Miessence Jaffa Lip Balm

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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

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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.

Rodial Glam Balm Lip

Texture: Silky smooth. 

Flavour: None.

Fragrance: Rose.

Finish: Soft shine.

Lasting power: Around three hours if I'm not eating or drinking.

Colour: Clear.

Longevity: 6 months.

Size: 10 grams.

Price: Between $26 to $29 (AUD)

Availability: ASOS, Strawberrynet, the Rodial website and numerous other online stores.

Website: rodial.com

Discontinued: No.

Limited Edition: No.

Rating: 4

If you like this, try: By Terry Baume de Rose.

Ingredients: hydrogenated polybutene, diisostearate malate, tridecyl trimellitate, castor seed oil, petrolatum, c10-30 cholesterol/lanosterol esters, synthetic wax, ethylhexyl palmitate, shea butter, rosa damascena flower extract, sunflower seed oil, flavour, benzyl alcohol, pomegranate extract, tocopherol, silica dimethyl silylate, mica, water, dehydroacetic acid, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, geraniol, citronellol, sodium hyaluronate, phenoxyethanol, limonene, hexylene glycol, eugenol, linalool, carrot seed oil, carrot root extract, beta-carotene, ascorbyl palmitate, titanium dioxide, carmine.

I'm obsessed with anything that smells like roses, especially lip products. Do you remember the rose scented Juicy Tube? 

Glam Balm Lip is a rose lovers heaven, it smells beautiful. If you've been lusting after By Terry's Baume de Rose but can't afford it, try Glam Balm Lip. It's not as good but it's a great alternative. 

If, like me, you wear lip balm more than lipstick or gloss, this is a great one because it has a soft, shiny finish which makes it look like you're wearing a gloss. It works really well over lip liner or lip stains too, and the top is a mirror which is ideal for touch ups on the go. 

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. 

Getting to know us - Interview with Emma

How did your lip balm obsession start?
As a kid in primary school. The good old rollerball lip glosses!! That you needed to apply every 5 minutes!

What are your top five favourite lip balms?
Lanolips - Rhubarb
Buddha Balm - Burnt Fig
MAC - Lip Conditioner (Pot)
Sukin Lip Treatment
Lancome - Gloss in Love

Which balms are on your lust list?
Chapstick - Cake Batter (only because it hasn't been released here yet!)
Lancome Lip Lover
Anything 1skin


How many lip balms are in your handbag at the moment?
Does that mean what's floating around in there or what's in the pouch?!


Do you ever leave the house without lip balm? 
Yes - and I have to buy one every time I forget! Maybe this is a strategy!

What balms do you think everyone should try?
Sukin, Lanolips. Funny that they're both Aussie brands!


What makes a lip balm great for you?
Thick, not sticky, lasts a while, flavored.


Which balm/s have you repurchased?

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!

Dior - Lip Glow

Texture:  Thick and Smooth

Flavour:  Slight Mint/Vanilla

Fragrance:  Also slightly minty and vanillary

Finish: Glossy but not sticky, goes on clear but changes colour

Lasting power: Two hours+ if you don't eat or drink anything

Colour:  This is tricky as it changes to your skin type! Mine usually go a light pink

Longevity: 12M

Size: 3.5g

Price:  $49AUD

Availability: Still widely available from Department Stores (Myer, David Jones), online.

Brand Contact: www.dior.com

Discontinued: No

Limited Edition:  No

Rating: 9/10

If you like this, try: Chapstick Mixstix - same kind of consistency but no colour change.

Ingredients:

Active Ingredient: Octinoxate (ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate) 7.50%
Other Ingredients: C10-30 Cholesterol/lanosterol esters, Diisostearyl malate, Bis-Diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, synthetic beeswax, dimer dilinoleyl dimer dilinoleate, octyldodecanol, ozokerite,  ethylhexylpalmitate, C20-40 alcohols, polyethylene, irvingia gabonensis kernel butter, hydrogenated coco-glycerides, decyloxazolidinone, tribehenin, parfum, luffa cylindrica seed oil, BHT, sorbitan isostearate, vanillin, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, benzyl alcohol, palmitoyl oligopeptide, tocopherol, propylgallate.
[+/-: CI 77891 (titanium dioxide), CI 45380 (red 21, red 21 lake), CI 45410 (red 27, red 27 lake, red 28 lake), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (iron oxides ), mica, CI 15850 (red 6, red 6 lake, red 7, red 7 lake), CI 75470 (carmine)].

What THEY say: A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips’ natural color. A customised colour result: thanks to its Colour Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its colour ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. In addition, its formula enriched with wild mango and luffa cylindrica continuously protects and moisturises. A universal balm for all lips.

Sounds fancy pants 'eh?

Dior Lip Glow. What can I say. It's a favourite, one that I'll repurchase. I first found this by someone posting it on Instagram. The packaging got me first, beautiful pretty pink! I think it's a little bit retro, a lot luxe.

The lovely packaging.

One of the reasons that I really love this product is because it is so moisturising. The other, the smell! It is a bit big to pop in a pocket {but I have}.
Some say that the 'colour changing' should be left in the 80's, but I really like this. I can do a smoky eye and have this on my lips as I know that it's not going to be overpowering. It leaves a really nice sheen, not gloss like and not sticky.

I asked the lovely Anissa what she thought of Lip Glow and she reiterated exactly what I've said - Smells good, tastes good and it's a pretty colour.

So, if you want to drop ~ $50AUD on a balm, this is one that I would try.

A repurchase for both of us.

Thanks!

Be kind.

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.