Soin des lèvres au Lait de Jument de Camargue

RRP: 8€

--What does the promo say?—

"Moisturisation and protection guaranteed with our SOIN DES LEVRES! This lip balm is so rich that it will quickly repair and protect your lips from the effects of the cold and the sun. Good for cracked and sore lips, it is rich in moisturising ingredients such as shea butter and beeswax, which reinforce the qualities of Camargue mare’s milk. It nourishes, softens and protects your lips to the maximum. It does not contain a UV filter and is a natural product containing no chemical ingredients. (Any conservation agents used have been approved by Ecocert.) Suitable for daily use."

--Ingredients--

Shea butter, grapeseed oil, beeswax, aloe vera, jojoba oil, argan oil, lemon essential oil. 

--Packaging--

The SOIN DES LEVRES comes in a standard lipstick format. It has a paper wrap- around label with discreet logo of a horse’s head, the Camargue cross, the name of the product in black and green lettering and an attractive picture of mares in the Camargue.

--Application--

Apply like a lipstick, to top and bottom lip, and rub lips together to smooth the product in thoroughly.

--Appearance--

The SOIN DES LEVRES is a solid creamy-yellow stick.

--Scent—

The scent on this is very faint indeed, which I prefer to other lip balms I have used. You are not left with a strong taste on your lips. It feels completely natural.

--Texture and consistency--

The texture is quite solid and hard. I have a feeling that it will last longer than most sticks of this type because it doesn’t ‘melt away’ or wear down quickly as some do.

--Effects on the lips —

My lips feel instantly hydrated and the effect lasts a long time. A bonus: I also apply it around the contours of my lips to reduce the fine lines and it works a treat. Used before going to bed, it keeps my lips moisturised all through the night.

--Value for money--

Very good value for the quality of the product and the fact that it will last a long time.

perfect partners

CRÈME DE SOIN VISAGE (Face cream) 30€

LAIT DEMAQUILLANT (Make-up remover), from €9

CRÈME PEAU SECHE ET SENSIBLE (Cream for dry and sensitive skin), from €9

SAVON AU LAIT DE JUMENT NATUREL ET HYDRATANT (Natural moisturising mare’s milk soap), from €2

CRÈME POUR LES MAINS (Hand cream), 11.90€ 

CRÈME POUR LES PIEDS (Foot cream), 11.90€

COMPLEMENTS ALIMENTAIRES (dietary supplement capsules), 29.90€ 

https://laitdejumentdecamargue.fr/

Pepsi Lip Balms Tear 'n' Share

RRP: £2.50

--What does the promo say?--
"Share a guilt-free sweet treat with your bestie! Keep your lips soft and hydrated with these Pepsi and Pepsi Cherry flavour lip balms."

--Packaging--
The heart-shaped cardboard backing is emblazoned with the Pepsi logo and the brand colours of red, white and blue. This tears neatly down the middle thanks to a perforation. The two lip balms themselves are protected by a plastic casing, with the Pepsi Cherry lip balm distinguished by a red lid. Both lip balms can be twisted up from the bottom as normal in order to reveal the product.

--Usage--
Twist the bottom of the casing up to reveal the product. Apply liberally to dry lips, as often as you feel is necessary.

--Appearance--
The Pepsi balm is a light brown colour, while the Pepsi Cherry balm is a vibrant red. Both, however, go transparently onto the lips.

--Scent--
Playful, fizzy, and in the case of the cherry variant, fruity. Taste-wise, however, they are more beeswaxy (which is probably just as well).

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth without being greasy or indeed overly waxy.

--Effects on the lips--
Chapped lips feel immediately soothed and smoothed - so the desired effect.

--Value for money--
At £2.50 for the pair (i.e. £1.25 each) these are cheap, cheerful, fun, and in short, do what they say on the tin. Primark does it again!

Rose and Co Rose Petal Salve

RRP: £3.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Our celebrated salve is packaged in a beautiful pink ointment tin and remains our best-selling product. A fabulous lip salve and also helpful for dry patches and rough skin, there seems to be no end to the uses of this magical little balm."

