Banish Winter Lips with Carmex

As the weather forecast threatens snow, the wind is quite bitter and the need to moisturise never greater (don't forget the SPF) there is also the need to ensure your lips stay kissably soft and smooth, who wants to kiss someone with bits of skin flaking from their lips - grim!

One brand that you can't help but notice with its bright cheerful yellow packaging is Carmex. This cult classic all began with Alfred Woelbing back in the late 1930's in America suffering from dry, chapped lips and with a knowledge of kitchen chemistry he was able to hand make his special formula. Selling out the back of his car to pharmacists the demand grew and grew. Now over 130 Carmex products are sold every minute worldwide still with the original formulation.

I am sure you will either be familiar with the a squeezy tube or a little pot but it comes in quite a few varieties, shapes and sizes and with that a range of scents too. The thing I love about Carmex is the ingredients include camphor and beeswax to hydrate, soothe and protect along with Camphor Oil which relieves painful chapped skin and of course the menthol scent which tingles.

A product which can be used under lipstick and acts really well as a base or on its own, you can find on the high street in stores such as Boots and Superdrug and it won't break the bank when you purchase it with prices starting at just £2.69.

Are you a Carmex fan?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Balmi Lip Balms

I am a lip balm obsessive, most people know this and are not surprised by how many I have in my collection, but I do use them and have two or three in most handbags and quite a few in my desk drawer as emergencies as well as one in each make-up bag, you get my drift?

The reason I am so obsessed with lip balms is because lips are really important and boy do they get used a lot - from eating and drinking, to kissing, air kissing, talking and so on... so they need a little bit of TLC otherwise imagine what it is like to see dry, flaky, chapped lips coming towards you - quite grim!  I also use lip balm before applying any lipstick to my lips as a base because I find it helps cover any imperfections there might be.

So, the latest editions to my collection are by Balmi who state that "It's cool to be squared" only there is a slight twist to the 'squared' bit!  If you have used these before, then you will know what I mean but if you haven't, then the pictures below will enlighten you because as you can see, it is square from the outside, but once opened (with a quick twist) the actual balm is conical - quite funky I think!

The Balmi Lip Balm has the perfect blend of ingredients to give your lips long lasting daily care and protection because they have SPF 15 and UVA protection not forgetting to mention that they also include antioxidant-rich Vitamin E, soothing Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil to help leave your lips moisturised, soft and super smooth.

Currently available in five different flavours - Strawberry, Blackcurrant, Mint, Strawberry and Coconut, each Balmi Lip Balms is scented exactly as you would expect it to be.  Once applied to the lips, the balm itself feels really moisturising and it adds quite a subtle shine to the lips, thankfully it doesn't make your lips feel as though you have just rubbed them across a block of lard.  For me, the pyramid shape of the balm doesn't have any effect as to how easy the application is, because like similar balms, it just glides across the lips, meaning you don't have to faff about with your fingers.

Balmi lip balms cost around £4.99 each and you can find them in places like Tesco, Topshop and Boots and for that price, I think it is great value for money.

Do you have a favourite Balmi Lip Balm?

Bee Good Bee Pampered - Beauty Gift Set

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am a huge fan of the brand Bee Good. For those of you who have't heard of them, Bee Good is an independent British skincare company based in rural Hampshire, who have harnessed the centuries-old healing powers of British honey, propolis and beeswax in an innovative skincare range, designed to make a real difference without the use of parabens, synthetic colour, mineral oil, silicone or SLS/SLES. Each and every one of their products are described as being packed with hard-working intensively soothing ingredients, there is nothing better to care for your lips than this nourishing and protective treatment delivered from the flower, to the bee, to you.

For a limited time only, the lovely people over at Bee Good have created a Bee Pampered gift set just for the Christmas and it contains a couple of their best sellers and some gorgeously decorated biscuits. It's all packaged in a recyclable box and priced at just £20.

Inside the box you will find

The Honey, Borage & Echium Intensive Hand Repair 50ml and Vanilla & Honey Lip Balm 10ml along with Three Little Bee Bakery biscuits which are just so cute, I didn't want to eat them - but now have!

The Honey, Borage and Echium Intensive hand Repair is an intensive multi-use repair treatment containing moisturising British wild flower honey and replenishing British echium oil, to bring some TLC to hard-working hands and feet.  The hand lotion is quite rich and has a really good pump dispenser on it to help distribute the cream, one pump is more than enough for hands.

