This post is gonna be image-heavy…
I used to be quite a lipbalm junkie, having lipbalms in almost every bag…
There's one missing lipbalm - Sulwhasoo lip essence (in the office)
At the moment, I have Nivea Light Kiss, Carmex original formula in pot and squeeze tube, Lucas’ Papaw Ointment and Watsons Ultra Hydrating lipbalm. I also have one more lipbalm in the office – Sulwhasoo lip essence.
I bought Nivea Light Kiss in Australia and I guess I was on holiday mood then, because I have no idea why I bought this! I don’t really fancy pot packaging as it’s inconvenient and unhygienic. I think I was taken in by the item description which says
“The innovative formula with high water content makes NIVEA Lip Care Light Kiss simply melt on the lips. Almond oil penetrates deeply into the skin, protecting against drying out from within. Lotus extract makes the skin of the lips visibly smoother. The feather-light balm is very quickly absorbed without being sticky.
Silky soft lips that smell as good as they look – seductive and irresistible like a soft kiss.” (Nivea website)
The balm is feather-light indeed. I like how easily it spreads on my lips though, not the typical thick, waxy balm texture. However, it doesn’t really protect my lips from drying out further. It has a scent, which smells very much like Nivea hand cream (but of course, it’s Nivea lipbalm!) – to me, it’s just plain off putting because it smelt like hand cream on my lips. YUCKS. The balm just sits on my lips and gives a silvery shine and emphasizes on my dry peely lips.
I have previously reviewed Carmex on my blog (link here), and amongst the different lipbalms I currently own, it is still my current go-to lipbalm. I still detest the pot packaging and thus I rarely bring it out now. Instead, it sits on my dresser so that I’ll apply it with a Q-tip morning and night when I’m doing my skincare routine.
I have been searching high and low for the Carmex in squeeze tube so I was glad to find it on Gmarket. It wasn’t too marked up as well, so I bought one to try. The formula in squeeze tube was softer and more pliable than the one in pot (obviously, since it had to be soft enough to be squeezed out) which I quite like but the tip was rounded and so it was difficult to apply evenly. If I accidentally squeeze out too much, the excess will be pushed around and coat the entire rounded tip. GROSS. Still, it goes everywhere with me because it is still better than Carmex in pot.
Lucas Papaw Ointment was a must-have item among the beauty addicts in Australia, or at least it was when I was still a student. Cheap and good, it boasts to be multi-purpose, good for dry lips, cuts, burns, boils, cracked skin etc. The papaya content helps exfoliate skin, due to the tiny amount of AHA, while the petrolatum content helps to moisturize skin. A tube lasts forever, and I even use it on my eyelid when the rash acts up. However, again, the packaging… meh… but it’s still better than pot packaging! Note that there are 3 sizes for this product – I got the 25g tube. Previous review of Lucas Papaw Ointment here
This lipbalm was cheap as chips (only S$1.95) so I bought it on a whim. It is fragrance-free and claims to be ultra-hydrating, so why not? The texture of the balm is soft and yields easily under slight pressure. It spreads easily on lips, and might make your lips look pale if applied too thickly. I don’t think it is ULTRA hydrating since I still experience dry lips but at least my lips didn’t peel. All it did was provide temporary relief until I can get to my Carmex. Nevertheless, it is a good basic lipbalm which will help to moisturize your lips.
Next, I have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 lipsticks and glosses! Not many, considering that there are many lip product addicts out there, but it is a lot to me as I only use them once in a blue moon. Gulp!
First 2 are Majolica Majorca honey dip glosses from a long time ago. I believe the latest version is now called Honey Pump Gloss? Anyway, I like MM for its small petite sizes – all the more better to try out different colours right? #1 is RD433 which is a jelly red – my first venture into red lip products and I really like it! #2 is RD370 (see!!! Another red!) which is a little more coral-y and orangey. It goes on very opaque but yet smooth. As with all lip glosses, it tends to stick hair onto lips. Sigh, not a pretty sight when there’s a strong wind blowing! Another thing is the round tip applicator. I really don’t get it – it’s damn tough to apply lipgloss perfectly with a round tip and without a mirror!!
Next 2 are NYX Round lipsticks which I got in a swap. NYX lipsticks can be difficult to find in local shops (limited distribution) but I really wanted to try them after reading about them from Jen (FrmHeadToToe). I got popular nude colour, Circe, and Power. Both apply easily, very creamy but you definitely need to prep your lips well. Apply a lipbalm prior to the colour or any slight flaky part will be accentuated! Colours are full-on opaque. Circe is a nice colour dabbed onto my lips gently, but full-on, it makes me look like I totally have no blood circulation. Power is a purplish pink that makes me look weird (colour’s too strong and bold for me) so I may want to experiment making a tinted lipbalm with it.
The silvery-blue square tube belongs to Maybelline Watershine B22. I was on a “MLBB” phase a while back and spotted this in Guardian and so bought it. It’s a nice brown nude colour that imparts a slight shine. There’s no shimmer or glitter, so pure creamy colour. However, my lips are extremely dry so there’s still a need for me to apply balm to it first. The colour can be quite difficult to find in stores though cos it’s a popular colour.
Paul & Joe lipstick – bought it at a warehouse sale. Sigh, impulse buy. It was terribly cheap though, like perhaps less than $10? Anyway, it’s a nice barbie pink that goes on sheer but you can build up colour easily.
Anna Sui lipstick – it’s way past its best by date but I simply have no heart to throw it away. My very first lipstick. Love how it applies and so glossy!#302 Sui Rouge G is its name. It’s definitely a MLBB colour, steering more towards browish rose.
Last one there, L’Oreal infallible lipgloss. Yet another swap item. I love the colour – it’s a reddish pink that brightens up my face, but not loving the scent. Sweet grapey smell that makes me a little sick. It applies very smoothly with the heart-shaped gloss wand but can get a little gloopy in corners.
