lip care: pots, tubes, & sticks

i will admit that even though i am a full blown beauty junkie (acceptance is the first step, yes?) i still neglect a certain area: the lips. even though i am starting to venture tentatively into the world of lip colors, on a realistic level i skip out on applying any color to my lips and instead heavily rely on some trusty clear balm. even if you aren't a beauty junky, you most likely have had some kind of balm experience. it is practically toiletry basics 101. so here i am, dedicating a ramble on some balms in my stash. some tried and true while others being brand new.

THE STICKS
the easiest form of application.

AVON DEW KISS
this is the first chapstick i ever used since my mother always had a huge stock of these. after being exposed to the beauty world and all it has to offer i can safely say i won't be returning back to using this any time soon. it is very affordable, a whopping 99 cents, and it moisturizes pretty well. however the scent is very "grandma" and probably the worst characteristic of all is it gives me the dreaded lip ring residue. my sister to this day still enjoys this. to each his own!

BURT'S BEES
a cult product. i enjoy the peppermint tingle and the way it absorbs into the lips quickly. this is a VERY waxy balm which isn't everyone's cup of tea. i feel as though men would enjoy this product since once applied it doesn't stick around like most balms do. i don't love this nor do i hate it. at times i actually appreciate the way it doesn't give my lips some slip. sometimes i like the matte yet moisturized and soft look.

THE POTS
the most unsanitary yet usually yields the most product.

BLISTEX LIP MEDEX
the little magic blue pot. i usually apply this at night before i go to bed or when my lips need some intensive work. i love the menthol tingle, the way it makes my lips feel, and how long a pot lasts for me. i think this will always be in my lip care forever and ever. i don't particularly like to apply this during the day though. a bit too medicinal.

THE BODY SHOP SWEET LEMON
this is ok. nothing revolutionary. it works and smells like lemons which is a plus. i find the nourishment doesn't last long enough for my liking. the texture is a bit firm and tacky in the pot but once smeared on the lips it thins out.

BLISTEX DAILY CONDITIONING TREATMENT
my sister just picked this up so i have only used it a couple times. i will have to update you on how it performs. so far it seems like a less intensive and medicinal form of the lip medex.

NUXE RIEVE DE MIEL
i recently picked this up since i have heard such great things about the brand. it smells like lemons and has a surprisingly more emollient feel to it than i thought it would. perhaps it will show up in one of my future vain rambling posts...

THE TUBES
the annoying applicators. i always squeeze the product onto my finger rather than direct application. personal preference!

JACK BLACK LEMON CHAMOMILE
another item i recently picked up to try. i almost got the original formula but i love lemon scented things too much. will update you guys on my opinion once i use it.

KIEHL'S LIP BALM #1
i briefly gave my thoughts on this in THIS post. i still feel the same way.

CARMEX CHERRY
i am probably in the minority here when i say i am not a fan of carmex. i will only use it in emergency situations (aka no other balms present and my lips being in desperate need of rescue.) although it DOES work and relieves my chapped lips, i really can't stand the taste. which is weird since i normally don't mind medicinal scents. perhaps it is a certain chemical that deters me?

i have tried other balms that aren't pictured (nivea milk and honey, blistex medicated lip ointment, soft lips, and of course lip smackers) and they aren't pictured because i don't have them on hand and wouldn't buy any of them again. lip smackers WERE fun though. collecting the flavors was the best part :)

what are your favorite balms? any you wish to try? i am curious about laura mercier's lip silk...

cleasing oil ramble

i feel when it comes to cleansing oils people either can't stand them or they love them, myself being in the latter category. my first taste of the oily concoction was a couple years back in the form of a mini shu uemura bottle that was conveniently located in the train of bins by the checkout counter in sephora, a section i always enjoy taking a gander at before leaving. presently i have tried versions by shu uemura, mac, and boscia. here are my thoughts on what i have tried:

MAC CLEANSE OFF OIL(not pictured)
i currently do not have this in my stash but i have bought this a few times and have enjoyed it. however, since boscia is slightly less expensive and feels a bit better on my skin, i doubt i will return to this. i would recommend it though if you are curious about it. it gets the job done and breaks up makeup well.

BOSCIA MAKEUP BREAK UP OIL
i recently bought this and have been using it for about a week now. so far i like this more than mac's version. it feels nicer and rinses off easier.

