly more bright, complexion is smooth and dark spots become less noticeable. I would say it’s better as a daily lightweight moisturizer rather than a spot corrector – but it has kept my skin smooth, lightly hydrated and works well with all the foundations I use. Even with daily use for months I still have a good portion of the jar left – so I’m thrilled it’s lasted a long time.

Last month I had the opportunity to receive a complimentary facial at the Kate Somerville Clinic on Melrose (more on this soon). It was hands down the best facial I’ve ever had and I highly recommend the clinic. Since then I’ve been slowly incorporating some Kate Somerville items in my routine. On your first visit they provide a detailed questionnaire for you to fill out on your skin type, preferences and goals. Mine included dark spot correction, texture improvement, anti-aging prevention, help with wrinkles on my forehead, brightening. The facial and products are used in various treatment processes in concentrated formulas based on your needs. Three things I’ve been loving:
  • The Daily Detox Cleanser ($34 for 4 fl oz) is a really good deep-cleaning cleanser for everyday. I use it with my Clarisonic. It helps fight acne and removes impurities from the skin. It’s helped to rebalance my skin and even with the heat we’ve been having my skin is less oily. It contains phytic acid which helps fade post-acne scars and reduce inflammation. I can’t rave about this enough.
  • Dermal Quench Liquid Lift Advanced Wrinkle Treatment ($95 for 2.5 oz) was recommended as a replacement for my regular toner. It’s a product that helps combat all my skin issues: aging, wrinkles, uneven skintone. It also helps with dryness – and I’ve seen a big improvement in my skin. Forehead lines have started to soften and using this helps prep the skin for serums or moisturizers.
  • RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream ($85 for 1 fl oz) is something I’ve been experimenting with as well. It’s been recommended by many that I incorporate some kind of retinol treatments into my routine. I have super sensitive skin and things I’ve tried in the past have been too strong for me. This one is ultra gentle and as a night time treatment, I’ve noticed it’s helped smooth the skin while increasing firmness. My skin looks more glowing and soft. I’ve tried this every other night for several weeks and I’ve had no irritation.
The Aesop Parsley Seed Mask ($39 for 60 ml) still remains a tried and true favorite. It’s my go-to cleansing and clarifying mask that really draws out all the yuck from your skin. It’s recommended use for 2x per week, but I’ve found it gentle enough for me to use 4x per week on trouble spots. I love how effective it is while still being suitable for sensitive skin.

I’ve tested a number of cleansing oils and have several favorites. These days I’ve been loving the SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil ($70 for 8.4 oz). It has a lightweight pleasantly refreshing scent to it. It has a good medium thickness to it – it’s fluid but not too fluid. I love how it blends into the skin easily and seamlessly. It emulsifies well with warm water and removes all trace of makeup (I still remove my waterproof mascara/eyeliner with a cotton pad first though). Leaves the skin feeling completely clean, soft and hydrated with no greasy residue.
Tatcha is always a favorite in my regular skincare routine. The Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($68 for 2 fl oz) is my holy grail face sunscreen. It has a smooth texture that disappears completely into the skin (no white cast). It helps control oil on me and doubles as an amazing primer for foundation. The Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream ($38 for 2 fl oz) is a staple for sensitive or dry skin. I’ve bought many tubes and given them as gifts to friends. The entire Indigo line is phenomenal. If you’re new to the line, there is a mini set that I also recommend.

I’ve featured the MAC Prep + Prime Blemish Control Gel ($22 for 05 fl oz) before and it’s still a staple. It’s one of the few acne spot treatments I can use during the day without it making the skin look weird and goopy (others leave a weird clear film that is noticeable). It’s also one of the few that really works to help acne spots disappear without making the skin super red by the next day. I think I’m on my third tube – I also recommended my husband try it and it’s strong enough for his skin.

