Bondi Sands Lip Balm with Vitamin E

 

 

Texture: Smooth and buttery

Flavour: Toasted Coconut

Finish: Clear

Lasting power: Around three hours

Colour: Clear

Longevity: 12 months

Size: 15g, 0.52oz.

Price: $5.95

Availability: Bondi Sands website, Priceline and chemists.

Website: Bondi Sands

Rating: 5

If you like this, try: La Roche_Posay Cicalfate balm, Crazy Rumors, Dermal Therapy.

Ingredients: ricinus communis seed oil, octyldodecanol, syntehitc beeswax, hydrogenated polydecene, cera microcristallina, cocoglycerides, butylene glycol, cetyl palmitate, butyrospermum parkii butter, simmondsia chinensis seed oil, aroma, peg-30 dipolhydroxystearate, triacontanyl pvp, tocopheryl acetate, saccarin, anisyl alcohol.

We go through a lot of lip balm in my house. Between Chai and I we're constantly applying balm. Chai gets dryness around his mouth so is constantly slathering cream on and around his lips. Because he's putting it around his mouth he prefers clear creams that sink in quickly and aren't glossy. Bondi Sands is his latest obsession. He loves it so much that he has three tubes on the go. You know a balm is good when Chai has them all over the place. 

I too love this balm. It's smooth, buttery and super hydrating. The toasted coconut flavour is gorgeous.

Herbs and Heart Lip Glide

Texture: Rich and creamy.

Flavour: None.

Fragrance: A light cocoa scent.

Finish: Slightly glossy.

Lasting power: Four hours.

Colour: Clear.

Longevity: 6 months.

Size: 4.75g.

Price: $8

Availability:  Herbs and Heart website

Website:  https://herbsandheart.com/collections/face/products/lip-glide

Discontinued:  No.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: 5 stars

If you like this, try: Burt's Bees Mango Butter Lip Balm, Crazy Rumors balms.

 Ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, cherry seed oil, hydrogenated sweet almond oil, candelilla wax, sweet almond oil, beeswax, aloe barbadensis leaf, natural sweetener, vitamin e.

When I first started using this balm I wasn't expecting to like it. The first few applications felt very waxy and heavy. One I'd worn off the top layer it was a totally different story. This is now one of my favourite lip balms. It's very rich without being goopy or waxy, it's very hydrating, doesn't melt in my pocket and leaves my lips feeling very soft.

I used this over winter and it was the perfect winter balm. I wish I'd saved a little bit to try it out in summer, but I'm sure it'd be great in summer too.
At only $8 this is a bargain and one that I'll definitely be purchasing again.

Lost Planet Cacao Mint Lip Butter

Texture: Smooth and creamy

Flavour: Choc mint

Fragrance: Choc mint

Finish: Glossy

Lasting power: Around two hours

Colour: Clear

Longevity: Around twelve months

Size: 8 grams

Price: $12 (AUD)

Availability: https://www.facebook.com/lostplanetsw/

Website: https://www.instagram.com/lostplanetsw/


Discontinued: No

Limited Edition: No

Rating: 4

If you like this, try: Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

Ingredients: cacao butter, coconut oil, candelilla wax, hemp seed oil, vanilla extract, vitamin e, peppermint oil.

I'm slowly trying to switch to zero waste products, which with lip balms isn't very easy. Whilst I appreciate cardboard packaging it can get quite greasy and messy.
The other issue is that if the balm goes all lumpy it can't be saved.
That's what happened with my Lost Planet balm. The cacao butter went lumpy and I couldn't heat it up to fix it so I had to throw it out. Thankfully it's compostible so I buried it in the garden.

If you're a lip balm collector this isn't the balm for you. This is a balm for someone who is going to use it exclusively until it's finished. Being organic and natural it's not a long lasting balm so you need to use it within twelve months or it will go off.

Despite all that I really enjoyed my Lost Planet lip butters and would buy one again if I came across it.