--Packaging--
The delicate pink and black colour scheme of the tin will appeal to girly girls as well as potentially those with a more Gothic side. The line drawings of flowers are creative and beautiful, and add a further sense of whimsy and quirkiness. The tin itself closes securely, while being easy to open when needed.

--Application--
Apply to any area of your body that needs a bit of TLC: lips, elbows, knees, cuticles... Be warned, though: a little goes a long way!

--Appearance--
While the salve initially looks a bit lurid in the tin, as it is a very bright pink, this effect disappears on application, with no staining (or indeed colouration of any kind) occurring.

--Scent--
Matches the rose imagery perfectly, although may be a little sweet for some.

--Texture and consistency--
Soaks into skin beautifully, and is soft without being oily or greasy.

--Effects on the skin--
This balm is non-irritating and will soothe any dry areas of skin with continued use. I would love a body lotion and foot cream so that I could easily harness this magic for the areas of my body that suffer most, over larger areas than this tin is designed for.

--Value for money--
At a mere £3.99 this does an excellent job using natural ingredients, and won't break the bank either. Very few all-purpose beauty balms retail in this budget bracket, so I'd advise hopping to it and getting yourself one ASAP (and at this price you can afford to get one for female friends and family, too!). I was sent mine by Rose & Co's lovely PR, but would definitely splash out my own cash for this handbag-friendly beauty.

perfect partners
Rose Petal Lip Balm, £3.00
Rose Petal Hand Cream, £5.00

Glo Minerals Exfoliating Lip Wand

RRP: £9

--What does the promo say?--
"Exfoliate and moisturize lips in one quick step. Jojoba and nourishing wax microcrystals combine to soften, smooth and hydrate lips. Apply throughout the day as needed to exfoliate and hydrate lips. Nourishing wax microcrystals gently slough away dry skin particles to reveal a softer, smoother lip surface then melt on contact and seep into the exfoliated surface to deliver supreme moisturization."

--Packaging--
The silver tube is sleek and futuristic, and the lid fastens securely.

--Application--
With winter on its way, I'd recommend applying this one daily, or perhaps even more frequently. Apply to lips using a brush or straight from the tube as preferred. Can be worn alone, or as an undercoat for lipstick or lip gloss.

--Appearance--
Virtually invisible. Possibly a slightly pale sheen, but nothing more.

--Scent--
None, particularly.

--Texture and consistency--
Delightfully scrubby without being rough - and thankfully, as promised, the exfoliating beads really do dissolve, meaning that you don't feel like you've just been for a walk along the beach in a windstorm.

--Effects on the lips--
Eliminates dry patches and moisturises perfectly.

--Value for money--
Again, this one was free, but is worth every penny of the £9 asking price, in my view. Trumps even my previous favourite - the £8 Body Shop Lipscuff.

perfect partners
Protective Liquid Foundation, £37
Bronze, £30.50  

Green People Scent-Free Soft Lips SPF8

RRP: £4.95

--What does the promo say?--
"A natural lip balm which keeps your lips soft and protected. Conditions and protects, giving a natural sheen. Excellent for dry, sore and chapped lips. Gives SPF8 UV protection. ‘Scent Free' formulation ideal for sensitive lips (very mild taste from natural plant oils used as the product base). Contains organic coconut, cupuaçu, vitamin E, and berry wax. Green People Scent Free Soft Lips SPF8 is made without artificial perfumes, alcohol (ethyl alcohol, ethanol), parabens, petrochemicals, colourants, lanolin and phthalates to bring you the purest lip salve that nature can offer. 65% certified organic ingredients. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans."

 --Packaging--
A small white plastic tube that'll fit right in even the smallest pocket. The orange band is distinctive and cheerful and the screw-top lid proves secure and hygienic.