Last but not least for lips, I’ve been loving the Glossier Coconut Balmdotcom ($12) and Dior Crème de Rose ($28). Both are super hydrating and make the lips feel smooth without that greasy feel. My lips are super sensitive and I’ve gotten reaction to several lip balms (they go numb and then tingle and swell up). These are perfect for my sensitive lips and keep the dry flakes away.
I hope everyone has a great Friday and will have some time to enjoy the weekend! As always I’d love to hear about your current beauty favorites. It’s a great way for me to learn about new things 🙂
Press samples featured in this post include items from Kate Somerville, Eve Lom, Tatcha and Glossier. All other items purchased by me.
14 Comments
Clarins Lips

Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors

August 3, 2015

 

Clarins launched a new tinted lip balm formula earlier this past spring called the Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector ($24 each for 1.8 g / 0.06 oz). There are six shades in total – all of which are pretty sheer but still have enough color to show up on the lips. Each of the lip balms have a very tiny amount of shimmer that’s only visible if you look at them up close in direct sunlight. Otherwise they act more like sheer creams and on my lips are essentially shimmer-free. These lip balms are designed to moisturize, plump and illuminate the lips with subtle, natural-looking color and shine and they do just that. They come in a sleek and slim twist up tube:

 

 

Testing by Clarins indicates lasting power should be 4 hours long. I experienced about the same and found these lasted between 3 to 4 hours if the lips are not touched by coffee cups, tea cups, soda or snacks. They have Wild Mango extract, shea butter, Vitamin E and a plant-extract from rice bran oil. I found these to be the most pleasant-feeling tinted lip balms I’ve tried. There is a slight sweet vanilla scent but it’s very subtle and not overpowering.

 

I’ve been really obsessed with the formula – they are sheer, glossy and add the perfect amount of color to the lips. They feel really amazing on my sensitive lips and leave them feeling smooth and well hydrated.

 

 

The only downside to these balms is the amount of product in each tube so the price per gram or oz is pretty high. These have 1.8 g and by comparison Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatments have 4.3 g and L’Occitane Peony Tinted Lip Balms have 4 g of product. I know many will want a comparison to other tinted lip balms – I would say the concept is similar but the texture is completely different. Fresh is thicker and softer in texture. Some of the brighter colors will give much more pigment and color payoff on the lips. L’Occitane’s lip balms have a harder texture and have more slip to them – they glide on and look more like a velvety stain. The Clarins by comparison is a lot more glossy and feels more hydrating on the lips.

 

Swatches and close ups of all six shades. #03 My Pink is a self-adjusting shade adapts to the pH of lips – on me it turns into a rosy healthy pink. Note that the swatches on the arm for #03 is a light pink but on the lips it will adjust/brighten depending on your pH.

 

 

 

Lip swatches below. For skintone reference I’m wearing Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation in Beige 40 with Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation in Medium Light Warm.

 

 

 

Bottom line: the formula of the Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors is a winner in my beauty book. They feel hydrating on the lips and there is enough color in these balms for them to show up on my pigmented lips. A closeup look at the colors show there is a tiny bit of shimmer in them but on the lips they look shimmer-free. Just naturally glossy and shiny. If you want something with similar shine and feel but with more color I would suggest looking into YSL Rouge Volupté Shines or Chanel Rouge Coco Shines – however those aren’t as hydrating as these Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors. If you can get over the small product size (or the price per ounce) then these are ones I know I’ll use up entirely (where some lip balms take me forever to use). They are nice to throw in the purse for quick shine and touch ups and feel super nice on the lips. I recommend checking out at least one. There’s nothing else I’ve tried that makes the lips look as healthy and naturally plump as these. I’ve been testing these for a couple months now (sorry it took so long to post this review) and I’m already almost finished with Rosewood and Coral.

 

The Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors retail for $24 each. You can find them at all Clarins retailers, online at Clarins.com, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Lord and Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harrod’s and Selfridges.

 

The Clarins Lip Balms were provided for review consideration. As always, opinions are my own.