A Buzz From The Bees Lip Balm

 

Photo from A Buzz from the Bees website

Texture: Smooth, creamy and super hydrating

Flavour: Sweet honey

Fragrance: Honey

Finish: Glossy

Lasting power: Approximately three hours

Colour: Clear


Size: 4.5g

Price: $8.95

Availability: Click here for stockists

Website: A Buzz From the Bees

Discontinued: I'm not sure. I've been unable to get in contact with the company however I can still find the balms in store and their website is still live.

Limited Edition: No

Rating: 5

If you like this, try: Crazy Rumors.

Ingredients: virgin olive oil, yellow beeswax, honey.

Oh how I love this beautiful balm. It's one of my all time favourite balms. My only wish is that it was easier to get hold of. The ingredients are simple, it is super hydrating and tastes beautiful. 
There's nothing I can fault. If you like sweet lip balms you'll love A Buzz From The Bees.

Drunk Elephant Lippe

Image from Drunk Elephant website

Texture: Soft and buttery

Flavour: Sweet

Fragrance: None

Finish: Soft shine

Lasting power: Around four hours

Colour: Clear

Longevity: 24 months

Size: 3.7 g

Price: $28 (AUD)

Availability: Mecca Cosmetica, Drunk Elephant Website and various other online stockists

Website: Drunk Elephant

Discontinued: No

Limited Edition: No

Rating: 4.5

If you like this, try: Sol de Janeiro Brazillian Kiss Cupaucu Lip Butter, The Body Shop Lip Butter, Natralus Paw Paw Lip Butter.

Ingredients: Coconut oil, sclerocarya birrea seed oil, shea butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, beeswax, ozokerite, polyisobutene, soybean oil, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, camellia oleifera leaf extract, dictyopteris membranacea extract, magnolia grandiflora bark extract, safflower seed oil, avocade oil, mongongo kernel oil, cranberry seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ethylhexyl palmittate, dicaprylyl ether, tribehenin, sorbitan isostearate, lauryl alcohol, linoleic acide, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol. 

Oh how I love this beautiful balm. I love it so much I bought a back-up, which is a little crazy considering my out of control lip balm collection. 
There's so much to love, the beautiful texture, the gorgeous flavour and how great it makes my lips feel. 
This is designed to be a lip plumper and to reduce fine lines around the lips. It can also be used around the eyes and on other dry patches. I have only used it on my lips, so can't say how effective it is as a multi purpose balm.

The reason I didn't give Lippe five stars is two factored. Firstly, the tube is short and chubby so not convenient for carrying in my pocket. Secondly, I used it up so quickly. I only used it whilst I was at home (so probably three times a day or less) and it was gone within a month. 
If it wasn't for those two factors I would have given it five stars. 

Aside from the gorgeous buttery texture, the flavour is wonderful, it leaves my lips tasting beautifully sweet even after the balm has worn off. 

I didn't notice any reduction to the lines around my lips, however I wasn't really applying it to those areas. With my next tube I'll apply it on my lip lines and see if it makes a difference.
I also didn't notice any plumping effects, but really, what balm does plump? If you know of a lip balm that really does plump lips I'd love to hear about it!

Salt by Hendrix Blush Lip Butter

Image from Salt by Hendrix

Texture: Slightly gritty

Flavour: None

Fragrance: None

Finish: Glossy

Lasting power: A few hours

Colour: Sheer light pink

Size: 10ml

Price: $14.95

Availability: Salt by Hendrix website and

Website: www.saltbyhendrix.com

Rating: 3.5

If you like this, try: The Body Shop Lip Butter

Ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, carnauba wax, argan oil, jojoba oil, mandarin oil, vitamin E, iron oxide.

I'd like to give you a little background on the Salt by Hendrix range, but their website is sorely lacking, so I know nothing about them. 

Their lip butter is an interesting little thing. When I first scoop it out it feels a little dry and slightly gritty but once I rub it into my lips the grittiness disappears and I'm left with a smooth, soft balm.

