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: Carmex
Range: Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm
Shade: Clear Satin Gloss
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• A richly moisturising lip balm with SPF 15, Vitamin E and aloe to soften and condition lips.
• Clear Satin Gloss lives up to its name & glides smoothly with a buttery texture, leaving a generous veil of moisture with a satin shine.
• Not quite minty, but the menthol and camphor ingredients do give a cooling sensation.
• The design is stylish from top to toe – in a sleek champagne case with a slanted applicator.  Definitely stands out from the rest of the stumpy stick balms that come in bright primary colours.
• Available in 5 shades – clear satin gloss (pictured), sheer pink, sheer peach, sheer berry and sheer plum.
• Verdict: Two thumbs up for the moisture factor.  However being high in moisture, the buttery formula does create more “slip” under lipstick unless you’re prepping lips for a matte formula.  I recommend this more for daily on-the-go maintenance rather than as a lipstick base.

Click to view enlarged image of the ingredients.

I received this product as part of the Australian 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: Burts Bees
Range: Tinted Lip Balm
Shades: Rose, Pink Blossom, Honeysuckle
Swatched by the lovely: Bluebell

• Burts Bee’s new shea butter lip balms is 100% natural and gives a hint of colour with a soft glossy moisturised finish.
• Available in 6 shades – Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Tiger Lily, Pink Blossom, Red Dahlia and Rose.
• The butter texture is simply delightful to wear. Highly moisturising, smoothing &  one of my top recommended stick lip balms.
• Thanks Bluebell for the swatch! 

(L-R) Rose, Pink Blossom, Honeysuckle

Rose

Pink Blossom

Honeysuckle

Brand: Blistex
Range: Lip Conditioner, Intensive Repair, Strawberry, Silk & Shine, Soothe & Smooth, Ultra Lip Balm & Complete Moisture
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

Fact #1: Lip tissue is mucous membrane, unlike ordinary skin. Moisture evaporates much faster from the lips causing them to dry out easily.
Fact #2: Lips also have little or no melanin, the natural skin pigment that screens out the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. And lips don’t tan – they burn & accentuate lip lines.
Fact #3: When it comes to the sun & snow, most of us take our lips for granted.  If you never leave home without sunscreen on your face, the same should apply to your lips.

To avoid forgetting to apply SPF lip balm, keep a few in different spots.  I have one in my makeup bag (for when I’m waiting for public transport),  one on my dresser (for when I’m applying makeup) and one on my work desk (for touch ups & before I head out to lunch or home).  Blistex has every kind of lip balm under the sun (excuse the pun) that treats all lip care needs, from care to cure. They are all reasonably priced which makes it affordable to keep a few handy.

Lip Conditioner SPF20:  The Blistex cult classic – for daily use to maintain soft, smooth, healthy lips. Contains aloe vera, cocoa butter and Vitamins A & E. This was my go to lip balm for years and years. I have gone through countless jars of these. RRP: $4.95 AUD.

Intensive Repair: For those who love the cooling, tingling sensation of a lip balm that provides fast relief from the discomfort of dry, chapped lips. RRP: $5.95 AUD.

Strawberry SPF16: For those who love the sweeter things in life.  Contains real fruit extracts (Vitamins A, B5, C) with a soft creamy texture. PABA-free. RRP: $3.95 AUD.

Silk & Shine SPF15:  Contains silk proteins and vitamins (A, B5, E) to moisturise lips with a satin feel & light glossy finish. RRP: $3.95 AUD.

Soothe & Smooth SPF30+: Sweet tasting ultra-rich moisturising gel formula that is dispensed via a textured applicator tip to stimulate lips and smooth away flakes.  Contains jojoba, sunflower oil & shea butter. For those that love a rich moisture barrier to protect against the elements. RRP: $4.95 AUD.

Ultra Lip Balm SPF30+: Vanilla flavour, water resistant for up to 80 minutes and PABA-free for sensitive lips. Lightweight in texture & moderate in moisture, this is better as a high SPF barrier.  RRP: $3.95 AUD

Complete Moisture SPF15: For desert-dry cracked lips that need an oasis of relief, Blistex has produced the only lip balm that contains actual moisture to both the lip surface and penetrate underneath the skin.  This super hydrating lip balm has a citrus taste, and your lips instantly feel revived and soothed. RRP: $3.95 AUD.

Verdict: My favourite balm out of all is Complete Moisture (swatched below).  It was love at first application & deserves Holy Grail status as it not only revives even the driest lips, it’s also great as a lipstick base as it leaves a non-slip surface for lipstick to grip onto & create a wet shine finish without being streaky.  As for the rest, each of them has its place depending on your preference & lifestyle.  Personally, I have a soft spot for any lip balms that give me the fastest recovery from chapping as it happens to me more often than you think!

 

Blistex Complete Moisture

These products were provided for consideration.