Instant face brightner: Korres Lip Butter Stick in Rose

Hello ladies,

I know I've been terribly quiet of late, but the truth is I received a rather major promotion at work and the learning curve has been kinda steep. I'm really happy, not complaining, but I've had terrible brain-fag and just couldn't face the thought of writing or thinking even more on the weekends. So I've taken a bit of a break. 

I think I'm back now!

As you can see, I'm still a tinted lip balm addict and when I saw that Korres' lip balms were available in a convenient stick format I went bananas and bought three in rose, pink and peach.

Here's a confession though, peach and pink really aren't thrilling my boat. They're too sheer and too pastel. I've mostly been using them to augment my lip tint of the day - do I want it warmer? cooler? paler? - or as a regular lip balm. 

But the rose shade... ahh.. the rose shade..

Dangerously addictive: Stark & Son Recharge Menthol Lip Balm with Caffeine

Hello everyone hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to a great New Year!

This post is for everyone who's had to go back to work today and are longing for an energy kick.

Stark & Son is a new menscare line launched by owner of organic and natural brand Silk Naturals, Karen Stark. This tingly mentholated matte lip balm was part of her holiday collection. 

I've become terribly addicted to this, not for it's lip-balm-ness, or even for the menthol kick, but for the straight-up, instant buzz the caffeine gives! I've never tried a caffeinated lip balm before and I can attest that this goes straight into your blood stream far faster than any espresso will!

One swipe and I'm all HELLO! If I use it too often, I get jitters. It's crazy!

Fall/Winter Lip: Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Raspberry

While Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten is definitely my favourite Berry lip of all time there was a spate when I had an allergic reaction to something (possibly shellfish) and had peely lips. Now, peely lips and stains do not work well together, so I fell back on this tube of yumminess to keep my lips berry stained and pretty.

I was amazed at how pigmented Korres' Lip Glaze was and how long it lasted. I found that I could lay down a stain by really working it in with a brush, top off with a balm and then touch up during the day to keep it glossy. It will last through a light meal but not a greasy one.

Going nuts for Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

Well what would you expect really? I love Lip Stains, I adore tinted lip balms and they've gone and combined the two into my ULTIMATE lippie - complete with the crayon format that Clinique made us all covet with their Chubby Sticks. And to cap it all off... they're mint flavoured. It's like they made it from my personal lipstick wish list!

Revlon has really been knocking it out of the park lately with their Lip Butters and now this!

As you can see I hauled quite a few. I spotted these online before they were available in Hong Kong and immediately ordered two (Cherish and Smitten) on eBay. Then, they launched in Hong Kong at a discounted price of HKD75 (Down from HKD98) so I hauled three more! If the other shades hadn't been so unappealing to me I'd probably have bought every colour they had. 

So here's the general overview

I love them because...

• They go on like a balm, stay like a stain
• Once the sheer glossy layer has worn off they're kiss proof
• And can last through most meals with only slight fading. 
• Are pretty darned pigmented yet still sheer
• They are lightly minty
• And can be toted around throughout the day for touchups
• Also, unlike most stains, they can be used OVER lip balm instead of only on clean lips.

New kids on the block: Nivea Pure & Natural lipbalms are delightful!

Guess what lovelies?

We have new lipbalms in town. *smiles*

I picked these - Nivea Pure & Natural in Olive & Lemon, and Camomile & Calendula - up sometime back from Singapore (Changi, to be precise), but never quite had the heart to use them for fear they would run out. And then a few weeks back I spotted them on our Malaysian aisles.

What did I do? Crack them open and swiped them on, of course!

My Makeup Bag: Work and Uni Edition

Compare and contrast, girls: The life of a working professional versus the life of a Masters student, illustrated through the contents of her makeup bag.

Yes, that is an RM5 pouch from Daiso. I purposely picked a small bag to keep me from carrying too much around the place. As it is, this little guy can carry a surprising amount of stuff!

EOS medicated tangerine - disappointing cult lip balm

After hearing so much about these organic balms. Stars love them, they're adorable and they're among the best lip balms you'll ever use. Well... not so much.

Lip balms in Hong Kong are surprisingly limited in selection these days, I can't find the C for Carrots line for example. I spotted this in Bonjour (discount makeup store) for HKD33 and picked it up - why this flavour? They didn't have any other, stores here are erratic stockists.

I expected to like it though, I love tangerine! But alas, it smells like sickly sweet sugus with a medicinal undertone. It's also quite hard - so while sure it functions as a lip balm, it really isn't that emollient.

It IS cute though, and makes for a great desktop lipbalm as it's easy to spot and sits around happily on its own looking cute. Still not sure how people tote these around, sure they're small but they're bulky.