--Application--
The website advises applying a small amount of Scent Free Soft Lips only, and it's true that you'll only need a pea-sized amount. You also can apply from the tube to your lips directly, with no need to go via your fingers. Wear alone, or over lipstick for a subtle gloss effect.

--Appearance--
An opaque cream-coloured gel, which turns into an attractive sheen on the lips.

--Scent--
As promised, it's completely scent-free. They warn that a mild taste is possible, but I couldn't detect it.

--Texture and consistency--
While it appears slightly thick and lumpy, it still comes out of the tube easily without control being lost or product being wasted. On the lips, it's completely smooth and without stickiness. Definitely the love child of gloss and balm; Green People should definitely make colour versions!

--Effects on the skin--
Moisturises lips, protects from cold winds and sunshine, and is definitely scent-free. Top stuff.

--Value for money--
At £4.95, it's not the cheapest balm out there, but it's probably the cheapest it can be given the high quality of the ingredients and the brand's ethical credentials. The price means it's also competing with brands such as Burt's Bees, Avene, and Cowshed, meaning it's appropriately valued at worst and excellent value at best. Would recommend.

perfect partners
Neutral Scent-Free 24 Hour Cream, £14.95
Scent-Free Sun Lotion SPF25

Chapstick Lipsations Shimmer

 
RRP: £1.99
Number of varieties: 2 (Berry and Tropical)

--What does the promo say?--

"Add a bit of glamour to your lip care as the sun starts to shine, with new ChapStick® Lipsations Shimmer. This fabulous new duo offers the perfect combination of moisture, softness and protection with a beautiful pearlescent shine.

Perfect for making lips irresistibly kissable, the smooth formulation gives a subtle highlight with fine shimmer particles.  Available in two tempting flavours, Berry and Tropical, these glamorous new additions to the ChapStick range are a perfect pick to add a touch of sparkle, while 10 different moisturisers help to keep lips soft and looking healthy.

ChapStick Lipsations Shimmer has a special formulation to:

·         Give lips a radiant shine

·         Provide a subtle accent to ensure lips look beautiful and healthy

·         Maintain moisture balance to keep lips protected and soft

Why not also try using ChapStick Lipsations Shimmer as a top coat to your lipstick to give it that extra special shine and radiance? Perfect for taking your look from day to night!"

--Packaging--
A compact tube whose colour immediately shows you the flavour you've chosen (red for berry, orange for tropical). The lid stays on securely, yet pulls off easily when you want to use it. There is a screw wheel at the bottom of the tube to push more lip balm up when needed, and this is easy to use, working immediately (no sitting there endlessly and fruitlessly twisting the wheel for us!).

--Application--
Sweep over lips whenever more protection is needed. Can be used alone, or as a top coat to lipstick as suggested by Chapstick for extra shimmer. You could do the latter, but you may find the Chapstick gets messy if you do it often.

--Appearance--
On the lips, the berry version appears a very natural colour with a hint of shimmer. The tropical version is a nude/clear shade.

--Scent--
The red berry version is definitely faithful to the product concept, and tastes like it on the lips as well (in addition to being slightly sugary). This applies equally to the tropical variant, which smells and tastes primarily of pineapple and secondarily of coconut. (The kiwi featured on the packaging with these two fruits does not really figure, however.)

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and soft; not a hint of stickiness. 

--Effects on the lips--
Provides an effective barrier against sun and wind. No complaints here.

--Value for money--
At a mere £1.99, this definitely counts as an affordable luxury. Even though I was sent these for free by the lovely folks at Chapstick, I would without doubt purchase these myself and recommend them to others. 

Blistex Lip Brilliance

RRP: £2.49

--What does the promo say?--

"Blistex Lip Brilliance is an exciting multi-benefit lip balm with real silk extracts to condition your lips, along with a touch of subtle colour and shimmer to keep them looking beautiful. The addition of Hyaluronic Filling Spheres provides a natural fuller lip effect, and SPF 15 protects from sun damage. Lip Brilliance is the only lip product you will need to ensure your lips are feeling and looking their best."

