Multi Purpose Balms and Salves

L-R: Moa the green balm, Innisfree olive real multi salve, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, Missha Bordeaux absolute protect balm

Melbourne is getting quite cold now that it is officially winter. I have been relying on these multi purpose balms to keep my skin protected.

Innisfree olive real multi salve has a nice citrus scent to it. It is quite emollient and I generally use this on my cracked heels and on my body because it is a bit too greasy to be used on the face. Moa the green balm is probably the best multi purpose balm. It helps me tame my tangled hair after I have been outside in the cold and windy conditions. I can also use it on my face where I have dry patches and on scratches or insect bites. Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is also quite useful. I like using this on my lips and cuticles. Sometimes I put this on dry patches on my face as well. But I find the Moa green balm works better for that purpose as it is less greasy and seems to absorb better. Missha Bordeaux absolute protect balm is supposedly made out of grapes. It has a floral smell and is matte. I tend to use this on my lips as it might be a bit too thick for other purposes.

Do you use any multi purpose balms?

Pampering and destressing favourites

It is currently exam period for me so naturally I get quite stressed while studying for exams. To counter the effect that stress has on my body I like to make some time for myself at least once every week to destress and wind down.

Some of my favourites include L'occitane hand cream in lavender. I usually use this while studying as it has a therapeutic lavender scent which helps me stay calm. Another favourite is my Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner. I am absolutely in love with this toner as it has a soft rose and chamomile scent. It is also hydrating and refreshing when sprayed onto the face. I think this is my 4th bottle of the toner. I have run out of backups of it and will need to restock soon. Moa's the green balm also helps when I'm stressed as I find i tend to get dry patches on my face when stressed. I apply a small amount of Moa the green balm to my face and it seems to fix the problem well. The green balm also works wonders on my hair. I use it to smooth the ends of hair and it adds shine to hair without looking oily or greasy. When my eyes get tired from staring at the computer screen and books for too long I use this lavender scented eye mask. It can be microwaved and helps relieve tired eyes. Lastly I like using the Dr. Hauschka lip balm pot while studying as it has a subtle herbal scent.

What do you do to help you destress?

Makeup bag essentials

I work part time in an office environment where there is aircon and heating all the time. This really dries out my skin so there are a few products that I must have with me at all times. Lip balm is my obsession so I always carry it around. I'm currently using the Dior Creme De Rose which I love. It smells like soft roses and has a pretty pale pink colour which goes on clear. It is one of the most moisturising lip balms I have tried (I have tried many). I heard this was being discontinued? Not too sure about that though. I also always carry a tube of hand cream with me. My hands always get really dry and uncomfortable while typing at work. The L'occitane limited edition one in passionate jasmine has the original formula but smells like jasmines. It is not too overwhelming but instead a very pleasant slightly sweet smelling jasmine. For my cuticles or any dry patches I reach for my Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (fragrance free version). To be honest I bought this initially just because it was so hyped up. I was curious about why everyone loved it so much. After trying this I can see why it is loved. However, I do have to say that for me it is not as much of a miracle worker as everyone says. It does moisturise my lips and dry patches. But I have other balms that can do that too. I carry this one for the convenience of it being in a tube.

For makeup, I like using neutral pinks like the Dior Addict lipstick in 564 Model. This is the perfect daytime pink that just brightens up my complexion. I also carry around a bold coloured lipstick for days I go out after work. I'm currently loving the Mamonde creamy tint in the colour matte pop rose. I wore this the whole night and only touch up once. It does not transfer and fades evenly and gradually. But it still leaves a vivid tint on your lips.

Lastly, I also carry around a hair tie just incase.

Figs & Rouge - All Purpose Balms

Hello another lip balm review today. I bought these Figs & Rouge balms off asos.com a while ago because I'm always on the hunt for new lipbalms. They are also sold in Australia David Jones but the price is more than double the price on asos. I decided to try these because I heard it was Emma Watson's favourite lip balm haha and I got sucked in. Turns out they are actually really good and moisturising.

The scents I got were Rambling Rose and Aloe & Mint.

The Aloe & Mint one came in a 17 ml tin whereas Rambling Rose was only 7ml. They both have a really natural and fresh scent to them. At first I really hated the smell of the rose one because you could taste the essential oils after you applied the product to your lips. The Aloe one didn't have this problem. But after using the rose one for a while I got used to the smell and actually like it as it makes me feel relaxed. The texture is a little strange because it feels lumpy when you first apply it... slightly gritty. Once you rub it onto your skin the balm melts and it becomes really smooth and moisturising. 

I liked these so much I have used a significant amount of the rose one. I only recently started using the Aloe one since I didn't want to have too many open tins of lip balm lying around. But I really couldn't resist haha. The Aloe one also has a bit of a tingling sensation after you apply it since there is mint as well. The product is marketed as being an all purpose balm but personally I think it is a bit too greasy to apply this to my skin so I just stick to using it as a lip balm. 

Overall these are a really good lip balm and quite a cheap option too.