M.A.C. Lip Conditioner

Below is MAC's Lip Conditioner in its white embossed box (Thank you 三姐 for helping me procure this {so much cheaper in Hongkong}.).  

Opening, opening . . . 

White-silvery tube. 

Slanted applicator. 

Back detail.

Texture: Gooey.
Color: Clear.
Scent: Vanilla.
Thoughts: Good hydration. Ok for night use, but Lucas' Papaw Ointment provides way more moisture. If for day use, use alone as it does not sink in lips to act as lip base. Overall, a basic lip balm that hydrates -- no more, no less. 

Ingredients above. 

Lucas' Papaw Ointment

Numerous times have I read Lucas' Papaw Ointment as an excellent lip/multi-use balm that when my sister asked what I would like from Oz, undoubtedly it made mention (thank you 二 姐). 

It comes in a bright red tube (25g) and tub (75g) which my sister kindly brought home. 

The triangular indentation on the cap was used to unscrew the seal on the tube. 

Squeezed out, a yellow jelly-like transparent concoction. 

It can be used for various things, of which I haven't tried, except as a lip balm. It spreads easily on the lips and leaves a shiny finish. In the morning, lips are soft and moisturized. 

The tub. 

Yellow glory. 

Description. 

A solid recommendation. 

Kiehl's Lip Balm Hue No. 30G SPF 15

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 was the first tube of lip balm that gave me the smoothest, flake-free lips I know of. That, and the pear-scented one later, it was time to move on to the tinted balms. 

 The tube comes in the typical pharmaceutical look of Kiehl's. 

 Above, the active and inactive ingredients. 

The Lip Balm Hue No. 30G is a transparent red-orange (leaning on the redder side) balm that coats the lips with medium-thick consistency. It imparts obvious color and helps brighten up the face while keeping one's "look" casual. Its staying power is on the low side, but it hydrates the lips as it gives color to it. It is a good addition for those who do not like the texture of lipsticks, but would prefer to swipe on some color. I reach for this on days when a lipstick feels too formal and lipgloss a little too dressy. In a nutshell - it is an amplified lip balm.  

Pulpe De Vie Glossy Lip Balm and Pearly Moisturizing Body Milk

Last Christmas, I was introduced to Pulpe De Vie, a French organic brand with origins from the south of France (thank you 大姐 for these). I love the whimsical, cute packaging with the lovely colors and drawings. Sadly I threw the boxes away, but for a preview do check their website out. 

The Glossy Lip Balm comes in a transparent tube with a slanted applicator. 

It's a thicker consistency compared to most lip balms. I say the opacity it provides is more of a lipstick's. It comes in a single shade of reddish, rusty, orange brown that translates naturally on the lips. The slight glitters also keep it from looking too flat on the lips. It provides adequate moisture, but don't expect it to soften like a balm. It doesn't dry the lips out at all. 

Here is a swatch. 

The Pearly Moisturizing Body Milk comes in a white tube bottle. 

Their slogan, "my daily pinch of good mood," is something I can relate to when I look at their products. 

The pearly milk is a cream colored mixture that has the consistency of milk (looks good enough to drink!). It smells of grapefruits and leaves the skin lightly moisturized and sparkly. 

The sparkly bits are quite obvious upon close inspection, so I would leave this to be used for evening. 

Overall, Pulpe De Vie offers fun, high-quality products that I reach for time and again. The brand is available in Rustan's. 

Eco Cert-certified. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Redezvous, Cherish, and Smitten

It must have been the packaging. Part of what draws me into beauty products are how they are designed. In the case of Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, this propensity proved to be right. 

They come in Crayola-like twist-up tubes. The outer packaging mimics the color of the Balm Stain. 

Rendezvous, Cherish, Smitten. 

Draw your inspiration. 

Rendezvous translates the most flattering on my lips, aside from it being the most moisturizing. Cherish gives a pale pink look, while Smitten borders on a trashy deep pink shade and is also drying on the lips. I am also not a fan of the minty scent these sticks give off. Overall, I am not convinced of this series -- however for those who like to create "makeup looks," these balm stains offer a wide range of color options and also provide long-lasting wear. 

Shiseido Water in Lip (Pineapple)

Since my foray into Japanese cosmetics, I have been consistently awed with the quality of their products from the humble drugstore lines to the shiny department store brands. Shiseido's Fine Toiletry brand is a self-select (drugstore) line that is always such a pleasure to use.

Water in Lip is a famous lip balm range from Shiseido's FT line. It comes in many flavors with corresponding tubes reflecting the inspired fruit/scent. I've tried the blue (Mint, one of the original flavors), the green (French Pear, smells divine!), and featured in this review, the yellow tube (Pineapple).