The tint is very sheer, on my lips it's undetectable, however I have quite pigmented lips. If you have pale lips it would be noticeable. There is also a rose colour that is darker if you are wanting something with more colour to it. 

I gave this a rating of 3.5 because it's unremarkable. It's not great, it's not awful. It gets the job done.

Malin and Goetz Mojito Lip Balm

Image from Mecca Cosmetica

Texture:  Smooth gel

Flavour: Mojito

Fragrance: Mojito

Finish: Glossy

Lasting power: Three to four hours

Colour: Clear

Size: 7g

Price: $20

Availability: Mecca Cosmetica and the Malin and Goetz website

Website: www.malinandgoetz.com

Rating: 5

If you like this, try: Sara Happ The Lip Slip

Ingredients: hydrogenated polyisobutene, butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, ethylhexyl palmitate, tricaprylin, benzyl benzoate, phenoxyethanol, fragrance, limonene, citral, bisabolol

Oh how I love this balm. It's like the perfect blend of lip balm and lip gloss. It feels and looks like a gloss without the stickiness and with the added bonus of being super hydrating. It's perfection. The tube is small so the ideal size for carrying around in my pocket or handbag. 

There's nothing I don't love about my Malin and Goetz mojito lip balm, it's beautiful and one that I'll definitely repurchase. 

Chantecaille Lip Potion

Image from Mecca Cosmetica

Texture: Very soft.

Flavour: None.

Fragrance: Rose.

Finish: Glossy.

Lasting power: A few hours.

Colour: Light pink, not enough to be noticeable if you have pigmented lips.

Longevity: 24 months.

Size: 016 oz/4.5g

Price: $64.

Availability: Mecca Cosmetica in Australia, Chantecaille website.

Website: www.chantecaille.com

Rating: 4

If you like this, try: By Terry Baume De Rose, Vaseline Rosy Lips.

Ingredients:hydrogenated polydecene, dicalcium phosphate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, triisodecyl trimelliatate, hydrogenated styrene/isoprene, copollymer, polyethylene, disteardimonium hectorite, triisostearin, propylene carbonate, octyldodecanol, mica, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, euphorbia, candelilla wax, hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides, squalane, shea butter extract, hydrogenated rice bran wax, tocopherol, sweet almond oil, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, isopropyl myristate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydrogenated palm glycerides, hydrogenated castor oil, fragrance, hydrogenated vegetable oil, phytosteryl isostearate, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, lavandula stoechas extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract.
May contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides, red 7 lake, citronellol, limonene, geraniol, eugenol, linalool, citral, farnesol.

This is a truly beautiful balm. It's a luxury product but worth every cent. Mine was a gift from my beautiful Emma, I used it sparingly to savour it, until the boys discovered it and fell in love. They used it up within a week!
As much as I didn't want them using my precious balm, it did wonders for Chai. He licks his lips so gets really dry, sore lips that usually take weeks to heal, even with lip balm applied every few hours. Using the Chantecaille balm his lips were healed in five days, the fastest they've ever been healed. Magic!

Rich in macadamia oil, shea butter, vitamin e and aloe, with rose and lavender flowers, Lip Potion heals and regenerates. It's one of the best healing lip balms I've ever used.

The texture is very unique, it's so soft that you'd expect it to be in a tube. It would be so much better if they did release it in a tube, the pot is bulky and the lid opens easily so you can't carry it around in your handbag. I only used mine at home, due to those factors. If it came in a squeeze tube it'd be perfect. 

If you're in the market for a luxe lip balm or searching for a present, Lip Potion is worth a look!
 

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick

Image credit

Texture: Smooth, slightly waxy but not in an unpleasant way.

Flavour: Chocolate!

Fragrance: Chocolate.

Finish: Softly shiny.

Lasting power: Three to four hours.

Colour: Clear.

Longevity: 36 months

Size: 4.2 grams

Price: No idea, it's not listed on The Body Shop website for some reason.

