Brand: Jane Iredale
Range: Just Kissed Lip Cheek Stain
Shade: Forever Pink:
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• A natural lip and cheek stain that works with your skin chemistry to achieve a customised rosy flush of colour
• Contains olive butter, avocado butter, wild rose wax, rose flower wax and beeswax to provide long lasting moisturisation
• On lips: Because my lips are already pigmented, it only enhanced my own lip tone slightly for a subtle flushed lip tint.
• On cheeks: Use sparingly on cheeks & blend before it stains! If you are over zealous like I was, this deceptively clear balm is capable of achieving a really bright flush (on me it was in between an apricot pink and flamingo pink)
• Verdict: Just like cream blush, cheek stains need practice and spare no delays with blending before it stains.  Personally I love this much more on lips, as it’s easier to use, looks natural and requires no blending.  Plus the long lasting moisture makes this great for the office, weekends or those who live only on lip balm.

Available at Jane Iredale stockists & online.

This product was provided for consideration.

Brand: Lanolips
Range: Lip Ointment with Colour SPF 15
Shade: Mulberry (Limited Edition)
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• This Christmas, Lanolips has released a limited edition shade ‘Mulberry’, available in a gift set together with the cult favourite 101 Ointment and Rose Balm Intense for Very Dry Hands & Nails for only $24.95 AUD (valued at $43.85).  Available exclusively at Myer.
• Mulberry is a sheer berry tint that’s perfect for Christmas.  It’s so sheer you won’t have to worry about it smearing it on your teeth!
• Contains over 60% medical grade Lanolin, vitamin E and natural oils.
• Verdict: A stocking filler that’s guaranteed to please – be it friends, family or an office Kris Kringle.

Two thumbs up for a berry shade that blends seamlessly over lip lines.

I received this as part of the Melbourne Beauty Bloggers Weekend 2011.

Brand: Hello Kitty
Range: Lip Balm
Shade: Kawaii Kiss
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Hello Kitty Cosmetics has arrived in Australia exclusive to Priceline and is European designed and formulated.
• Featured in an irresistibly cute metal tin, this lip balm is rose scented and contains shea butter, apricot kernel and Vitamin E to nourish lips.
• Available in 4 shades – Sweet Kiss, Kiss Me, Kawaii Kiss (pictured), French Kiss
• Verdict: This has got to be the most pigmented lip balm I have ever tried! Kawaii Kiss is indeed a kawai bold pink that lasts reasonably well, leaving behind a pink stain.   It applies more smoothly than pigmented lipstick and gives lips a softened look, making it an all round winner in my books.

Brand: Clinique
Range: Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm
Shade: Graped-up
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Packaged in a shade-matched wind-up crayon pencil, Chubby Sticks are balm-like in formula that provide a tint of colour that’s surprisingly buildable in coverage.
• Contains a blend of butters (shea butter, mango seed butter & jojoba seed oil), oils and antioxidants to protects lips and provides long lasting moisture even hours later.
• Available in 8 shades ranging from nudes, pinks and melons, Graped-up looks like a raisiny rhubarby shade on me.
• Allergy & dermatologist tested.  100% fragrance free.   
• Verdict: These are the “grown up” / work friendly version of all the jumbo lip pencils I’ve swatched to date (eg. Australis, Eyeko). Whilst they aren’t as glossy as Australis Show Stopper Gloss Sticks, Chubby Sticks are packed with moisture and provide long lasting moisture that won’t leave your lips feeling parched in between touch ups.  Best of all, it doesn’t need any sharpening.
• Link Love: Check out Jacie’s swatch of shade Mega Melon at You’ve Got Nail.

RRP: $35 AUD

This product was sent for consideration.

Brand: Invisible Zinc
Range: Tinted Lip & Cheek Balm SPF30+
Shade: Lip Pink + 1
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Say goodbye to zinc war paint & say hello to this lip & cheek tint that offers SPF30+ protection
• The only active ingredient is Zinc Oxide, a mineral UV filter which provides physical sun protection from UVA and UVB.
• Lip Pink +1 is described as “the perfect pink for every skin tone” which looks more like rhubarb shade to me.
• This chubby stick is about 2.5 cm wide & 6.5 cm tall, like a really short glue stick.
• On Lips: A matte waxy finish that gives lips a subtle rhubarb tint.
• On Cheeks: The waxy texture makes it longer lasting than cream blushes during summer. Easy to apply – 2 swipes on each cheek, blend for 2 seconds & you’re done.  The shade is very similar to Becca Beach Tint in “Watermelon“.
• Verdict: Most SPF lip balms apply too thinly or melt easily due to liquid texture, but this one stays put well.  Although rhubarb doesn’t sound like the world’s most exciting shade, I find it goes really well with bare-faced summer looks & the shade is growing on me.

RRP: $18 AUD

This product was sent for consideration.