Mountain Ocean: Lip Trip

Well, its been a while since I've posted... However, my lip balm addiction hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, so I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Look/First Impressions: Bad-ass black tube with big white letters. The package promises this balm lasts three times longer, and has been tested in extreme mountain and tropical environments. Rugged! SPF 15, too.

Smell/Taste: The label said vanilla and peppermint, but this smelled more like cough syrup to me. Blech.

Feel: This balm is so extreme, I could barely get it on my lips! I was using this stick back in February when I went boarding, so I thought maybe it would be better if it was warm. I left it in a heated condo, and even after some time in my pocket, the consistency hadn't improved. After muscling it onto my lips, it felt sticky. When I rubbed my lips together, they actually stuck! Extreme mountain snowboarders don't need to eat...

Overall: Meh, I lost this on the slopes and wasn't sad enough to buy a replacement. 1 out of 5 Stars.

Dr. Bronner's: Pure Castille Magic Soaps

There are so many great hemp products out there, I wish I had time to review more. I began using vegetable soaps several years ago because I kept getting red, itchy bumps after using body wash. Dr. Bronner's was one of the first I tried.

Look/First Impressions: The packaging is pretty interesting. The labels are color-coded to the scent, and contain all types of witty quotes and nonsense. Fun to read while standing around in the personal hygiene aisle at Whole Foods.

Smell: There are eight smells to choose from. My favorites are Tea Tree, Peppermint (of course!), and Almond. There will surely be a scent that pleases you. The liquid version seems a bit stronger than the bar.

Feel: This soap makes an incredible amount of lather. It feels refreshing to smooth it all over my skin. Peppermint is tingly! The website says you can use it for skin, teeth and hair. I don't recommend this as a shampoo, unless your hair is really short. Otherwise, you will never get the tangles out! It does make my skin feel squeaky clean, though. I sometimes feel a little dry afterward, but I'm a habitual lotion/balm user anyway.

Overall: If you love lather and good smells, give this a try! One of my favorite soap brands. 4.5 out of 5 Stars! (website)

Eco Lips: Vanilla Hemp

The adventures with hemp-based products continues with Eco Lips (one of my favorite companies!) I was using this as a cuticle moisturizer in December, and it made my nails grow thick and strong. I couldn't find it anywhere when I got home from Florida, and it turned out that I had left it at my Dad's house! I begged my sister to look for it, and Dad actually shipped it back to me along with some other things I left behind.

Look/First Impressions: This tube has a twist on the normal Eco Lips packaging. It comes in a silver tube, and the usual Eco leaf is replaced with a hemp leaf. I work for the government, and enjoy leaving this out on my desk for people to wonder at. You'd be surprised at how many misconceptions the average person has about hemp.

Smell/Taste: I was surprised when I sniffed this and smelled Vanilla. I didn't pay much attention when I ordered it, and didn't realize it would be scented. It smells strongly of vanilla, like when you open a bottle of vanilla extract. I love it though, because it reminds me of cookies! Taste, however, is negligible.

Feel: A little thin feeling, but still nice to press between my lips. According to the description, hemp oil is very thin and absorbs easily into the skin. When my lips are dry and peely, this takes the dead skin off almost instantly. I can really notice how fast it sinks in when I use it on my hands. I like to apply this balm frequently, just because I love the smell so much.

Overall: If I'd have known prior to ordering how great this would be, I'd have ordered a few tubes. 4.75 out of 5 Stars! (website)

Azida: Hemp Oil Lip Balm

The Azida Hemp Balm was another great find at Vegan Essentials. The balm is less than three dollars a tube and comes in four flavors. Azida makes a whole line of Hemp Oil body care products and is based in Sierra Vista, Arizona. I used to live there, but had never heard of this brand until recently.

Look/First Impressions: Its a regular ol' tube, color coded to match the flavor. I find the label very visually appealing. At the time of purchase I was specifically seeking hemp oil products, and this fit the bill perfectly. It also has sunscreen, which is important for me since I spend at least an hour outside everyday. The balm is white in color, but will not leave your lips looking pastey.

Smell/Taste: Passion Fruit smells incredible! I'd sit around and sniff this all day if I could. It makes me mighty curious about Mango and Strawberry. There is a slight taste to match, and no sign of planty-ness. I'm assuming this is made with a more refined hemp oil than Merry Hempsters brand.

Feel: This balm goes on a little thick and waxy for my taste, but lasts forever! I took this on my Colorado ski trip in January, but the balm got a little too hard in the cold. I prefered to keep it in my condo, and use it when I came in for the day and before bed. The condo was very dry from the heat, and this balm kept me from getting chapped overnight.