Anyway, I won't be repurchasing this flavour. I STILL may give EOS another try as reviews have proven this to be the least popular one (so THAT's why it was in a discount store!). Summer fruits seems to be the most beloved and the one I'll likely try next. I'll still grit my teeth and use this one up though.

Kiss Me, I taste delicious thanks to Philosophy's Very Emollient Lip Balm

I apologise for the crappy picture ladies, this lip balm really doesn't photograph too well. Which is a shame because I LOVE and am addicted to this gloss and all like it. 

Without flash, it mostly looks like this:

But don't let its scary dark redness scare you, it goes on sheer and stain-like. 

The reasons to love this abound, as a lip balm it's amazing. It lasts forever, is very moisturising and has SPF20. As a gloss it's natural, sheer and glossy but buildable so you can achieve deeper reds if you want to. But above all...

An Old Love Refound: Ego QV Lip Balm with SPF 20

Excuse the poor pic. Blackberry phones
don't come with the best cameras

As much as I do like Lucas Papaw Ointment, nothing beats Ego QV Lip Balm for chapped lips.

This particular lip balm became a winter staple for me after a particularly dry spell (urgh, Canberra winters). My lips were cracked and bleeding quite badly at the time and no amount of judiciously applied Papaw Ointment was working. Desperate, I dredged this up from a bag somewhere to use instead.

Voila! My lips were back to normal in 2 days.

Rediscovering an old love: Lip Ice Sheer Color

I used to LOVE this in my university days, something Syen remembered. So when someone passed her a brand new tube, she passed it straight on to me. At first, recalling colour tide-marks and a no-flavour I wasn't that keen on trying it again. But one day on a whim I picked it up and found it pleasantly changed.

Monday's Beauty Bits: Crazy Rumors, Christmas Lip Balms, 11 Great Tips & Burberry Makeup,

Christmas is the time of year lip balm companies go to town. Kiehl's releases their LE flavours at this time, Lip Smackers goes mental, and Silk Naturals amps up the ante. It's taking ALL my self-control not to go nuts and try all seven new flavours. The formula's supposed to be even better than before (it was a little soft for our climate, but I loved the balms) and new flavours include Blueberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Maple Amaretto.

And as if that wasn't temptation enough, I find out that the legendary Crazy Rumors lip balm, they of the perfectly formulated vegan balms in COFFEE flavours, is available locally. Online. On Sale. *wibbles*

Lip balms aside, Malaysia is finally attracting the good stuff aye? The absolutely divine Burberry Makeup collection, that chances are I can't afford, is coming to Malaysia in January. So says ParisB of MyWomenStuff. Temptation cometh.

Check out these 11 tips by young punk makeup artist Sam on Makeup & Beauty Blog. It's been awhile since I've learnt something new like pepto bismal for pimples, corn starch for brushes, and the hair-mask trick sounds like something to use after a weekend on the beach and your hair is hay.

Review: Nivea / Labello Fruit Shine Dragonfruit Lip Balm

So my first transcontinental lip balm swap with Labello Collector Janina Hidler worked wonderfully. She was sweet enough to let me have a now discountinued LE Labello Lip Balm in Passion Fruit and two of the newer Dragonfruit which I pray they never discountinue because true to form for me, I LOVE IT. 

Review: Mentholatum Mogatate Kajitsu Lip Balm in Lemon & Lime, White Peach, and Orange & Mango

I'm sure you've seen these colourful babies around, tempting you with their kawaii fruity goodness. These latest lip balms by mentholatum are actually quite as much fun to use as they look. Mentholatum was kind enough to send in all 5 flavours, but ripping through all five at once was rather well... greedy. So I compromised and selected the two that most appealed to me - lemon & lime and white peach. Then when Syen cracked open Mango & Orange, I got to give that a whirl too. 

A Cocoa Indulgence: Dalon Vaseline

Who loves a delicious cocoa indulgence in all its chocolatey goodness just before bedtime?

Me.

Minus the calories, of course. And this lipbalm - Dalon Vaseline - does just that.

Traditional Japanese Lip Balm

 I couldn't leave Japan without picking up something "traditional". Not being too enthralled with the blotting papers, or nightingale poop infused cream, I went for an old favourite.. Lip Balm. And the yummiest citrus scented lipbalm you have ever smelled too.

Nivea Pinkish Boost 3 in 1 Tastes BLERGH!

When will I ever learn? Despite previous bad experiences with Nivea Caregloss (which, in my defense, many have given rave reviews), what do I do when I see that Nivea has a NEW tube gloss out? I BUY it without a second thought. When it comes to Nivea lip products I have all the power to resist of a stunned lemming.

On paper, the product sounds pretty odd actually. It's supposed to "restore your natural lip colour" (whatever that means), reduce lip dullness (with shine?) and protect with SPF15. To be honest, I was expecting one of those clear balms that turn pink on their own, presumably in reaction to your body heat or skin pH levels. A little gimmicky in pricey brands but fun in a cheapie gloss.