SHU UEMURA CLEANSING OIL
i have only tried some green version(shown in THIS post) but i am unsure which formulation it was since it wasn't stated on the box. i remember loving the scent (cucumber) but that is about all i remember. i recently picked up the pink fresh pore clarifying version and will try it after i finish up the boscia. i am very curious to see how it performs.

overall i prefer using oil cleansers for face makeup removal which i then follow up with another cleanser + clarisonic. for eye makeup i find the best method of removal is with a cotton round + remover since i wear lots of kohl liner and mascara. but, since i do have my lazy moments (it happens from time to time :P), i have used oil cleansers to remove everything. for all three brands i still ended up with makeup residue the next morning around my eyes when used this way.

why do i like oil cleansers? well i suppose for one i think they are neat. i visualize all the makeup particles breaking up and being lifted from their job of being stuck on my face for the day and being emulsified gently away into the milky residue it was meant to be.

besides me thinking the whole washing mechanism is neat, my skin loves cleansing oils. it doesn't feel stripped and it helps with my winter dryness. i was very skeptical of the "like dissolves like" theory but my skin seems to agree with it. my skin has returned back to its normal hydrated (and oily) self which i welcome with open arms. oily is easier to deal with than dryness, at least to me!

what are your thoughts on cleansing oils? are you afraid to try them, hate them, love them, or are you in the middle ground? if you hate them i'd love to hear your reasoning. my guess is because of the unorthodox feel as it does take some getting used to. and if you love them i'm expecting to hear any favorites you have :)

005 items used up

time for another installment of items i've used up. i got through a good amount of products this time around so i feel very accomplished.

HAIR

MOROCCAN OIL EXTRA VOLUME CONDITIONER
love the smell of this and it makes my hair super soft. doesnt really add much shine or a significant amount of volume but it did keep my hair pretty healthy.

SUAVE HEAT PROTECTANT
sprays out evenly, smells good, and cheap. i have only tried this and tresemme's version. im not sure what to try next, any suggestions?

OJON DAMAGE REVERSE CONDITIONER
a bit of a herbal scent and a thick consistency. i didnt see much of a difference in terms of "damage reversal" so i wouldnt really recommend this. it is also expensive.

ORGANIX BRAZILIAN KERATIN THERAPY CONDITIONER
i have tried organix's coconut milk conditioner and that dried out my hair horribly. i decided to try out the brazilian and moroccan lines as i heard so much about them. this conditioner was nice. i liked the scent and it made my hair super soft. i would get this again, but not right now. i want something that adds more moisture and shine to my hair.

ORGANIX MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL SHAMPOO
this was ok. i dont like shampoos that are difficult to lather up and this didnt lather very well and i felt like it made my hair a bit dry. i wouldnt buy this again

SKIN/BODY CARE

CERAVE LOTION
i've rambled enough about this. it is my HG moisturizer. but i must mentioned that during the winter/colder months this does not cut it, my skin becomes too dry and this isn't enough to help my poor dehydrated skin. so this is my HG moisturizer under normal conditions. with that being said, i would assume if your skin type is very dehydrated all the time this might not be the best option for you.

DR. BRONNER TEA TREE LIQUID SOAP
i've already written my thoughts about this soap. i love using it for dry patches on my body. i did not like this particular scent so i will try other scents instead. i have already picked up the almond version (smells much much better). i will always have some version of dr bronner's soap in my shower.

CLARISONIC REFRESHING GEL CLEANSER
this came with my clarisonic mia when i purchased it. i really enjoyed this cleanser. it didnt overstrip, it foamed nicely, it smelled nice. i wouldnt buy the full size though. i like my clarins cottonseed cleanser more than this.

CARESS PASSIONATE SPELL BODY WASH
i really enjoyed this scent. i would definitely repurchase. i always enjoy caress body soaps. they smell good, lather up/clean well, and are affordable.

CETAPHIL CLEANSER
i briefly touched on this in my skincare ramble post. i dont like this, wouldnt recommend it, and will not repurchase. it doesnt clean thoroughly, it smells like chemicals, it broke me out. toss!

THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN E MIST
i liked this. i would not buy it full price but if it was on sale i would consider it. i didnt notice any moisturizing benefits but it was refreshing and helped set my makeup. if you see it on sale try it!

MAKEUP

LOREAL POWER VOLUME COLLAGEN MASCARA
this was ok. nothing special but nothing horrible. it clumped a bit and didnt really give enough volume for my liking.

NEUTROGENA HEALTHY SKIN LIQUID MAKEUP FOUNDATION
this is a decent drugstore foundation. not very good at oil control but it looks nice on the skin. if i wasnt able to purchase any high end foundation i would most likely pick this out again.

CARGO MED MATTE BRONZER
FINALLY! took me over 2 years to use this up but i feel very accomplished for doing so. i liked this. but i dont plan to try it out again, i am too curious about other brands. but i would recommend it if you are eying it.

MAC FLORABUNDANCE LIPGLASS
i won't be repurchasing ANY mac lipglosses. not sure if all formulas are created equal but this one was awful. shame since i liked the milky color. it is sticky and it leaves a horrible residue ring on my lips with time. can i back to mac this? hmm..

that's all for this round! here's to hoping i have more makeup items used up to show for next time...

sephora VIB sale picks

i loved seeing everyone's picks from the sephora VIB sale. i am nosy like that :) i thought i would post a quick blurb on my picks this year.

