Hello everyone, it’s been a minute! I feel like that gif where the dog is in the burning house saying Everything is fine. Since I last posted, the beautuber world seems to be imploding and here I am feeling very detached because I had no idea who some of these people are. I’m sticking to my corner of micro-micro beauty blogging.
However, I am here to draw you into a much milder drama – my skincare saga involving my lips. I’m not entirely sure what set it off but earlier in this summer, my upper lip definitely had a reaction to something, my lips were just so sore for almost 2 months. It constantly needed some kind of barrier. Being exposed to just air or being without a moisturiser for even a couple of seconds was so bothersome. The edges of my upper lip were really irritated. In the end, it sort of resolved itself with the change in climate (becoming more humid) and constant pampering. In the process I’ve gone through a couple of lip products and I wanted to share them with you.
Help me, my lips are dying!
The best thing to do for something serious is be sure visit a doctor. Instead, I used my pretty advanced shopping skills. Jokes aside, the best thing to protect your lips is to keep it hydrated but also create a barrier so that the moisture stays locked in. Unless you know what exactly is bothering you, it’s best to use products that are without fragrance.
I’d never used a lip patch before but G9SKIN B.Duck Vita Ampoule Lip Patch is wonderful. It covers the area around your lip as well which is exactly what I needed. It’s functions like a sheet mask for the lips, love the feeling of the lips being drenched by essence. I found this great for really softening the lips and adding in moisture. I usually left this on for 20-30 minutes and then went over with a thick lip balm to seal in the goodness. This mainly contains hyaluronic acid, grapefruit extract and avocado oil. It does have some fragrance but it’s quite mild and it didn’t bother me.
Neutrogena Lip Moisturiser SPF 15 was my perfect lip balm throughout this ordeal. It’s unscented, not too waxy. I must have gone through 2-3 tubes of this, I had one in every bag and it was always within reach. Another similar lip balm that I used often was the Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment, it’s more of a thick viscous balm and really creates that cushiony barrier. I really like this one but the only reason I preferred the Neutrogena was because it’s dirt cheap and came in a normal tube. I’d also like to give an honourable mention to Vaseline because sometimes it’s just the best thing to use in a dire situation.
I’ve been using the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm for eons but I can’t exactly carry it around with me, being a fancy glass bottle and all. Also, dipping in a finger each time just isn’t something I want to do on the go. Hence, after my skincare routine and layering lip balms, this is always the last step seal my lips. It’s a thicker texture and oddly has a matte-ish finish but it really keeps the lips moisturised through the night.
My lips don’t hurt anymore but they’re still dry af
These are some of the products I started using again when I was in the clear and my lips were back to their normal state of being just dry. They are all mildly fragranced but I don’t mind them. To be very honest, I don’t really buy products for their scent, it’s more like a annoying “feature” I have to endure.
I don’t know why it look me so long to try the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Honey. I’m fully on board with this! Now this is a thick oil, it’s not going to run down to your chin, it stays put. The applicator on this is marvellous, it’s massive but it distributes the product so evenly and really hugs your lips while doing so. I bought the shade Honey because I also like to apply this just outside my lips as well and anything tinted would look ridiculous. I have since also purchased another shade Raspberry to wear as a normal tinted product. The oil itself is so moisturising, it really plumps up the lips and makes them look healthy again, albeit temporarily. It also creates a very glossy, almost glass like look on the lips. Ingredients wise, this contains mainly plant-based seed oils as emollients. If there’s one stellar product you’d want to try from this post, let it be this one. I really want Clarins to make an unscented version! Can we make a petition?
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy is very similar to the regular Fresh Tinted Lip Balms but without colour and is more moisturising. These have a slightly waxy formula and make a really good all round lip balm. This also contains a lot of plant seed oils and it’s good if you want a more intense balm. I get lip oils aren’t for everyone.
This is a purely vanity and I-want-it-too kind of purchase. Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm is actually a very nice thin lip balm with a light rose scent. It’s very glossy and mildly tinted but again, a really good moisturiser. I packaging is cute but sadly not very hygenic. Also, is this discontinued? It seems to be sold out everywhere!
So I tried this product after I took photos, hence it’s not pictured but the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is excellent! I have it in the shade Grapefruit and thankfully the scent isn’t too strong. It’s not as thick as I thought it would be. It’s actually very creamy and can be used as a normal tinted lip balm as well. It’s also in a jar packaging but does come with a silicone spatula to get the product out. Sometimes I use a nice generous layer of this at night and in the morning I won’t wake up with dried out lips.
Ok I’m healed, bring on the colour and artificial scents!
When my lips are drier than usual, I tend not either go for sheer lipsticks or just tinted lip balms. These are some of favourites!
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is just the perfect moisturising lightweight lip gloss. I have repurchased these, they’re that good. The shades here, Rosewood and Toffee Pink in particular are really good for my skintone. Some of the lighter shades are too pale for me. The only thing I hate about this is the applicator. Feels amazing and soft at first but it gets messy real fast. Even if you don’t like sticky lip glosses, this is a very good option.
Dior Lip Glow is always going to be with me. My collection of shades has grown over the years and I’ve repurchased these as well. When I’m looking for a moisturising lipstick, I go for these. These are tinted but they also leave a stain on the lips. So if your lip balm wears off after a while, you still have a bit of colour on your lips. Perfect! If you plan on wearing this throughout the day you will need to reapply this many times of course but the packaging and formula makes this such a joy to use. I have the original Pink, Coral, Lilac and Berry. I like rotating one each month. It also comes in a few matte shades but they aren’t really moisturising.
Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment are the most pigmented of this lot. The formula is more waxy and these stay on the lip just a little longer but the shades are a lot more pigmented, almost looks like a creamy lipstick. The shade Rose is a very pretty rosy pink, Honey is really nice muted nude. I find these very moisturising. However, if you’re in a hot climate, these might melt on you if you’re out and about or you keep them in the car. This is also why I prefer the Dior Lip Glows to carry around with me, I haven’t had that issue with them.
Hope you found something useful in this post and let me know about your lip balm picks! I’m really looking forward to Diwali this year, going to take an extended break and enjoy doing nothing at home. I have a couple more skincare posts I’ve lined up but I’m also thinking of doing a couple of handbag reviews. Let me know if there’s a post in particular you’d want to read!
B.Duck Vita Ampoule Lip Patch – Yesstyle, LookFantastic
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector – Nordstrom
Dior Lip Glow – Nordstrom, Sephora US, FeelUnique
Neutrogena Lip Moisturiser SPF 15 – Nykaa
Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment – Nordstrom, Sephora US, Sephora India, Nykaa
Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Honey – Nordstrom, Sephora US
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy – Nordstrom, Sephora US
Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm – Can’t find it online anywhere?!
Nuxe Reve de Miel – FeelUnique
Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment – Nordstrom, Sephora
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – Yesstyle, Sephora US
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