 

29 Comments
Uncategorized

NUXE Loves

July 14, 2015

I’ve been a long time fan of the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil. It’s a really good dry body oil that absorbs quickly into the skin and smells amazing. I was excited to see all the products in French Pharmacies in Paris (a few snapshots here). There are a number of things you can buy in Paris that aren’t offered in the US (like the sun line and a number of body products). I really wish I had stocked up on items while I was in France, but there’s always next time. One of the places we stayed at, Hotel Brighton stocked NUXE Toiletries and I was in heaven. The first thing I did when I got back to the US was place an order for some shower gels, hand creams and lip balms. The new Huile Prodigieux® Shower Oil just launched and it’s amazing. It leaves the skin super soft and smells just like the dry oil. It’s sulfate-free and scented with sweet almond oil, orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla. I really love it.

Today NUXE is offering 30% off on their US site https://us.nuxe.com/ in celebration of Bastille Day. No code needed – prices are reduced, they also offer free shipping with any $50 purchase. According to the e-mail I received this morning, the offer expires on July 14th, 2015, at 11:59pm EST.

Quick shot of NUXE in Paris:

Some of my favorites include items from the Rêve de Miel line. They released a few limited-edition pots of their lip balm to celebrate their 20th anniversary (now sold out). I bought one of the yellow pots but haven’t had a chance to try it. I have tried the Lip Moisturizing Stick Rêve de Miel and like it for a soft lightweight sheer lip balm treatment. The Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo is a staple for me, it’s ultra hydrating and smells like honey. I don’t have super dry hair so I reserve this for once a week use and use other shampoos on a daily basis. The Cleansing Gel is designed for dry skin and is multi purpose for both face and body. It’s good for sensitive skin and cleans nicely without leaving a film but still leaves the skin feeling moisturized.
Two other shower gels I bought include the Men’s Shower Gel and the Fondant Shower Gel (smells like orange blossom and almond). Both are thick in texture but lather up gently. My husband is a loyal user of Jack Black’s Turbo Wash and prefers it over all others, but likes the way the NUXE smells.

Last but not least, NUXE has a new limited-edition summer bottle of the classic Huile Prodigieuse for summer out. It’s not yet available online at NUXE (so far I’ve only seen it at Beautyhabit).

I’m happy to see the line available at more places now. If you miss the sale today and are curious about where else to find it, you can find NUXE online at at their US website, Beautyhabit, Space NK, Beauty.com, Urban Outfitters, Target and Birchbox.

Do you have any NUXE favorites? If yes, what are your favs and where do you usually buy NUXE? I’ve seen a number of places stock the Dry Oil, but have never seen the full line in stores near me (Paris was a first!).

The NUXE Rêve de Miel Shampoo, Rêve de Miel Shower Gel and Summer Huile Prodigieuse were provided courtesy of NUXE for review consideration. All other items purchased by me.

17 Comments
Uncategorized

Chanel Les Beiges Glossimers and Healthy Glow Hydrating Lip Balm

July 10, 2015

Chanel launched a Les Beiges Collection earlier this summer. I picked up the items from the collection a couple months ago before I left for Europe, took photos and swatches but didn’t have time to edit (by now fall beauty has already started to hit counters!). I thought I’d share some quick thoughts on the lips and nails from the collection (nail polish swatches to be posted soon). There are three new lip items in this year’s Les Beiges:

All three are light in color without shimmer. Pigment and coverage is sheer to medium – not so sheer that they are invisible on the lips, but still pretty light. I’m in love with all three colors. They give the lips the perfect wash of effortless color. Polished and natural.

For the glossimers, you may find similar colors or dupes. I’m a sucker for the lush glossy sheen Chanel Glossimers give the lips. Beige Star is very pretty – it’s a your lips but better kind of gloss and covers the lip entirely. Rose Tendre is a sheer milky pink that goes on smoothly – many milky pinks tend to settle into my lip lines and are chalky looking (I have pigmented lips) but Rose Tendre goes on perfectly. It’s my favorite milky pink gloss to date. Right now it appears both are permanent, but I’m not 100% sure.

