Brand: Fusion Beauty
Range: LipFusion XL
Shade: Clear
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Unlike other lip plumpers out there, LipFusion XL is meant to be applied as an overnight to plump your lips gently while your sleep.
• LipFusion XL combines twice the pure active collagen of LipFusion’s original plumpers with hyaluronic acid, and is designed to work with the body’s natural water and swells the marine collagen-filling spheres 50 times larger.
• Once applied, lips will swell continually for hours to visibly “fill” lines, boost volume, and keep lips moist.
• Moderate tingling sensation.
• Verdict: The plumping effect brought back the natural volume of my lips, which lasted throughout the evening.  By the morning, I have to admit it was hard to tell whether my lips were the same size as the night before, as my lip volume is enhanced naturally when I massage my lips as part of my face washing routine.  Having said that, I believe it does work due to the fact that the plumping effect lasts throughout the day even through meals.  If this is still around 10 years later, I think I will revisit this product again in my 40′s as an alternative to injectables.

This swatch is based on a sample satchet.

Brand: Clinique
Range: Repairwear Intensive Lip Treatment
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• A smooth, gel-based lip treatment that repairs the look of wrinkles and chapped lips.
• Protects natural collagen production and provides antioxidant protection.
• Incredibly moisturising and provides long lasting moisture barrier protection so lips stay soft and hydrated.
• Verdict: Regardless of the fact that the ingredient list is so long that it spans 3 sides of the packaging, this has got to be the hardest working stick balm I have ever tried to date.   The moisturising and healing properties are unparalleled (in the stick balm category) and my lips stay smooth, soft and lip lines are dramatically reduced within a few days when used morning & night .   The gel texture is long lasting and keeps lips moisturised throughout the day, and even heals lips overnight.  It is a little expensive but if you are as serious about your lips as I am, I think the results are worth it.

A lip balm that dramatically reduces  lip lines -  I’m sold!

RRP: $48 AUD

This product was provided for consideration.

Brand: Jack Black
Range: Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
Flavour: Black Tea & Black Berry
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Jack Black’s lip balms are raved all over the blogsphere, and it’s not hard to figure out why once you try it.
• Rich & emollient in texture, it not only instantly relieves lips from dryness, but softens it and provides long lasting moisture.
• The thick barrier not only serves as daytime protection from the elements, but also helps lips recover overnight.
• Contains shea butter, avocado oil, Vitamin E, Green Tea & protects lips from both UVA & UVB rays.
• Free from petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances.
• Comes in a slanted squeeze-tube for hands-free application.
• Available in a myriad of flavours, I tried Black Tea & Black Berry – the flavour is true to its name but more subtle than the “afternoon tea” kick I was hoping for.
• Verdict: A must-try lip balm that lives up to its hype, loved by both men and women. HG material, highly recommended. Grab it at Sephora & GetJackBlack.com.

I purchased this product.

Brand: Elizabeth Arden
Range: 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Cult classic multi-purpose balm that soothes, restores, calms and relieves chapped dry skin & minor skin irritations.
• Can also be used to tame brows, add a dewy finish to eyelids & cheekbones, or gloss up lips.
• Texture is a very emollient balm due to the high percentage of petrolatum (56.8% to be exact).  Also contains Lanolin, Mineral Oil, Salicylic Acid, Propylparaben, Castor Oil and Corn Oil.
• I bought this to apply as a skin barrier to protect my nose, cheeks and lips from minus 25 degree weather, and slathered it on my hands overnight to recover from exposure to hard water & extremely low humidity. This kept my skin smooth and protected throughout my month long stay & helped me fake dewiness in a climate where laundry dries indoors in less than half a day.
• As a lip product, I find it effective at moisturising and reviving dry “flat looking” lips with a high gloss finish.  Results are moderate when used for overnight lip recovery.
• Verdict: Love it as a multi-purpose balm, great for prepping lips while applying makeup. But for speedy recovery of chapped lips overnight, I’d opt for other higher strength lip balms instead.

I purchased this product.

Brand: Elizabeth Arden
Range: 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick SPF15
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Packaged like a lipstick, 8 Hour Lip Protectant Stick moistures and softens lips & provides antioxidant protection with Vitamin E.
• Available in Clear (pictured), and three translucent shades – Berry, Plum, and Blush in Australia.  (Interestingly, the US website features the shade ‘Honey’ but not ‘Blush’.)
• The moisture factor is exceptional for a stick-balm, but is still a notch down from emollient tube-based lip balms. That said, this is great as a moisturising lip base under lipstick as it absorbs quickly & doesn’t make lipstick slide.
• Dermatologist and allergy tested. Tastes similar to 8 Hour Skin Protectant.
• Verdict: This is THE stick lip balm / base for those that wear lipstick religiously & like the idea of a day-time lip balm disguised as lipstick.

Gives a healthy sheen on direct application, but disappears once absorbed completely so that your lips stay soft & lipstick won’t slide.

I purchased this as part of the Eight Hour Cream Set at duty free.