BOSCIA MAKEUP BREAKUP COOL CLEANSING OIL
i know not everyone is a fan of cleansing oils but i personally really love them. i dont mind using it for taking off all makeup, eyes included, but my preferred method is using it pre-cleansing. i will use a couple pumps of this to take off my face makeup and follow with my clarisonic + whatever cleanser i am using at the time. so far i really like this! it has aided in adding much needed moisture to my face.

CLARISONIC DEEP PORE CLEANSING BRUSH HEADS
boring purchase, but i picked up the deep pore brush heads. so far i have only tried the original.

YSL GLOSSY STAIN #1 - VIOLET EDITION
i have been wanting to try these out for quite some time now. i picked the deepest and darkest shade in the range. i figured if i wanted a stain product i should pick a darker color! i have worn this once. need to test it out some more before i give my final thoughts!

KOH GEN DO AQUA FOUNDATION
i did a review on this product already. link! but i really like everything about this foundation except the high price and not so great wear time during the hot months. i picked up shade OC-2 this time.

OLE HENRICKSEN ENLIGHTEN ME
i was intrigued by this. i have been obsessed with skincare lately. i keep picking up different things and storing them away to try! i need to rein myself in. this will be my first hyper-pigmentation focused product. hopefully it will help with my skin's texture and scarring.

NARS HEAT WAVE LIPSTICK
i have talked about this before. finally picked it up! check out THIS post to see me trying it on at sephora.

WEARING YSL GLOSSY STAIN #1

interesting mix for me this year. no blush, all skincare and lip products! for my USA readers, have a happy thanksgiving! i'm off to stuff myself with turkey and pies :D

so my VIB readers, what did you pick up this year?

fall makeup routine as of late

remember when i did THIS post talking about my parched skin? well it looks like this is becoming a yearly occurrence. to accommodate my drier skin, i am back to wearing no powder and all cream products. here is what i am using this time around:

URBAN DECAY DE-SLICK SPRAY
i touched on this briefly in my post about facial sprays. i like to use this to seal in my makeup and it prevents my face from looking like a complete oil slick throughout most of my day.

DIOR SCULPT LIFTING SMOOTHING CONCEALER
the product name is quite a mouthful. i have been using this religiously under my eyes. easy to apply and it lasts all day. it does crease if you apply too much so applying the right amount is key.

GA EYES TO KILL #28
not really a cream product, but i have been reaching for this daily. it is pretty and flattering all on its own all over the lid and under the lash line. such an easy product to work with.

CHANEL SOLEIL TAN DE CHANEL
my only cream bronzer. i previously didn't reach for this often because finding a brush to apply it is hard! but i discovered using the sephora platinum 55 brush works great (though it is a bit big for the job). i still really enjoy this product, very natural on.

KIEL'S LIP BALM #1 MANGO
when i first starting using this, i was in love with it because it made my lips look so plump and nourished when first applied. it smells like mangoes and it has the texture of a more emollient petroleum jelly. however, the more i used it the more i didn't like it as much. after time (a few hours) the product just sits on my lips and doesn't feel very hydrating anymore so i feel the need to wipe it off. i wouldn't recommend this, it is expensive and i think cheaper lip balms perform better.

KOH GEN DO AQUA FOUNDATION
this has really been great during these colder months since i am not as oily and it doesn't slide off my face. the coverage is perfect for during the day since it is light but still does a great job at blurring my pores and imperfections. i am almost done with it so i am debating if i want to pick up another bottle from the sephora VIB sale or if i want to try something else.

BOBBI BROWN POT ROUGE IN VELVET PLUM
i snatched this up before bobbi brown repackaged the pot rouges. i knew i wanted a darker color since my collection is mostly summery or natural colors. i wont babble anymore about the pot rouges (my favorite cream blush formula so far) since i think i have done that countless times already. this is a nice fall color that isnt too intense.

BECCA SHIMMERING SKIN PERFECTOR IN MOONSTONE
i picked this up in NYC at sephora (while i was with/met J :D). i must say i am really enjoying this. it is so subtle and natural. im surprised i enjoy this as much as i do since i usually like my highlighter to be very noticeable. i definitely preferred moonstone over the other shades, it matches my skin the best.

DARK LIPS

i have been really digging dark lips. it is so typical for this time of year but not typical of me since i normally am not a lipstick wearer. if i am not wearing the kiehl's balm i am either wearing revlon color burst lipstick in plum (left) or mac's media lipstick (right). both equally stunning on, but unfortunately both are very drying. mac is a bit more forgiving but revlon's colorburst really sucks my lips dry. shame since i love the color.

so my readers, i leave you with a request. what is your favorite winter/heavy duty moisturizer? i am currently using la roche posay toleriane but i still feel like my skin could use an extra surge of moisture. i would love to hear your suggestions!

NB: for some of the products mentioned above, there are links available for you to click to get to posts i have done already in the past on my blog :)