Overall: A great vegan and hemp based balm, with uncommon flavor options. A bit waxy, but I think the great smell makes up for it. 4.25 out of 5 Stars. (website)

Merry Hempsters: Vegan Hemp Balm

I always pass by these when I visit Whole Foods, but finally decided to take the plunge when I was ordering some stuff from Vegan Essentials. At $2.50, I didn't think I had much to loose. Plus, the customer reviews were pretty good.

Look/First Impressions: Brightly colored labels with a smiling sun! I thought they were pretty cute, until I opened the tube. The balm has a greenish tinge, that's not even remotely appealing.

Smell/Taste: I ordered cinnamon because I don't have any balms of that flavor, and it smells exactly as it should. The taste is slightly earthy. I was also given a free sample of the peppermint flavor with my order, but that one smelled like wet dirt. I was disappointed, since mint is my favorite flavor. I kinda wish I tried Mandarin or Vanilla instead.

Feel: The cinnamon had a wonderful feeling going over my lips, and I felt adequately coated after one swipe. However, my lips started going numb after a few minutes and it was really burning! I tried to be tough, but the burning wouldn't stop. It also began getting clumpy, and I had to wipe it off. The peppermint one was so darn waxy, I couldn't even apply it to my lips. It felt like rubbing a smooth stone over my mouth. After reading all the good reviews, I think I may have just gotten one from a bad batch.

Overall: Vegans beware! There are better balms out there for you. My experience was terrible, and I won't try this brand again. To top everything off, the wheel was broken and I couldn't roll it down after use. Kinda cool that its made from hemp, but its the worst balm I've ever tried. 1 out of 5 stars. (website)

Hemp Seed Oil

I'm not talking about marijuana, I'm talking about hemp! There are several different species of this plant, which contain cannabinoids. Marijuana contains THC, which can alter the state of mind, but industrial hemp contains CBD, which is non-psychoactive. (source)

A wide variety of items can be made from industrial hemp, which include clothing, paper, fuel, and beauty products. The seeds are pressed for oil and contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) that are necessary in the human diet, but not produced naturally by the body. Hemp seed oil contains these EFAs in the same proportions needed by our system.

This month, I'll be sharing some of my favorite (and least favorite) hemp oil based products.

Alternative Apparel: The Champ L/S Eco-Fleece Raglan

I bought this because its freakin' cold here, and I wanted a comfy pullover for lounging around in. I've been hearing a lot lately how Alternative Apparel is the hotness, so I decided to check it out for myself.

Look/First Impressions: Alternative Apparel's website is strange to say the least. The models all wear bizarre accessories and look as if they've been rolling around in chalk. The majority of the products have names that start with Eco, Alternative, Organic, Original... they are really pushing the "We're NOT mainstream!" message. I find the website silly, and the pictures not at all helpful in determining what the clothes actually look like. Most of the pictures are of the models looking like homeless crack addicts. However, I was swayed by the amazing milky red, heather-ness of this top. I love shades of red, and love heather even more. When it arrived it was pretty much as expected, but the outside of the fabric looks old. ("knitted on outdated machines for a retro look") When I wore this, my boyfriend asked if I took it out of storage!

Fit: I'm small, but I wanted a baggy fit. The size charts are practically useless, since terms like "perfect" and "relaxed" fit vary with individual interpretation. I ordered a XS and a S, and ended up returning the S. Its unisex, so it runs big anyway. My main complaint is that the sleeves are waaay to short! I wish they were at least 5 inches longer. My wrist bones are left out to get chilly.

Feel: Darn comfy! Super soft on the inside. Feels great against my skin. Outside is kind of pilly, like a sweater you washed too many times, but its still soft.

Overall: This developed a hole after only one day of lounging around the house! I suppose that makes it more alternative and retro, but for 40 USD I expected this sweater to last longer. For being ridiculously overpriced and annoyingly alternative, I give this 3 out of 5 stars. (website)

Edit: I expressed my concerns to the product feedback survey and a friendly employee offered to ship me a replacement for free! While the sweatshirt might not be the best ever, I'm impressed with their customer service and willingness to make things right with their consumers.

Tilvee: Pomegranate Lip Conditioner

This brand was a lucky find! In addition to being a lip balm addict, I'm also a soap junkie. I found Tilvee while I was browsing online for soaps, to my delight, they also make lip balms!

Look/First Impressions: All Tilvee products are wonderfully photographed, and accompanied by fruit. The site is clean, and just makes me want to buy up the whole line, BUT they are expensive! This tube was six bucks. You can't really tell from the photo, but this is a fat stick (.25 oz).