Availability: The Body Shop

Website: www.thebodyshop.com

Discontinued: In Australia, yes. It's still available in the US though.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: 4.5

If you like this, try: Burt's Bees, Suraya Brazil.

Ingredients: hydrogenated coconut oil, beeswax, olive fruit oil, candelila wax, cocoa butter, flavour, sweet almond oil, tocopheryl acetate, propylene glycol, water, matricaria extract, ammonium glycyrrhizate, calendula officinalis extract, tocopherol.

Whilst living in Australia is awesome, the lip balms that aren't available here is not awesome. The Body Shop's Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick is one of the great products that we can no longer get here, I have no idea why. It's a cruel world.

If you live in the US you can still buy these balms and I suggest you do, especially if you love chocolate scented balms. It has a very light chocolate flavour and smells amazing.

Buddha Balm Burnt Sugar Fig

Texture: Smooth and creamy

Flavour: Burnt Sugar Fig

Fragrance:  Sweet sugar

Finish: Slightly glossy

Lasting power: Two to three hours

Colour: Clear


Size: 4.25 grams

Price: $2.50

Discontinued: Yes, Buddha Balm is no longer available, apparently the company has closed down.

Limited Edition: No

Rating: 5 stars.

If you like this, try: Crazy Rumors, Ladybug Jane.

Ingredients: soybean oil, coconut oil, shea butter, lanolin oil, carnauba wax, candelila wax, beeswax, ozokerite, caprylic/capric triglyceride, vitamin e, saccharin, flavour, CI 77947 (zinc oxide), Karma Creatives Proprietary Herbal Blend.

If I had to choose my top ten lip balms my Buddha Balm would be one of them. Unfortunately it's been discontinued and I'm down to my second last tube. Sad days.
Those of you who like super sweet lip balms will love Buddha Balm. They're still floating around the interwebs, so if you see them, grab a few whilst you can.

Lush Strawberry Bombshell Lip Tint

Texture: Very hard and lumpy.

Flavour: Strawberry with a hint of mint.

Fragrance: Strawerry.

Finish: Matte.

Lasting power: At least six hours

Colour: Fuchsia pink.

Longevity: 14 months.

Size: 4 grams.

Price: $9.95 (AUD)

Availability: Lush stores nationally.

Website: lush.com.au


Discontinued: Yes.

Rating: 1

If you like this, try: Burt's Bees Tinted lip balm.

Ingredients: shea butter, kalahari melon oil, candelila wax, organic castor oil, organic illipe butter, extra virgin coconut oil, sunflower wax, cupacu butter, glycerine, caprylic/capric triglyceride, flavour, syntheitc flurophlogopite, organic agave syrup, fresh strawberries, silician mandarin oil, spearmint oil, ylang ylang oil, cetearyl alcohol polyvinylpyrrolidone. benzyl benzoate, citral, limonene, titanium dioxide, colour 77491, colour 45410:2.

I really wanted to love this balm but I can't, it's awful. I've held on to it and retried it for about eighteen months now but I can no longer deny the truth, it's a horrible balm. It's very hard, extremely lumpy and all round unpleasant. I tried melting it down to get rid of the lumps but it didn't work and it's basically an unusable waste of money. No wonder it's being discontinued. 

On the positive side, the colour is a beautiful bright pink that lasts for hours and it smells amazing. They had the right idea, hopefully they reformulate and bring it back bigger and better.

Miessence Jaffa Lip Balm

Image credit

Texture: Rich and creamy

Flavour: Very light chocolate/orange.

Fragrance: Jaffa.

Finish: Soft shine.

Lasting power: Three hours.

Colour: Clear.

Longevity: 6 months.

Size: 3.5gram/0.12oz

Price: $8.95

Availability: Health shops and their website.

Website: www.miessence.com

Discontinued: No.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: 4.5

If you like this, try: The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick.

