Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics- Iceblush Lip Shine

Lip Shine from Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics is basically a shiny tinted lip balm. I've had it for months but only started to fully appreciate it when it dawned on me to actually follow the Youngblood instructions and apply it with a lip brush either over a lip pencil/liner or over a liner+lipstick that you want to both cement into place and make them shine. That was a serious lightbulb moment.

As it is, Lip Shine is a fabulously comfortable-to-wear product, full of extracts, emollients and other feel good ingredients that make it very soothing even for my very picky lips. Its stick factor is minimal and it has very nice glossy sheen. What makes it outstanding is the way it stays in place and doesn't budge. Still, I didn't reach for it as often as I should have because the color I was sent, Iceblush, is completely invisible on me. It has some pigment, as you can clearly see in the swatch, but my natural lip color is much darker. But once I've started using it as directed over other (and usually dry) lip products, Lip shine has become an easy choice. I especially like it over chubby lip crayons (Bobbi Brown, Trish or Shiseido) because they are softer and quicker to fill up the lip.

I've had a quick look at the darker shades of Lip Shine while at Henri Bendel in NYC. Crush is a dark plum and Jubilee is a red raspberry. I didn't test them on my lips but they seem to have a good amount of pigment so I can see them joining my arsenal at some point.

Bottom Line: definitely worth your time (as long as you don't mind the strong vanilla scent).

Lip Shine by Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics ($17) is available from Henri Bendel (in store only) and ybskin.com. This review is based on a free press sample sent by the company.

All photos are mine.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics- Iceblush Lip Shine

Lip Shine from Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics is basically a shiny tinted lip balm. I've had it for months but only started to fully appreciate it when it dawned on me to actually follow the Youngblood instructions and apply it with a lip brush either over a lip pencil/liner or over a liner+lipstick that you want to both cement into place and make them shine. That was a serious lightbulb moment.

As it is, Lip Shine is a fabulously comfortable-to-wear product, full of extracts, emollients and other feel good ingredients that make it very soothing even for my very picky lips. Its stick factor is minimal and it has very nice glossy sheen. What makes it outstanding is the way it stays in place and doesn't budge. Still, I didn't reach for it as often as I should have because the color I was sent, Iceblush, is completely invisible on me. It has some pigment, as you can clearly see in the swatch, but my natural lip color is much darker. But once I've started using it as directed over other (and usually dry) lip products, Lip shine has become an easy choice. I especially like it over chubby lip crayons (Bobbi Brown, Trish or Shiseido) because they are softer and quicker to fill up the lip.

I've had a quick look at the darker shades of Lip Shine while at Henri Bendel in NYC. Crush is a dark plum and Jubilee is a red raspberry. I didn't test them on my lips but they seem to have a good amount of pigment so I can see them joining my arsenal at some point.

Bottom Line: definitely worth your time (as long as you don't mind the strong vanilla scent).

Lip Shine by Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics ($17) is available from Henri Bendel (in store only) and ybskin.com. This review is based on a free press sample sent by the company.

All photos are mine.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics- Iceblush Lip Shine

Lip Shine from Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics is basically a shiny tinted lip balm. I've had it for months but only started to fully appreciate it when it dawned on me to actually follow the Youngblood instructions and apply it with a lip brush either over a lip pencil/liner or over a liner+lipstick that you want to both cement into place and make them shine. That was a serious lightbulb moment.

As it is, Lip Shine is a fabulously comfortable-to-wear product, full of extracts, emollients and other feel good ingredients that make it very soothing even for my very picky lips. Its stick factor is minimal and it has very nice glossy sheen. What makes it outstanding is the way it stays in place and doesn't budge. Still, I didn't reach for it as often as I should have because the color I was sent, Iceblush, is completely invisible on me. It has some pigment, as you can clearly see in the swatch, but my natural lip color is much darker. But once I've started using it as directed over other (and usually dry) lip products, Lip shine has become an easy choice. I especially like it over chubby lip crayons (Bobbi Brown, Trish or Shiseido) because they are softer and quicker to fill up the lip.

I've had a quick look at the darker shades of Lip Shine while at Henri Bendel in NYC. Crush is a dark plum and Jubilee is a red raspberry. I didn't test them on my lips but they seem to have a good amount of pigment so I can see them joining my arsenal at some point.

Bottom Line: definitely worth your time (as long as you don't mind the strong vanilla scent).

Lip Shine by Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics ($17) is available from Henri Bendel (in store only) and ybskin.com. This review is based on a free press sample sent by the company.

