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?

Caudalie favourites and staples

Caudalie gentle cleanser, lip balm, beauty elixir

Caudalie is one of those luxurious but natural feeling brands. It feels like products from a spa. I first found out about this brand when a lot of bloggers were raving about the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Being curious, I tried out some of their products and ended up really liking a few.

First up is the Caudalie gentle cleanser. The one pictured is the old formula. I heard they reformulated the cleanser and now people don't like it as much as the old. I actually have a 100ml bottle of the new formula which I forgot to include in the photo above. It seems quite a bit thicker and does not have the soothing scent of the old one. This is my second bottle of this cleanser and I absolutely adore it. I cleanse my face with this cleanser after I have removed my makeup. The scent really helps me to relax. It also makes my skin feel really cleansed but soothed afterwards. I also use the Caudalie Beauty Elixir (which I find quite expensive). I mainly use this at my desk when I study and need something to help me keep awake. I know this sounds like the biggest waste of money but this really works to keep be refreshed and ready to continue studying. Lastly I have both the old and new formula of the Caudalie lip conditioner. Again like the gentle cleanser, I have read a lot of reviews saying that the old formula of the lip conditioner is much better than the new. I find that the old lip conditioner (green wording) is creamier and seems to sink into the lips more. It also has a vanilla-ish scent. The new lip conditioner (purple wording) has a more distinct and artificial scent which reminds me of gummy lollies. The balm is also flat where as the old tube had a lip stick bullet. I do find that the old formula is more nourishing and has a subtler scent. The new just seems like a regular lipbalm and does not help chapped lips.

Have you tried any Caudalie products?

Lip balm edit

Dr Hauschka lip balm, Dior Creme de Rose, Nuxe Reve de Miel, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, Clarins Hydraquench lip balm

As you may realise, I am a lip balm hoarder. I just can't get enough of them. I find that they are one of the easiest skincare products to buy. You don't need to do much research and they are relatively less pricey than other skincare items. I have however developed a love for a few lip balms that are on the expensive side.

My absolute favourite is the Dior Creme de Rose that everyone is raving about. It leaves my lips feeling so soft and nourished and is not too glossy. It leaves a rather nice sheen to my lips and looks really pretty when applied on top of my lip tint. Dr. Hauschka lip balm was one that I did not really enjoy using at the start. It had a really herbal smell and didn't seem to keep lips moisturised for long. But as I have kept using it I have grown to like this balm. Although I would probably not repurchase it when I run out simply because my Creme de Rose works better. the Nuxe Reve de Miel is another balm that I didn't like when I first bought it. I find it a bit disappointing since it is so highly raved about. It is a nice matte waxy balm but I don't feel as though it keeps my lips moisturised for longer than 1 hour. However I will keep using this until it is finished but will not be repurchasing. It smells really pleasant though. The Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is a firm favourite of mine. I tend to use it on my lips in the morning just before I get out of bed since I wake up with really dry lips. I also use it on my cuticles and basically any dry or flakey skin. Lastly I have the Clarins Hydraquench lip balm which to be honest I bought initially because I didn't feel like splurging on the Dior Creme de Rose. This Clarins balm is quite similar to the Creme de Rose but just slightly stickier since it comes in a tube form. I really enjoy using this one too but for some reason prefer the Creme de Rose.

So these are my current most used lip balms. What are yours?

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.

Products I have been loving

Helloo! Recently I have been trying to use up products that I own and found that I have been reaching for these quite a bit.

Products shown:

Missha Super Aqua Bergamot aroma deep sea water micro mist - wow that name was really long. This is essentially a water mist you spray onto your face whenever you feel dry or want to be refreshed. I really like this. The scent is quite subtle and soft (not really sure what bergamot is meant to smell like). As the name suggests it is a micromist so it sprays out really fine mist compared to the Avene Eau Thermale spray which tends to leave small droplets of water on my face :S

Anna Sui lip balm - This is my second tub. It smells so good! It is a very soft rose scent that is present in all Anna Sui products <3 Absolutely love this stuff. It moisturises the lips really well as well. And the lid screw on so I don't have to worry whether the tin is closed properly.