For the Healthy Glow Hydrating Lip Balm, I expected it to be transparent on the lips. On the back of my hand it looks really pale and usually pale lip balms wash out once they go on my lips. No. 10 however gives sheer to medium even coverage. It is lighter than my natural lip color so I find when it fades I have a pale rim on the outer portion and a darker middle. Lasting power can be extended by lining the lips and filling them in with a beige lipliner (I’ll have swatches below of some good light ones). In terms of hydration – it moisturizes the lips, but similar to the way Rouge Coco Shines do. It’s emollient, glossy and feels nice without sliding off – I’m not sure I can really tell if there are true moisturizing properties in it. The good thing is it doesn’t make my lips peel.

Two sets of swatch comparisons below, first to other glosses and then a few lipliners.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Nudes Gloss in Almost Nude
NARS Lip Gloss in Guyane swatched here
Chanel Rose Reve Glossimer swatched here (discontinued)
NARS Christopher Kane Gloss in Nucleus review here
Zelens Lip Glaze in Rose swatched here (c/o)
Chanel Glossimer in Sweet Beige lip swatch here
Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi Shine in Pretty Thing review here (c/o)
NARS Lip Gloss in Belize

Chanel Precision Lip Liners in Natural, Beige Satin and Beige Innocent
Marc Jacobs (P)Outliner in Honeybun (swatched) (c/o)

If you’re a neutral lip lover, I think you will adore the Glossimers. The Lip Balm is lovely but given the size and pigment, I think it’s overpriced. That being said I don’t have anything like it in terms of the lightness of color but smooth coverage. Your mileage may vary depending on your skin tone and natural lip color. I was surprised at how much I liked it on the lips, but I don’t love it enough to feel the need to buy a backup.

You can find the Les Beiges Collection at Chanel counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.

7 Comments
Uncategorized

Fresh Sugar Nude Tinted Lip Treatment

March 11, 2015
Wallet on Chain by Chanel
Coin Purse Insert from Curieuse Wallet by Louis Vuitton
Sunglasses are Gucci

The latest from Fresh Beauty is the new Sugar Nude Tinted Lip Treatment ($22.50 for 4.3 g / 0.15 oz). It’s currently available as a Sephora.com Exclusive for VIB/VIB Rouge Members online and at Fresh.com for purchase but will be available at all Fresh retail locations later this spring in May. I ordered mine online and give it a huge thumbs up.

Fresh Sugar Nude is described as a shimmery blush nude tint. It gives a barely there wash of color but has enough pigment to cover my lip entirely with a smooth veil of pearlescent beige shimmer. Before I swatched this I was worried this might be too sheer or be invisible on the lips, but I am happy to report that even though it’s natural, it does show up as a my-lips-but-nude-and-better kind of color.

This appears to be the first Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment that has shimmer and I hope Fresh will add this lovely shimmer to future shades. In the tube it looks like a soft peachy blush beige. There is a gold sheen to it and when you see it swatched in real life you will see champagne pearl like shimmers mixed in too.

Per Fresh, these tinted lip balms contain SPF 15 and the following key ingredients:

  • Sugar is a natural humectant that ensures long-lasting moisture.
  • Meadowfoam seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, passionflower seed oil, and avocado oil are rich in super moisturizing fatty acids.
  • Vitamin A helps to firm, retexturize, and smooth the skin.
  • Antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins C and E provide protection from wrinkle-causing free radicals.
  • Beeswax, an emollient substance with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, softens the skin and enhances elasticity.
  • Carnauba wax, a natural wax that coats the leaves of the Brazilian Carnauba Palm, seals in moisture and acts as a protective barrier to prevent dehydration.
Ingredients: Cera Alba (Beeswax), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Limnanthes Alba, (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Persea Gratissima, (Avocado) Oil , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Vanillin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Propyl Gallate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Ci 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, BHT.

