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.

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)

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)

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)