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie - I have been obsessed with berry coloured lips and nails recently. Berry Smoothie is quite sheer and has a few shimmer particles in it but they are not that noticeable on the lips. It is really moisturising as well.

L'Occitane hand cream in lavender - Love the texture of L'Occitane hand creams. This one is gel like and absorbs instantly leaving my hands really soft and smelling like lavender. I find that L'Occitane lavender scent smells nicer than Crabtree & Evelyn's lavender.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - I usually spray this when I feel tired because it has a minty sensation which helps keep me awake haha. As for the smoothing and glowing properties I can't really say I have seen much of a difference. Before this big bottle I used up 2 smaller sized ones and also could not see much of an effect. I use this for the minty sensation and scent as a pick me up really... it is pricey but I really like it for that purpose.

Empties - Jan to Sept 2013

I have been meaning to post this for AGES!!! Here are all the products I managed to use up to date this year. Seems like so many!

I have repurchased quite a few of these products such as the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Caudalie gentle cleansing lotion, La Roche Posay and Avene moisturisers, Clinique moisture surge and the Escentual hair mask, Shiseido Moilip, Nivea milk and honey lip balm, Anna sui lip balm and It's Skin power 10 vitamin C serum. The products mentioned are in my daily staples :)

Etude House Dear Girls Lip Balm Review

Today I will be reviewing the new Etude House lipbalm in No. 1 - the nourishing type. Etude House came out with these early April I believe and there are 3 types:

No. 1 - Full of nutrients
No. 2 - Smooth and moist
No. 3 - Twinkling glass bead

I chose No. 1 because I wanted a heavier duty balm that was not shiny or shimmery like No 2 and 3.

It comes in a metal tub and is a bit smaller than the usual lip balm tins. It contains 9grams of product rather than the usual 16ml lip balm tins.

The first thing I noticed when opening the tin is that it smells like coke bottle gummy lollies... it is a slightly sweet citrus scent that is quite pleasant.

I am extremely picky with lip balms since I have tried so many types and brands. This Etude House one works surprisingly well. It feels heavy duty and slightly thick but it is not sticky and seems to last quite a while on the lips. It also doesn't just sit on top of my lips.. I can feel it being absorbed and making my lips soft.

Etude House Dear Girls lip balm - No. 1

Etude House Dear Girls lip balm - No. 1

The only thing is that the balm takes a bit of 'breaking in'. I had to swirl my finger in the balm a few times before I could manage to get some product out. Other than that I really enjoy this lip balm and I would say it is worth the $6 aud I paid for it on ebay (in korea in costs around $4).

Current favourite lip balms

So I remember one of my firsts posts was one about my favourite lip balms... I am addicted to lip balms so I am constantly buying and trying new things. I love nivea balms and so when I saw the new Nivea lip balms I went ahead and bought them on ebay. Australia doesn't have these yet and I think we will never get them :( We seem to have a limited range of everything it really frustrates me sometimes...

I really like the smell of the caramel cream one it smells just like butterscotch lollies. The raspberry rose is also nice but I haven't been liking fruity smells much lately.. maybe because the weather is getting slightly cooler. These feel really moisturising and are very thick and smooth. But they still are not as good as my bloved shiseido moilip since after this stuff dries/sinks in my lips get chapped again. With the moilip balm my lips feel repaired and are smooth even after the balm wears off.

Next is the Burt's bees tinted lip balm in hibiscus. This is a really natural every day colour. I also got the pink blossom one but since I am currently doing an internship in an office environment, the hisbiscus colour seems like the more appropriate daily colour. This balm feels really soothing and has quite good colour payoff. My only complaint is that the colour gets everywhere... all over cups, drink bottles etc. I guess it is expected though since it is a tinted lip balm and not a lip stain etc. I may use this more when I go back to uni where I won't be drinking much out of glasses so noone will be able to see the gross imprint left on it. I bought this from lookfantastic.com because it is costs $15 in Australia which is ridiculous.

Lastly I tried the Suisse programme hydra solution 24 hr lip balm... such a long name. I got this from sasa.com. I have been browsing at this one online for quite a while and decided to pick it up when it was half price for $10 USD. This is actually quite a nice lip balm. It is unscented and glides on smoothly. It is slightly glossy though so if I put too much it will look like clear lip gloss. It works well too probably better than the Nivea ones. It contains squalene which I found unusual... but who knows. I have been using this as a night treatment.