Here it is swatched, photos can’t do this one justice. The color blends in with my skin tone, in real life you can see the shimmer better.

Swatch comparisons:

Tom Ford Lips & Boys Orlando (swatched on lips here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Nude Vanille
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer In the Buff (discontinued, lip swatches here)
MAC Bao Bao Wan Lipstick Romantic Breakdown
Fresh Sugar Honey (old swatch here)
Marc Jacobs Sheer Lip Gel Anais + Moody Margot (review here)
Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Nude Kate (on the lips here and here)

I give this a huge thumbs up. Coverage and pigment is similar to that of the discontinued Tom Ford Lip Color Sheers in Pink Dune and In the Buff – sheer but buildable. If you liked either of those, then you will like the new Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. Fresh Sugar Nude is a bit lighter in color due to the pearlescent quality mixed into the lip treatment. You can see the shimmer in the tube better in real life, it glows and is really luminous. 

Lasting power is really good for a tinted lip balm. It won’t last through snacks or coffee but if left untouched it stays put for a decent amount of time. I love the hydrating feel and it has that signature Fresh Sugar scent that is sweet, lemony and sugary all at the same time.

Definitely worth checking out. Available now at Sephora and Fresh.

26 Comments
Charlotte Tilbury Skincare

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic

February 6, 2015

Charlotte Tilbury has released a few new items this spring. One thing that caught my eye is the Lip Magic Rejuvenating, Smoothing Propolis Balm ($35 for 5 ml / 0.17 fl oz). I ordered it online from Beautylish and it arrived at my house at lightening speed. When it comes to lip balms, I’m really picky. I have sensitive lips that easily react to products with plumping properties or any kind of tingly feel (for some reason my lips go numb with Kiehl’s). I really like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream for the face so I decided to give her new Lip Magic a try. I was pleasantly surprised.

The Lip Magic is an anti-aging lip balm that doubles as a lip primer. This one is described as having a rather fancy formula designed to seal in moisture, protect lips from the environment and also provide long-term lip healing benefits.

I haven’t used it long enough to see any anti-aging effects but I do like it’s formula. It’s on the emollient side (versus the By Terry Baume de Rose pots or sticks which are thicker and more creamy). There is a slight floral scent to the balm. When I first smelled it I thought the fragrance would be too strong or that it could translate into something that had a bad taste. I was relieved to find that the scent is actually very soft and not overpowering. It also has no detectable taste.

Since it’s so emollient, I was skeptical at how well this would work as a base/primer for lipstick. It works really well with the Charlotte Tilbury lipliners and lipsticks (my neutrals in Nude Kate, Hepburn Honey, Bitch Perfect, Stoned Rose, Penelope Pink and Confession swatched here). Her lipsticks are very creamy and super pigmented which I find glide on the lips well, but sometimes full coverage lipsticks can make the lips look aged if they aren’t well moisturized or prepped properly. I usually use MAC’s Prep + Prime Lip to help prepare my lips for any kind of lip product. It’s one of the few lip primers that helps smooth my lip while allowing lipstick to adhere to my lips better. The Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic really does work to help lipstick glide on nicely – and the lipstick doesn’t slide off when layered on top. 

Ingredients: Olus Oil, Synthetic Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax(Cera), PPG-25-Laureth-25, Fragrance (Parfum), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclodextrin, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Propolis Extract, Tocopherol.

The only downside is the pot is a bit small for the price. It’s compact enough to slip into a clutch or small makeup bag, but I do wish it had more product in the jar to justify the price. Still, it’s a very good lip balm and lip primer in one, so I’m not complaining.

Bottom line it performs extremely well. It hydrates, smooths and makes the lips feel incredibly smooth. It has an emollient texture which glides on the lips and makes them feel very nice. I am really amazed at how well it works as a lip primer for her lipsticks. I also tested it with Tom Ford Lips & Boys and the new Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes (more on this next week) and it worked well with both formulas.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic now online at Beautylish. Also at Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and online at Charlotte Tilbury.
20 Comments