Nivea Fruity Shine in Pomegranate

So we now add the latest Nivea tinted lip balm to the list here at So Loverly. You girls know we're crazy fans of the line, especially in Pink Grapefruit, so when Beetrice reviewed Pomegranate both Syen and I were just itching to get our paws on it. I nabbed mine in Singapore, she got hers in Bangkok. North and south of Malaysia.. but NOT in Malaysia. Nivea Malaysia, if you're reading this, I hate you.

*Ahem*

So is it love? Why yes I do believe it is. This tinted balm is different from the others primarily because it has shimmery bits in it. Honestly? I can do without them, but it doesn't bother me much.

Review: Mentholatum Lip Ice in Lemon

Oh this tube brings back so many memories of highschool and the early days of uni. Back then I totally dug the tingly lemony taste of this, but one day I read a bunch of reviews that said menthol irritated lips and that the balm wasn't moisturising enough. Swayed by the negative reviews I stopped using it.

But now I am a confident woman and to hell with the reviews I LOVE this stuff. I was completely craving that icy menthol tingle and I seem to have developed a mild allergy to Burts Bees, all the other minty balms weren't tingly enough. While staring at the shelves of Lip Balm I saw this oldie and thought "What the hell".

Review: My Lip Stuff lip balm in Cat Pee

Yes isn't it AWFUL? I admit I absolutely loathe the image I'll be pasting something over that cat's ass. I mean that's not even where cats pee FROM.

But I don't hate the balm, nosiree. Nope the balm is wonderful. A lovely citrus cocktail that smells like a more lemony-limey 7up. Unlike the other flavours by My Lip Stuff I've tried it doesn't taste sweet at all. Faintly citrusy, but not much in the flavour department which is fine.

I also think they've reformulated the balm because this one's firmer, more emollient - you feel like it's staying on rather than a faint film of oil just smeared around. I think it's also a touch more hardy in our weather I may roadtest this one in my handbag. Right now it's sitting on my desk as something refreshing to use in moments of writer's block.

If you're looking for a great affordable (only RM12) [edited NOT vegan, contains BEESWAX] and organic lipbalm and love citrus flavours... and can ignore that wretched lable... Cat Pee is the balm for you.

Thanks to Cynthia of My Lip Stuff Malaysia for the recommendation and the free balm to try! I doubt I'd ever have brought myself to buy it without her, now I'll likely repurchase.

Review: My Lip Stuff Lip Balm in Pink Lemonade, Pink Grapefruit and Raspberry Lemonade

Yeah, yeah, I know you saw the flavours and rolled your eyes (note: the image is a stock photo). What else would I choose? :P I ordered these balms sometime back from the US site, but held off reviewing it till now because, to be honest, they fell into the "meh" category for me. So why review them now? Because they're available in Malaysia for RM12 each via this blogshop.

My Lip Stuff is an immensely popular brand of vegan lipbalm. Thst they were "meh" for me was largely the fault of the flavours, not the formula. I delayed the review because I wanted to see if I could land a flavour I really liked and give the balms a fair chance but ordering from the US was annoying. The first batch got lost but customer service was awesome and they immediately sent a replacement. Still, it's not exactly conducive to "just keep trying". now it's available here I'm about to give it another go!

Formula
If you're not used to vegan, organic lip balms the formula may come as a shock to you. As it has no wax, it goes on almost like a clear oil. It also melts really easily, so do NOT leave these in the car!

Once you get the hang of it, these make great day balms because they last surprisingly long and are craaaazy glossy. If you prefer matte lips this isn't for you since even under lipstick the gloss shines through!

I'm not sure how moisturising the formula is but I find it keeps my lips comfy even though it doesn't have the waxy feel we're so used to. All three tubes also taste faintly sweet along with a hint of the flavour on the tube.

Pink Lemonade
While I don't mind this flavour, it's rather disappointing. While it does smell of sweet lemons there's an undertone of plastic that makes it faintly unpleasant. I'll use it up but not repurchase.

Pink Grapefruit
This one was BAD. It was so rank I had to toss it as I simply could not use it. It smelt and tasted like crazy concentrated, rancid, redoxen. Think Nivea Pink Grapefruit at 20x the scent cocentration with bitter undertones. Eugh!

Raspberry Lemonade
At first whiff I loved this! I could smell the raspberry and the lemonade! But then the plastic came through and for some reason, the faint taste of cough mixture. Argh. Again I cn tolerate it and will use it up, but won't repurchase.

Conclusion
The lady who runs the blogshop is going to send me her fave flavour - a mix of citrus flavours called Cat Pee. Yep, Cat Pee - complete with appalling image. I haven't given up on this lip balm and who knows, I may just LOVE cat pee!