The packaging looks simple but is actually well-thought out. The delicate vertical waves, paired with the dotted oval ring around the words "Water in Lip," together with the perfect pale yellow shade of the tube makes this lip balm look special and elegant. It may be a drugstore product pressed to sell at a certain price point, but the Japanese belie with good quality and beautiful design. Those unfamiliar with Japanese cosmetics could never guess the price of this lovely lip balm (around HK$25).

The balm mimics the tube's color -- a pale yellow shade. It smells unbelievably like fresh pineapples! It glides on the lips easily and leaves a slight glossy finish. I immediately notice some lip lines diminish. Like most lip balms, it does get wiped off easily, but if this is avoided, lips are more hydrated throughout the day. It also doesn't feel sticky or gooey. The effect is like a light gloss leaning more toward a balm. It can be applied anytime of the day with no fuss or worries. This is my favorite lip gloss of the moment (and it has been more than 3 years since I discovered this line). Overall, I would definitely recommend this gem of a lip balm!

Some Japanese description. It contains 3.5g of product. I usually finish mine in a year, with usage of approximately every other day.

For those lucky to understand the above Japanese text!

Rose & Co. Apothecary's Rose Petal Salve

My first introduction to Rose & Co. Apothecary was by PJ of A Touch of Blusher, a UK-based beauty blog by one of the best writers I've come across online. I remember reading her positive review of the well-established Rose Petal Salve.  

It comes in a simple, attractive pale pink tin container with beautiful lettering and rose illustrations. The handy round can contains a lot of product at 20g. At £5 this is well worth it and I'll tell you why in the next few paragraphs. I've also reviewed another product by Rose & Co. Apothecary, Sweet Vanilla Salve, in a separate post. Fortunately, I didn't experience any irritation with Rose Petal as I did with the Sweet Vanilla variant.

Rose Petal Salve is pictured darker than its actual shade, which is a pale translucent red. The texture is quite thick and the formula is very emollient. The can states that it is "an excellent all-round salve." I can't vouch for the "all-round" part for I am wary to experiment on other parts of my face, but I can sing a week-long's praises for what it has done for my lips. I use it mainly as an overnight lip balm. It absorbs right away but still leaves a thin coating that reassures hydration. It's not tacky or sticky at all. It just sinks in comfortably and gives the general feeling of nourishment. I only use a little bit and it spreads generously over the entire lip area. In the morning, lip lines are smoother and my lips look plumper and younger. I can definitely see the difference between using and not using this salve on any given night.

Ingredients are listed above. This is a godsend, an exceptional product that I hope would never be discontinued or reformulated.

Kiss Me Hyaluronic Acid Collagen Moist Lip in Cherry Red

I got my tube of Kiss Me Hyaluronic Acid Collagen Moist Lip in Cherry Red from a small adambeauty.com haul early this year.

It comes in a plain red tube mimicking the color of the balm. The cap clasps onto the body securely. The twist up mechanism on the bottom is ribbed and looks very discreet.

The balm (SPF15 PA++), which contains hyaluronic acid, is a bright cherry red that instantly fuses the lips with vivid color.

Above is a swatch of the balm. It provides instant moisture and fills in lip lines completely. My lips not only felt moisturized, but they also looked smoother and plumper. I would otherwise call this one of the best lip balms I've ever tried if not for the fact that the bright red shade looks off on me. If you are a lover of reds and the moisture lip balms provide, then Kiss Me Moist Lip has all you are looking for. If like me, you prefer transparent balms, you'd be better off checking Moist Lip's other variants in Smooth and Natural. Click here for the entire selection on adambeauty. Overall, the Moist Lip line offers excellent quality lip balms for their price.

Some Japanese description.

Rose & Co. Sweet Vanilla Salve

Rose & Co. is a British apothecary known for balms and salves. I picked this Sweet Vanilla Salve with Beeswax and Honey at Boots during my trip to Oxford. 

It comes in a round tin 20g container reverberating a vintage feel. 

It will take forever to finish as there is quite a lot of product in the container. This salve is supposed to be used on the lips. It smells like sweet honey which is my cup of tea. It doesn't sink into the lips but leaves an obvious film which I find quite uncomfortable. Even for an evening balm, it is too troublesome to sleep with a lip balm/salve that is thick and floating on the lips. To its credit, I did wake up with smooth lips in the morning. 

If you don't mind thick lip balms, I would recommend this product because it really does its job of softening and moisturizing the lips. Also, be aware that some people are allergic or irritable to cera alba (beeswax), as I recently found myself to be in a patch test. Many lip products, and even some BB Creams contain beeswax, so do check the ingredients properly before investing. I didn't have particularly adverse reactions from using this product, except for a few red spots around the mouth which disappeared when I washed the product off. These concerns aside, I think Rose & Co. offers a solid lineup of their products.