Ingredients: Organic sunflower seed oil, organice shea fruit butter, organic beeswax, organic avocado fruit oil, organic sweet orange essential oil, organic vanilla CO2 extract, organic rosemary leaf CO2 extract, limonene.

Years ago I tried the Miessence Jaffa lip balm and it was a grainy, awful mess that ended up in the bin. Fast forward about ten years and I decided to give it another go. This time I was pleasantly surprised at how lovely it is. The texture is beautifully creamy, very hydrating and a pleasure to use. I love the slim tube, it fits easily in my pocket which is always a bonus. 

Coco Kind Original Lip Balm

Image credit

Texture: Creamy and smooth.

Flavour: Coconut.

Fragrance: Coconut.

Finish: Soft shine.

Lasting power: Three hours.

Colour: Clear.

Longevity: Not stated.

Size: 0.15oz/4.25ml.

Price: Around $4.

Availability: I purchased mine from iHerb, I've seen it at health shops and you can purchase from the Coco Kind website.

Website: www.cocokind.com


Discontinued: No.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: 1


Ingredients: Organic fair trade certified virgin coconut oil, organic yellow beeswax.

I really wanted to love this balm but I can't. It's so soft that it's unusable. The texture is what you'd expect for a balm that comes in a pot, not one that comes in a tube. Even in winter it's too soft to use, I end up with a thick layer of balm smeared over my lips which I have to wipe off, wasting the excess. The flavour and fragrance are beautiful as you'd expect from a coconut oil lip balm, it's just a shame about the texture. I end up applying it with my finger which is rather annoying.

Avalon Organics Peppermint Green Tea

Texture:  Smooth and creamy

Flavour: Peppermint green tea

Fragrance: Peppermint green tea

Finish: Clear and slightly glossy

Lasting power: Two to three hours

Colour: Clear

Size: 4.2g

Price: $2.15 

Availability: iHerb

Website: http://www.avalonorganics.com/

Discontinued: No

Limited Edition: No

Rating: 5

If you like this, try: Crazy Rumors

Ingredients: sunflower seed oil, beeswax, olive fruit oil, peppermint oil, tea tree leaf oil, hemp seed oil, tocopherol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, stevia leaf extract. 

I can't place in iHerb order without getting a lip balm or three. I've discovered some amazing balms that aren't available in Australia, Avalon Organics being one of them. The Peppermint Green Tea balm is perfection. The flavour is lovely, the perfect mix of green tea and peppermint, like a soft, sweet mint.

Texture wise this is very similar to Crazy Rumors balms. Next time you're placing an iHerb order, add a few of these balms to your cart. If you haven't ordered from iHerb, code YUF175 will get you a discount on your order. 

Crabtree and Evelyn Honey Lip Salve

Texture: Beautifully hydrating and creamy. Perfection in a lip balm.

Flavour: Sweet honey.

Fragrance: Honey.

Finish: Slightly glossy.

Lasting power: About three hours.

Colour: Clear.

Longevity: 24 months.

Size: 4.2g

Price: $9.00

Availability: Crabtree and Evelyn, Myer and David Jones.

Website: crabtree-evelyn.com.au

Brand Contact: 1800 272 287 33

Discontinued: Yes.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: Five!

If you like this, try: 

Ingredients: coconut oil, beeswax, olive fruit oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, flavour, honey extract, stevia rebaudiana extract, water, tocopherol.

I have at least a hundred lip balms and I use a different one every day, in fact I usually use several different lip balms every day. It's very rare that I'll use one balm exclusively, it has to be pretty amazing for me to use one balm to the exclusion of all others. That's what I did with my Crabtree and Evelyn Honey Lip Salve. From the first time I used it it became a favourite, in fact this would easily make my top five lip balms, it's that good.

For me it ticks all the boxes. It's deeply hydrating, non waxy with a lovely scent and flavour. Perfection in a tube.

The terrible news is that it has been discontinued! Why does this always happen with the best balms? Life is so unfair. If you see these anywhere, grab as many as you can!

Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals Mangilla

Texture: Beautiful. Buttery smooth.

Flavour and fragrance: Mango vanilla. The scent is more vanilla than mango, however the addition of mango makes it a great change from regular vanilla balms. 

Finish: Semi matte. 

Lasting power: Two to three hours. 

Colour: Clear

Size: 4.2 gram .15 oz

Price: $7.50 (US)

Availability: Online at their website.

Website: Sircuit Skin


Discontinued: No.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: 4 out of 5


Ingredients: sunflower oil, beeswax, coconut oil, mango flavour oil, vanilla extract, aloe vera, tocopherol.

I first started using my Mangilla balm in winter and wasn't very impressed, it was hard and not very hydrating, so I put it away for a few months then pulled it out again when the weather was warmer. This is definitely a warm weather balm. With the warmer weather it's smooth, buttery, very hydrating and a pleasure to use. It's very creamy and feels lovely on my lips. 

I have no idea I bought mine from, however I can't find any Australian stockists so for those of you who live in Australia it may be difficult to get hold of. If you do find it somewhere, buy three!

Crabtree and Evelyn Creme Brûlée Lip Butter {tube}

Texture: Smooth but thin

Flavour: Vanilla

Fragrance: Vanilla

Finish: Gloss

Lasting power: 1 hr

Colour: White in tube, goes on clear

Longevity: 12M

Size: 14g (.49oz)

Price: $14.99 AUD

Availability: C & E stores, Chemists

Website: www crabtree-evelyn.com

Brand Contact: website above

Discontinued: No

Limited Edition: No

Rating: 8/10

If you like this, try: Lanolips LemonAid

Ingredients: 

Shea Butter Extract, Ricinus Communis (castor) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Zinc Oxide,

POLYGLYCERYL-3 Beeswax, Lanolin Wax, Theobroma Cacao (cocoa) Seed Butter, Vanilla Extract, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Mango Seed Oil, Illipe Butter, Hellantus Annuus (sunflower) Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Glycine,Vitamin E, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Flavor

Crabtree and Evelyn - I've been a fan of their Gardeners hand products for years - but not for me, for my green-thumbed Mum. They just work. And this balm is the same. Although a little thin for me (I like THICK balms), it is very moisturising. It smells delicious. It really is like butter at room temperature. Not long after application, my lips go from very try to nice and soft. And the smell - have I mentioned that already? Vanilla is my all time fave. So, if you DON'T like Vanilla - like I do - don't buy this balm (oops - butter)

I haven't had any of the other flavours, but I'd be interested to try them. And next time I see them, I will try another flavour. This could very well be a staple in my handbag - if it ever leaves my bedside table!

Very much recommended. And a repurchase.

Be kind.

Emma.

Lanolips Banana Balm

Texture: Smooth

Flavour: None!

Fragrance: Banana

Finish: Gloss, not tacky

Lasting power: 2 hours if I don't sniff it off!!

Colour: Yellow shimmer in tube, clear shimmery application

Longevity: 12M

Size: 12.5g, (.42oz)

Price: $15.99 AUD

Availability: Priceline, David Jones, Adore Beauty, National Pharmacies, Malouf Pharmacy and Terry White Chemists.

Brand Contact: www.lanolips.com, you can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and  Instagram.

Discontinued: No

Limited Edition: No 

Rating: 8.5/10

If you like this, try: All of the Lanolips range! 

Ingredients: Lanolin*, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter*, Theobroma Cocoa Seed Butter *, Cera Alba (beeswax)*, Arooma, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisosterate*, Musa Sapientum (Banana), Fruit extract*, Ricinus Communis Oil*, Tocopherol*, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Tin Oxide, Calcium Aluminium Borosilicate *Naturally derived ingredients

Lanolips are my fave Australian brand. 

When Anissa and I started talking, it was actually over THIS balm! And because of this, it will always hold a special place in my heart. She actually ordered this from Victoria Health in the UK as she (read:we) couldn't wait any longer. So, we have had them for a while. I find it a tad annoying that an Australian brand launched this balm NOT in Australia? 