Smell/Taste: Amazing! Smells like raspberry chocolate, and tastes like it too. Makes me want to try all the flavors.

Feel: I'm finding that I'm extremely partial to balms containing cocoa butter. They apply easily, don't feel greasy, and are the perfect consistency.

Overall: I've been carrying this with me since it arrived, and don't plan on rotating it out of my purse stash for a while. I'll definitely buy another when it runs out. 4.9 out of 5 stars! (website)

Burt's Bees: Replenishing Pomegranate

I've been a long time user of Burt's Bees. While I'm not much of a fan of their body care products, they keep feeding my lip balm addiction!

Look/First Impressions: I love the Burt's Bees packaging. The yellow and red color scheme, plus the style of artwork makes the products easily recognizable. Old man Burt makes me feel like I'm using something grandpa formulated especially for me. I was especially lured by the verb "replenishing", since it gives me the impression of soft, full lips.

Smell/Taste: Wow! Its got a strong, tart smell, that reminds me of sour-patch kids. Luckily, it doesn't taste like them or I'd have thrown it out. The balm itself is a deep red color, like the cap, which comes from the addition of carmine.

Feel: After using the very thin Eco Lips for a week, this feels wonderfully thick. I find that Burt's Bees can sometimes be a little hard, and it takes a few swipes for a good coating. Sometimes, I just scrape some off the top with my fingernail (as if it were a tin), and rub it into my lips. This seems to soak in right away and make my lips very soft. I need fewer re-applications to maintain nice feeling lips.

Overall: Keep up the good work, Burt! 4.5 out of 5 Stars. (website)

Eco Lips Beta Balm: Bee Free Pomegranate

I discovered Eco Lips back in the fall. My usual health food spots don't carry this brand, so I ended up placing a large order online, and have almost all their products. You can also get a free sample if you send them two dollars for the shipping. Details here.

Look/First Impressions: This balm isn't much to look at, but there's a reason for that. This is a Beta Balm, which just means the product hasn't become part of their full-time inventory, but is available for consumers to test. So, no effort was put into giving it a fancy label. This is also one of their Vegan Friendly "Bee Free" products, meaning no bees wax was used in the formula. The base contains Candelilla Wax and Cocoa Butter.

Smell/Taste: The smell is light and citrus-y. This smells the most like a pomegranate of all the lip balms I'm reviewing this month. The balm itself is left uncolored, and unflavored.

Feel: This balm is very soft, and easy to over apply. Goes on smooth, but quickly gets too melty while its on my lips and starts feeling greasy. I noticed the skin under my lips was becoming oily, and I even started breaking out. Bad news, indeed! I tried it as a cuticle moisturizer too, and it seems to perform better once its rubbed into the skin.

Overall: Meh, I don't feel strongly about this product either way. It was fun to try, but doubtful I will buy it again. 3 out of 5 Stars. (website)

Softlips: PURE Pomegranate

I have to say, organic is in. Softlips has a new PURE line, with two new flavors; Pomegranate and Honeydew. I scooped this up a few months ago in Target.

Look/First Impressions: The first thing I noticed was the USDA certified organic stamp. I'm impressed with anyone who goes to the trouble to get certified organic, or use certified organic ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, this only contains a few vegetable oils, shea butter, bees wax and vitamin E. I subscribe to the philosophy that simple is better, so I'm on board with this lip balm. Of course it comes in the signature Softlips skinny tube (.07 OZ), which is about half of a regular-sized tube. Unfortuantely its not half the price.

Smell/Taste: This balm doesn't really have a distinct smell. It has a very minimal sweet scent, and no flavor at all.

Feel: As neat as the skinny tube looks, its performance is an utter failure. It takes forever to get my lips coated with this stuff! When I apply this balm, I feel like a little kid with a crayon, "scribbling" on my lips. However, its nice once applied. The formula is a good consistency, not too thick or thin, and feels silky when I press my lips together. Even after the balm begins to soak in, the silky feeling remains. I kinda missed the cool menthol feeling of other Softlips products.

Overall: This was a good buy, and I was happy enough with it to buy the Honeydew Flavor as well. Yet, I really dislike the size of the stick. Its too skinny to be practical, and sometimes the "roll down" feature doesn't work. 4.1 out of 5 Stars. (website)

Pomegranate Seed Oil

After a holiday hiatus, I'm back. I always look forward to the winter. Not only because of the holidays, but also because one of my favorite fruits comes in season; the pomegranate. My sister and I loved to eat them when we were little. Mom always made us stand on chairs and lean over the kitchen sink while we plucked the arils out of the husk, so we wouldn't make too much of a mess. Although, we'd still end up with juice stains on our clothes afterward.