The Vanilla & Honey Lip Balm, which I am a huge fan of, is bursting with a blend of British beeswax and a blend of British crambe, echium and borage oils. Working together they bring some welcome relief and rescue to dry or chapped lips not to mention it has a truly addictive scent!

Have you tried any Bee Good products yet?

Wilkinsons Kiss Apricot Lip Scrub

Everyone loves a good lip scrub and finding them can be a total nightmare, unless of course like me you absolutely love Lush and think Bubblegum is one of the best products you have ever come across!

Whilst in Wilkinsons or Wilko to those of you from the North, I came across the Kiss range which features some really interesting products which included a clay mask, cleansing water, body butter and even a primer, plus lots more.

The one product which really caught my attention however was the Lip Service Apricot Lip Scrub, the little pot cost just £2 for 10g and it contains Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil and Macadamia Oil. The directions for use are really straightforward and they are apply it to your clean lips (remove any gloss, lipstick or balm) using your index finger and then gently massage across your lips.  The scrub itself reminds me, scent wise, of the St Ives Apricot Scrub but is actually really effective, more so than I was expecting to give it credit for. The tiny particles which are sugar work really well at removing those pesky bits of dead and dry skin which cling to your lips, leaving them soft, smooth and buffed after using.

For the grand price of £2 this is a scrub which is well worth its price and one that I am glad to have found.  Whilst I prefer the scent of Lush's Bubblegum Scrub, this works just as well.

Have you got a favourite Lip Scrub and have you tried any products from the Kiss range? 

Beautyqueenuk

Burt's Bees

Did you know that Burt's Bees have just celebrated their 30th birthday? Well on September 17th, Burt's Bees celebrated their 30th birthday and I thought I would share with you some of their amazing products.

Born in 1984, Roxanne Quimby uses leftover Beeswax from Burt Shavitz's honey bees to make candles and the brand was born. by 1991 the Beeswax lipbalm quickly became and still is a best seller. You can read more about the history of Burt's Bees right here, it is a truly fascinating story.

Hand Salve is Burt's Bees' most intensive hand treatment, this formula is packed with botanical oils, herbs and beeswax to moisturise hard-working, rough, dry hands. It's an everyday miracle. The scent of this hand Salve is absolutely stunning, the Lavender, Rosemary and Eucalyptus scents all work together and one your hands, it simply sinks into the skin, leaving behind soft, soothed and very moisturised hands.

Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - Designed for normal to dry skin, this non-greasy, lightweight natural moisturiser goes to work the minute you apply it, and it’s scientifically proven to moisturise for up to 24 hours. Milk nourishes while honey helps to soften skin; plus, coconut and grape seed oils and vitamin E deliver beneficial nutrients to the skin. Burt's Bees' dermatologist-tested formula absorbs quickly but stays with you all day and night.

Sensitive Eye Cream - Burt's Bees Sensitive Eye Cream is scientifically proven to moisturise the delicate eye area without causing redness or irritation. This lightweight eye cream helps reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness. Formulated with softening Cotton Extract, it helps skin replenish its outer layer and minimize the effects of potential irritants such as harsh soaps or cleansers while Rice Extract moisturizes and Aloe soothes. Infused with White Genepi Extract, an ingredient known for its anti-inflammatory properties and Eyebright, which contains tannins that are thought to decrease inflammation. Best of all, it's naturally gentle and skin-friendly, so you can use it every day. Giving your sensitive skin the daily care it deserves.

Radiance Serum - Burt's Bees' Radiance Serum is a scientifically tested serum that combines royal jelly, licorice root extract and glycerin to bring out skin’s natural radiance. These ingredients increase moisturisation while nourishing skin with 134 nutrients including vitamins A, C, D and K, minerals and 17 amino acids. In 4 weeks, you’ll notice your skin becoming more evenly toned. The result is more radiant beautiful looking skin, naturally.

Lemon Butter cuticle cream - gives your needy nails a helping hand. Nourish and moisturise nails and cuticles with this intensive, natural treatment. A touch of lemon oil makes your nails smell incredibly clean, healthy and beautiful, naturally.

Alongside skincare, Burt's Bees also have some amazing lip products and again I am going to share some of them with you.

Cherry Cerise Lip Shimmer - These lip shimmers use Shea Butter and antioxidant-rich Fruit Oils moisturise, nourish and soften lips naturally and lovingly. There are 11 different shades to choose from.