Anyhoo, onto the balm!

The new Lanolips packaging - especially on this product with the soft matte feel and the slanted tip is lovely. (I never use the product straight from the packet though, it always goes onto my finger first - a little bit of OCD coming out!) The smell hits you first - it is an amazing Banana scent BUT - it has no taste!! Oh how I would have loved it to taste like Banana too!! 

It's a nice, thickish balm that looks shimmery yellow in the tube but when applied to your lips, it is clear and has a lovely touch of shimmer. it's not sticky, very moisturising. It's a winner for me, but as I said, it is my fave Aussie brand.

For those that have waited for this to be released in Australia, do yourself a favor and pop into the above stockists (or order online) and get yourself a tube.

It's a repurchase for me. 

Be kind.

Emma.

Surya Brasil Chocolate & Mint Moisturizing Lip Balm

Texture: Smooth and creamy

Flavour: Chocolate and Mint

Fragrance: Chocolate and Mint

Finish: Slight shine

Lasting power: Two hours if I don't lick it off

Colour: Clear

Longevity: 24 months

Size: 4.25 gram

Price:  $6.60

Availability: I purchased my lip balm from Healthy Life Health Shop. They can also be purchased from the Surya Brasil website.

Website: Surya Body Care

Brand Contact: Here

Ingredients: organic sunflower seed oil, candelilla wax, fair trade certified cocoa butter, organic chocolate flavour, organic jojoba seed oil, organic peppermint essential oil, d-alpha tocopherol, bertholietia excelsa seed oil, ucuuba nut oil, astrocaryum murumura butter.

I am totally in love with this balm and really want to try all the other flavours. It's 100% natural and as it's beeswax free it's suitable for vegans.  I purchased it for the chocolate mint flavour, as you can imagine, it smells like an after dinner mint. 

The texture is lovely, smooth and very hydrating with a slight mint tingle for a few minutes after I apply.  My only complaint is that it's not very easy to find.

Kora Vitamin Enhanced Lip Balm

Texture: Smooth, non waxy

Flavour: None.

Fragrance: This has a light, pleasant floral scent.

Finish: Glossy. It looks great worn over lip liner or a matte lipstick.

Lasting power: About four hours.

Colour: Clear

Longevity: 12 months

Size: 6.5ml

Price: $24.95

Availability: Chemmart, Terry White Chemists, David Jones and online.

Website: koraorganics.com

Brand Contact: Via their website here.  


Ingredients: castor oil, beeswax, castor isostearate beeswax succinate, jojoba oil, coconut oil, cetyl palmitate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan olivate, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (soybean derived natural  natural vitamin e), avocado oil, rosehip oil, lime oil, vitamin c, acerola cherry powder, maltodextrin, noni fruit, limonene.

Kora says: The ultimate lip balm for smooth, soft, moist lips. The highest quality jojoba, avocado, rosehip and nutrient rich extracts have been organically flavoured to taste and feel simply sublime. Our vitamin enhanced formula contains vitamin C and E to soothe and smooth and renew even the driest of chapped lips leaving them soft and kissable.

This is the lip balm that didn't end! I was trying to use it up forever, just ask Emma. I was constantly complaining to her that the lip balm fairies kept on refilling the balm at night when I was asleep. Through sheer persistence I finally managed to finish it! Whilst this is a nice lip balm it's not one that I'll purchase again. It does a great job of keeping my lips hydrated, it smells nice, has no flavour and is a good balm, but there is nothing about it that makes it worth the $24.95 price tag. In my opinion Sukin's Nourishing Lip Treatment is a much nicer balm and it only costs $8.95. Added to that, the Kora balm comes in a pot and I find potted balms so much more inconvenient, they don't fit easily in a pocket so are the type of balms that I only use at home.

What I do love is that 100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin and 88.8% of the total ingredients are from organic farming.