Pomegranates have become quite popular in recent years, likely due to the health benefits associated with their juice. The contain Vitamin A, C, and E, and powerful antioxidants. Oxidants (usually called free radicals) break down healthy cells and may contribute to illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants help reduce free radicals and repair damaged cells. (source)

In addition to pomegranate-based recipes and food items, skin care products containing pomegranate seed oil have become a common sight on store shelves. Without getting too scientific, pomegranate seed oil contains several acids which aid in protecting, moisturizing, and revitalizing the skin. For the month of January, I plan on celebrating the pomegranate by sharing some products made with this amazing fruit. (source)

Kiss My Face: Sugar & Spice

The holiday season is in full swing and what better way to celebrate than with special edition lip balms! I picked this up at the local Whole Foods for about seven bucks, which I think is a little steep. Even for two. I also have to say that this brand name gets me giggling. How do you say it? Is it playful like "Don't kiss my ___, kiss my face!" Or is it full of attitude like "Kiss my ass"? Either way, here we go.

Look/First Impressions: Sparkle-y packaging with a Christmas theme. The flavors are Vanilla Sugar and Cranberry Spice. There's even a little poem on the back that says "Whether you choose sweet or spice, your lips will feel oh so nice!" Hehe, very cute. Most of the ingredients are also certified organic by Quality Assurance International.

Smell/Taste: The smell is subtle. I was curious what Cranberry Spice would smell like, and I immediately thought of chai tea when I took a whiff. There's some cinnamon in there, too. Vanilla Sugar is what I expected; just like a sugar cookie, with a slight hint of coconut. Combined, these two smell like Christmas at mom's house.

Feel: This is a bees wax based lip balm, so its pretty soft and applies smoothly to the lips without being too thick. That being said, it does absorb quickly into my skin. I needed another round after about an hour. I don't mind re-applying, since it feels so nice.

Rating: The formula is nice and makes my lips soft, but the smell isn't something I'd normally choose for myself. Overall, I'd give this 4.25 out of 5 stars. (website)

Ingredient Education: Wax

If you're a lip balm junkie like me, you might have noticed that there are several different types of wax used to make lip balm. I was curious to learn more about them, and share my discoveries.

Wax is a substance found naturally in plants. Bees wax is the genuine article, but wax comes from other plants and can be artificially produced as well. Worker bees collect nectar from plants which is used to make honey. When the bee eats the honey, he secrets wax from wax producing glands on his abdomen. The wax is then chewed by the bee to construct the combs where honey is stored, and the young are raised. (source)

Cera Flava (Yellow Bees Wax): This is the wax taken directly from the hive. The honey is extracted, and the wax is boiled, strained, and poured into molds for cooling. The color is yellowish brown, and it should smell like honey. Cera Flava has a melting point of approximately 146*F, and becomes pliable just by the warmth of your body. It is readily dissolved in oils. (source)

Cera Alba (White Bees Wax): This is the same thing as Cera Flava, but has been exposed to the sun to remove color and smell. Cera Alba has a slightly higher melting point than Cera Flava, and also easily dissolved in oils. (source)

Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla Wax): This wax is produced by the Candelilla plant which grows in the Chihuahua Desert. (Northern Mexico, Southwestern Texas) Plants in the hottest and driest areas produce a hard wax to help the plant retain moisture. It has a melting point af approximately 157*F. It is a common ingredient used in chewing gum. (source)

Copernica Cerifera (Carnauba Wax): This wax comes from the Brazilian Palm Tree, or "Tree of Life". Like the Candelilla plant, the palm tree produces wax to retain moisture. During harvesting, only 20 leaves may be removed from the tree, to ensure the tree is not endangered. Although the tree grows elsewhere, the rainy seasons inhibit wax production. Carnauba wax is often used as a vegan alternative to bees wax. However, Carnauba wax is harder than bees wax and requires a temperature of approximately 185*F to melt. (source)

Plum Pure: Soothing Vanilla

I stopped in Harris Teeter (not my usual grocery store) last week to pick up some pumpkin bread ingredients for Thanksgiving and couldn't resist a stroll through the oral care aisle. Surprisingly, I found a lip balm I'd never heard of before, Plum Pure!