--Packaging--

Nothing radical about the dark baby pink colour, plastic pull-off lid and twist-up mechanism. Lid stays on when you want it to, comes off easily when you don't. Simples, as they say.

--Application--

Apply to lips regularly to combat dryness and protect from sunlight. Nothing hard about that.

--Appearance--

Despite the dark pink colour of the stick, on the lips a very natural, non-glittery sheen is given. Great for men, women and children.

--Texture and consistency--

Slides on easily without being slippery or sticky. Moisturises more than satisfyingly.

--Scent--

My only major bugbear with this product! It has a very artificial strawberry smell which reminds me of a Haribo product that's sold in France (not in the UK, though) which I dislike (if any of you are familiar with the Tagada sweets, you'll know what I mean). Very disappointing. Girls under 10 would probably like it, but I think it counts out just about anyone else.

--Effects on the lips--

As mentioned, it moisturises, soothes and protects adequately for those who don't require a more heavy-duty product, like some of the other more medicated options from the Blistex range. I can't say I noticed any extra-special plumping effect, though. To have SPF in a product is always nice :)

--Value for money--

There are lots of choices in this price bracket, including other high street favourites such as Carmex, but I think Blistex remains competitive thanks to its stick format: many of the other products for this price are in tins/pots or squeezy tubes. However, I would ultimately not purchase this product - the smell, for me, just makes it far too off-putting. A shame, as it has a lot to offer in other areas.

perfect partners

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser Lip Cream, £2.59

Blistex MedPlus Balm, £2.59

Blistex Relief Cream, £2.85

Montagne Jeunesse Weather Screen Lip Balm

--What does the promo say?--

"Are you a Busy outdoor Bee? Then protect your best feature from the elements with Wheatgerm & Black Pepper for a subtle tingly sensation, and flavour with a kick. The Olive Oil safeguards your skin whilst Shea Butter and 100% pure Beeswax soothes and locks moisture in."

--Packaging--

The honeycomb cartoon on the front of the tube is cheerful and the pull-off plastic lid stays secure, but is not difficult to remove when you do need to use it. More balm is exposed by twisting the bottom of the tube. It also features the Vegetarian Standard mark from the Vegetarian Society, but I don't know if the tube itself is recyclable (although the paper and plastic sleeve it comes in definitely is).

--Application--

Slap on to clean, dry lips and go about your daily business. Simples.

--Appearance--

The balm is a fairly solid white-yellow creamy block that leaves a slight, barely detectable sheen on the lips once applied.

--Scent--

The smell of shea and cocoa butters is dominant, which is a little boring; given the emphasis on beeswax, a honey-scented product might have been more pleasant and different.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, soft and absorbs well.

--Effects on the skin--

Softens and smoothens lips, but no better or worse than any other commercial lip balm. I also don't really "get" the weather screen part - it contains no SPF, so I don't see how it would provide any beyond-superficial protection to your lips. If the variety of essential oils that have been used do in fact have this effect, it needs to be explained on the pack, as it isn't really common knowledge.

--Value for money--

The main appeal of this product is its 99.5% natural claim. However, there are definitely other products out there for the same price that do just as well or better - Fair Squared's lip balms, for instance, are not only 99% organic but also vegan due to their lack of beeswax; Jason and Optima also offer natural lip balms for this price, and Optima's contain SPF too. This means that Montagne Jeunesse needs to constantly keep its eyes on the competition so as to constantly develop its products for the better. I'm loving the all-natural thing, but would prefer such a product to have a more obvious SPF in it - and if that SPF can be natural, so much the better.

Blistex Lip Massage

 RRP: £1.83 (Boots.com)

--What does the promo say?--

"A softening treatment formula of shea butter, aloe vera and squalane applied with its unique massaging tip for smooth, refreshed and gorgeous lips. Dermatologically tested. SPF15."