Tinted Lip Balm - These tinted balms give you a lovely hint of colour with a soft, sweet flavor and natural ingredients that moisturise and condition your lips. Available in nine different shades

Lip Gloss - Rich, pearlised colour combines with natural oils rich in nutrients to leave your lips soft, shiny and 100% naturally beautiful. Available in 12 shades, I have Rosey Dawn which is a fabulous pink shade.

Lip Shine - Available in 6 shades, these lip shine products give a natural, sheer colour which is enriched with moisturising Apricot Wax glides on lips for a sweet and super shiny finish.

The final lip product is one that Burt's Bees hydrating lip balm with coconut and pear and it is absolutely stunning. Incredibly fragrant, the lip balms use coconut oil, shea butter and pear extract . This one smells exactly as you expect it too.

I am a huge Burt's Bees fan.  Every product that I have tried from the range has been fantastic and they have all had the most amazing scents.

Have you ever tried Burt's Bees? Do you have a favourite product?

Go Balmy Lip Balms from George At Asda

Wondering around Asda on a Sunday morning as you do, getting there too early to pay for your shopping, can lead to my wandering around and buying things on impulse.  My Asda has just had a make-over, nice though that is, nothing is where it was and I find that insanely annoying, I don't take well to change!  

That said, the beauty section is a little bit better than it was, mainly because there are now bits of make-up present, so when I came across these really cute lipbalms, it would have been rude not to pick them up and try them. I had been looking for some little gifts to go into a birthday box I was making and these fit the bill.

Every brand it seems is bringing their own lip balms out, Maybelline did it with Baby Lips, Collection have just done it with their Little Mix branding which you can read about HERE, Barry M have done it with Cor Balmy and Collection also have their Mardi Gras range, so for Asda to get in on the act is not a surprise.

The Go Balmy Asda range comes in four different shades and scents:

No.1 is Mint and the balm is see through, sheer some might say and to go with the mint scent the Go Balmy writing is in mint green.

No.2 is strawberry scented and is a light pink shade again with the Go Balmy wording in a light pink

No.3 is Cherry and the lip balm for this is a much deeper shade of pink, almost red and the writing matches the colour

No.4 is honey scented, this one is quite sweetly scented, though not over-powering and the lip balm is beige shade, an inbetween orange and brown colour whereas the writing on the tube is a bright orange.

Once applied they are surprisingly quite moisturising and there is a very slight hint of the colour when applied to your lips, but it isn't long lasting and they are quite good for wearing over lipstick.

These lips balms are currently on offer for £1.99 but have an RRP of £2.50, so they are definitely worth trying and would make a great gift for a youngster.

Have you tried these balms?

EOS Lip Balm

Regular readers will know that I am more than slightly obsessed with Lip Balms, always have been.  When I saw one of my local beauty shops selling the EOS Lip Balms for just £2.99 I went in and bought a few of the flavours that he had.

EOS is an American brand, known as Evolution Of Smooth who specialise in lotions, creams and balms and isn't as readily available in the UK as I hoped they would be, though you can find many places online to purchase them.  Currently available in ten different flavours, I opted for Pomegrante Raspberry (which I gave to a friend) and Honeysuckle Honeydew which I kept for myself.

The first thing that attracted me to these lip balms is their quirky shape, rather than coming in tube form they are instead a funky spherical shape which makes them stand out and when in your handbag, it makes them much easier to find, especially if like me you always have more than one lipstick and lipbalms with you.

Funky shape aside, these lip balms are  95% organic and 100% natural. The ingredients within this EOS lip balm include Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Jojoba oil to moisturise and soften lips. They are also paraben and petroleum free which I am quite pleased about, one thing I dislike about Vaseline, other than the fact it feels like you have rubbed a block of lard across your lips, is the way it leaves my lips feeling, hydrated and tacky.

This lip balm applies to the lips clear, there is no colour left on the lips and it most definitely does do a great job at softening and moisturising. The scent also becomes noticeable as soon as the lid is removed and it is one of those authentic fragrances, not too overpowering but most definitely something I really like, almost good enough to eat.  The main fragrance for me in Melon and Honeysuckle, both of which you can see listed within the ingredients.

These lip balms retail online for around £5.99 which I think makes them grea value for money and they are definitely something I would recommend trying, I will more than definitely be trying some of the other flavours just as soon as this one runs out, which having used it constantly for the last 6 weeks, it shows no sign of doing just yet.

Have you tried either the EOS lip balms? Do you have a favourite one?