Look/First Impressions: So, I was in the aisle debating on which flavor I should choose; Soothing Vanilla or Vitalizing Peppermint? (why not plum?) Well, my boyfriend hates mint, so vanilla won out. I figured if I liked it, I could come back later for Peppermint. The balm was packaged in a paper hanging box, which I must admit I am no fan of, but I do understand that some retailers will not purchase products if they are not packaged according to a certain standard. The balm is in a creme-colored tube with cute, purple plums and a juicy looking font which seems to call out "Try me, and I'll make your lips incredible". There's also one of those twist off safety seals, which takes me about 10 minutes of wrestling to finally get the darn thing open! Delay of lip balm sampling is never a good thing. Soothing Vanilla is already not living up to its name.

Smell/Taste: After getting the cap off, I take a whiff. There's a subtle smell I can't quite make out, so I inhale a little deeper. It doesn't really smell like vanilla, but more like cardboard. Disappointing to say the least, and leaves me wondering if the mint would have been a better choice after all. There is no taste to this balm.

Feel: I never put a brand new lip balm right onto my lips, because I detest that little divot in the top that makes "sharp" edges on the surface of the balm. I always wear it down first on the back of my hand, to make the balm smooth and round before applying it to my lips. Even with a warm up, this balm is difficult to apply. Its very solid feeling, and I've got to press it hard against my lips and make about seven swipes before I feel satisfied. When I press my lips together, it feels thick and waxy. Almost like I'm kneading dough. The consistency is not improved after being warmed up to body temperature. In fact, I think it actually gets thicker! I'm assuming this is because the oils are being absorbed into my skin, and the wax is remaining on the surface. I find my self constantly pressing my lips together in an effort to redistribute the balm. You will probably end up wiping this off before it wears off. I think because of the thickness it will make a good night time, or extreme cold weather balm. I'd also recommend it as a regular skin moisturizer, because the backs of my hands do feel very soft.

Overall: I was really hoping to like this product, especially after reading their philosophy on ingredient integrity. And plum! Very unique, but the formula needs work and I think the flavor choices are somewhat odd. Where is the plum flavored one? A+ for effort, but I don't think I will buy this brand again. 2 out of 5 stars. (website)

W.S. Badger: Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

There's a little health food shop called Rebecca's Natural Foods a few miles from where I live. They stock all sorts of natural and organic products, and have a huge lip balm selection. I've used a few Badger Balms with good results, and figured I'd give their lip balm a try. The flavor I picked was Creamy Cocoa.

Look/First Impressions: The first thing I noticed about this lip balm was the size of the tube. Its a big fat one! (.25 oz) I'm unlikely to misplace something so large, and its easy to tell apart by feel from other tubes when I'm digging in my abyss of a bag. A closer look at the label reveals that the ingredients are Fair Trade and USDA Certified Organic. Now, who can complain about food quality ingredients in their lip balm? With only seven (pronounceable) ingredients, there's nothing suspicious about it, and I feel good buying this one. Also, there is a magical, smiling badger on the front waving a rainbow of little berries out of his wand!

Smell/Taste: The Creamy Cocoa has a subtle smell of chocolate, and a little bit of flavor too.

Feel: Application is smooth and easy. I like to swipe twice for a complete coat. Its not too thick or too thin, and feels great when I press my lips together. I could rub this on my lips all day long, but a good coat in the morning will last me until lunchtime. I'd advise against keeping this one in your pocket though, it can get a little melty.

Rating: Overall, this is the best lip balm I've ever used. 5 out of 5 stars! (website)

About Me

I got my first lip balms for Christmas one year, when I was about 5 or 6 years old. They were Lip Smackers by Bonne Bell, and boy were they delicious! They even came packaged in a long tube that looked like a candy cane. The flavors were Dr. Pepper, Orange Pop, and Watermelon. I can remember applying the balm, compulsively licking it off, and re-applying for another round. I'm pretty sure I took a few bites from the tube, too. I've been hooked ever since, but I spend a lot less time eating lip balm these days.

I became more practical in high school, and generally settled for Chapstick brand, or something with SPF. The Florida sunshine is mighty intense, and my fair complexion can't handle it. When I joined the Army, the Drill Sergeants took my Cherry and Spearmint Chapstick away, and told me I could only have unflavored Carmex. Boo. I didn't like it, because it made my lips numb. Later my grandmother introduced me to Burt's Bees, and I have a lot of love these days for plant oil and bees wax based lip balms. (My grandfather's name is Burt, and Grandmother thinks its cute to stock little tins of the stuff around the house, hehe :))

Addictive or not, I love lip balm. I buy a new tube almost every week, an squeal with excitement whenever I see a brand I don't have yet. I stash it everywhere; car, pants, hoodie, desk, night stand, bathroom, gym bag, purse, you name it. I'm never without a tube. Heck, I love it so much, I'm starting a blog about lip balm!