French Pharmacy Skincare Haul

Recently my skin was acting up and very sensitive. I started getting really itchy and flaky skin around my eyebrows and on either side of my nose. I tried putting on masks and slapping on more moisturiser but it would still get flaky by the end of the day. So I looked for some moisturising skincare which was aimed at sensitive skin. The first sensitive skincare I tried was the skin recovery cream by Avene. After around 2 months of using it religiously day and night it fixed all my flakiness and itchiness!!!

Then....I started researching into more of the French Pharmacy skincare products and made a few orders from escentual.com =__=

They have a huge range of french skincare and at quite low prices too (compared to Australia).

Products shown:

Nuxe reve de miel hand cream- quite a good hand cream and isn't sticky.

Caudalie beauty elixir - refreshing spray... but not really seeing any results yet

La Roche Posay tinted moisturiser - this is an ok product but I found that it only works if I apply one thin layer. If I try to apply a second layer it tends to rub off the first layer and I'm left with nothing.

La Roche Posay Hydreane Legere - haven't tried this yet

La Roche Posay ceralip - I read from amodelrecommends that this lip balm was really good.. but on me it actually made my lips flakier :S

La Roche Posay nutrilip- this is very thin but is much better than the ceralip for me. After it dries up my lips actually feel moisturised and repaired.

La Roche Posay physiological soothing toner - haven't tried

Avene skin recovery cream - repurchase since I finished the first tube. Really really good moisturiser for my sensitive and dry skin in winter. But since the weather is getting warmer I find that this is a bit too much and leaves my dry skin feeling slightly oily and heavy.

Avene gentle milk cleanser- haven't tried

Avene extremely gentle cleanser - haven't tried

Overall I'm quite happy with my french skincare finds but some of them are a bit disappointing especially the ceralip and tinted moisturiser.

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar Review

The reason I bought these was just because the packaging was so cute haha. These gloss bars are supposed to be a sheer lip stick + gloss in one... I think.

I got colours 5 peach and 6 orange.

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar - 5 Peach

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar - 6 Orange

L to R: 5 peach, 6 orange

I don't really like these to be honest. I thought I would use them a lot since they are sheer and glossy in the colours I like. But they are a bit too pigmented for me haha I like really sheer lip products. And these gloss bars tend to accentuate the wrinkles in my lips so whenever I put them on my lips look really wrinkled..I also don't like how they can't twist back down the tube. So if I accidentally twist too much product out I won't be able to push it back in unless I force it back which is quite annoying. 

These gloss bars smell like the fruit flavour which is quite nice. But still won't be using these much.

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. 

Favourite Lip Balms

Thought I'd start off with an easy post. I am addicted to lip balm. I think I have over 20 just sitting at home with over half of them still in their packaging lol. Not sure why but whenever I see new lip balms I just want to try them out.

So I have tried heaps of different lip balms and currently have 3 favourites.

1. Shiseido Moilip
2. Nivea Peach
3. Kose Vague

From L to R: Shiseido Moilip, Kose Vague, Nivea Peach

Shiseido Moilip - This is a really moisturising lip balm with a unique texture. It's not sticky or waxy and makes your lips really smooth. I think it's the most conditioning lip balm I've ever tried. Definitely my favourite of the 3. It doesn't have a scent.  This was actually awarded the best lip balm in the cosme.net awards for 2009.

Nivea Peach - I love the peach scent of this one. Whenever I put it on people always say it smells really good :) This is also a conditioning lip balm but can feel like it just sits on your lips a bit and doesn't sink in as well as the Moilip. Think it's also only available in Japan. I stocked up on these when i was there haha.

Kose Vague - This used to be my favourite before I tried the Moilip. It is made of food grade ingredients and doesn't have a scent. The only complaint I have about this one is that the tube is soooo small. I think I have gone through 5 of these already and have another 5 stashed away waiting for me to use them. The gold metal packaging is really pretty though.

Nivea Peach

Kose Vague

Shiseido Moilip