--Packaging--

The shiny dark blue is an unusual touch and the tapered, textured top of the plastic tube only furthers this. The pull-off lid is secure, stays on well and comes off easily when you want it to. Simples! One complaint by other reviewers has been that the textured top becomes dirty too easily and requires constant cleaning; I personally haven't found this. Just remember that a little of this stuff goes a long way and you'll be fine.

--Application--

Blistex say: "Twist the cream and use the applicator tip to gently massage all over your lips (first use may take up to 10 turns, subsequent uses should only require one turn). Reapply frequently during prolonged exposure to dry, cold or sunny environments - the soft touch tip smooths away rough spots to achieve soft, smooth and gorgeous lips." No reading between the lines here; does exactly what it says on the tin.

--Appearance--

An opaque, creamy-coloured stiff lotion that gives a slight sheen to the lips once applied.

--Scent--

An overwhelmingly fruity scent which contrasts the menthol and vanilla scent you get from Blistex's other products. Could put the blokey contingent off, but I like it - it's a natural fruity smell too (although I can't work out where it comes from), unlike Carmex's fruit-style confections.

--Texture, consistency and sensation--

As mentioned, this is a stiff and creamy lotion, but it absorbs easily and is not at all sticky. Slight tingling sensation which fulfils the refreshing feeling promised by the promotional material. Equally, the textured tip offers a comforting and soothing 'massage' feeling when dragged across the lips, which is so simple and effective that I can't believe other lip care manufacturers haven't yet seized on similar devices.

--Effects on the lips--

All as promised: lips are soothed, smoothed and massaged. Top stuff.

--Value for money--

Prices vary widely across the web, even running as high as £3.50, so be careful. Boots offers it at £1.83 on special offer, but even at its normal price of £2.50, I'd say it's still a steal for an effective and unique product.

Blistex Relief Cream

RRP: £2.85/5g

--What does the promo say?--

"A soothing, penetrating formulation for quick relief of occasional cold sores, cracked lips or chapped lips. When you need a penetrating & soothing remedy to relieve & treat occasional cold sores and cracked & chapped lips, leaving your lips feeling soft again. Cold Sores - when first symptoms arise, gently apply every hour to rapidly relieve any discomfort. You are more vulnerable to developing a cold sore if you are feeling stressed & rundown. Lip care - your lips are more sensitive during extreme weather conditions, so may need a little more care than normal. Apply Blistex Relief Cream frequently to quickly relieve sore, cracked and chapped lips."

--Packaging--

The soothing and utilitarian blue colours of the cardboard packaging are echoed again on the small metallic tube, which also uses white and red in its design. The nozzle is too thin to be practical; a wider applicator would be easier to use. Leakages could also be better controlled (see below) - the first time I opened the tube and squeezed, all that came out was a clear liquid which went all over my fingers. NICE. The cream came only later.

--Application--

Squeeze a little of the product out of the tube. Really only a tiny amount is required, but as mentioned above, the nozzle is a bit small to control application thoroughly or to apply the product directly to the lips, so the best way seems to be to squeeze some product onto your index finger and apply from here to your lips. Although it is advised to apply the product every hour, certainly in summer this is not necessary, as it is more effective than this.

--Appearance--

Although the cream blends invisibly onto the lips, delivering only a slight and quite natural sheen, the cream itself is a creamy, slightly off-brown colour. Some clear liquid also seeps out of the tube with every application, which again does not appear visibly on the lips.

--Scent--

A very strong menthol-style smell.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooths onto lips easily and absorbs well - not too quickly or slowly. Not in the least bit sticky. The clear liquid that seeps from the tube with each application is also not sticky or tricky to absorb, but is just annoying and watery and makes more of a mess of your fingers.

--Effects on the lips--

Lips are smoothened and irritation is rapidly soothed after only one or two applications; definitely speeds up the healing process. Really very effective.

--Value for money--

This product packs prescription power punch at a price to suit all, and all in an off-the-shelf product; however, there are still a few kinks that need ironing out. The smell is not offputting to me (I like mint) but may be to some, and the runny liquid that accompanies the cream needs to blend better with it inside the tube.