All photos are mine.

Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort

I probably got the tube of Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort in a Beautyfix box and put it aside for a time of need. Recently that time arrived- a day of not drinking enough water combined with extra unpleasant weather resulted in dry and cracked lips. The perfect setting for testing a new lip product.

The Good: It worked very well. The rich cream smoothed and healed my lips in no time. Using it for a couple of days left me with soft and healthy looking lips.

The Bad: All the oils and emollients don't make a good base for lipsticks.  Pur~Lip made every lip color I tried slide and migrate. Not a good look.

The Questionable: Pur~Lip's ingredient list is full of good-for-you ingredients. This Pur~Lisse product is full of natural butters and oils, vitamins and nutrients. It's the fragrant ingredients that make me raise an eyebrow. Both orange peel oil and linalool have been targeted by IFRA as possible skin allergens and are supposed to be restricted when used in perfume. I'd think that if that's the case, maybe skin care products that go directly on one's lips should be just a little more discriminating. 

Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort ($22) is available from purlisse.com. I received mine in a press kit from Beautyfix.

Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort

I probably got the tube of Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort in a Beautyfix box and put it aside for a time of need. Recently that time arrived- a day of not drinking enough water combined with extra unpleasant weather resulted in dry and cracked lips. The perfect setting for testing a new lip product.

The Good: It worked very well. The rich cream smoothed and healed my lips in no time. Using it for a couple of days left me with soft and healthy looking lips.

The Bad: All the oils and emollients don't make a good base for lipsticks.  Pur~Lip made every lip color I tried slide and migrate. Not a good look.

The Questionable: Pur~Lip's ingredient list is full of good-for-you ingredients. This Pur~Lisse product is full of natural butters and oils, vitamins and nutrients. It's the fragrant ingredients that make me raise an eyebrow. Both orange peel oil and linalool have been targeted by IFRA as possible skin allergens and are supposed to be restricted when used in perfume. I'd think that if that's the case, maybe skin care products that go directly on one's lips should be just a little more discriminating. 

Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort ($22) is available from purlisse.com. I received mine in a press kit from Beautyfix.

Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort

I probably got the tube of Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort in a Beautyfix box and put it aside for a time of need. Recently that time arrived- a day of not drinking enough water combined with extra unpleasant weather resulted in dry and cracked lips. The perfect setting for testing a new lip product.

The Good: It worked very well. The rich cream smoothed and healed my lips in no time. Using it for a couple of days left me with soft and healthy looking lips.

The Bad: All the oils and emollients don't make a good base for lipsticks.  Pur~Lip made every lip color I tried slide and migrate. Not a good look.

The Questionable: Pur~Lip's ingredient list is full of good-for-you ingredients. This Pur~Lisse product is full of natural butters and oils, vitamins and nutrients. It's the fragrant ingredients that make me raise an eyebrow. Both orange peel oil and linalool have been targeted by IFRA as possible skin allergens and are supposed to be restricted when used in perfume. I'd think that if that's the case, maybe skin care products that go directly on one's lips should be just a little more discriminating. 

Pur~Lisse Pur~Lip Comfort ($22) is available from purlisse.com. I received mine in a press kit from Beautyfix.

Sensai by Kanebo- Total lip Treatment

I had a lip emergency. Between the weather outside and the dry heat in the house (I keep things toasty), I've been going through tubes and pots of lip products. I didn't notice I was running low until I found myself on a cold NYC day with painfully chapped lips. Dryness is even worse on my bottom lip because of the stupid tiny scar that runs across and starts bleeding if not moisturized regularly. It's not pretty and my lipsticks deserve better.

The day was saved by a small sample of Kanebo Sensai Total Lip Treatment I had tucked somewhere in my purse. I had a few of those around- one came from the company and another one or two were a Bergdorf GWP that arrived in the nick of time. It only took minutes for the balm to start hydrating my lips and restoring them to a soft and healthy look. A good lip treatment also plumps- not by stinging or irritating but by making your lips look their natural best. It's an excellent starting point for a dark lipstick (you can't wear red if your lips are pruny and peeling) or a simple gloss.

Bottom line: This is real skincare for lips. Worth every penny.

Total lip Treatment ($65, 15 ml) and the rest of Sensai by Kanebo products are available online from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. In store they are exclusive to Bergdorf. One can also place the order on kanebo.com and have a rep call you to confirm and consult. Not exactly my way of doing things, but I can see why it would appeal to some.

Image: blog.modernmechanix.com

Sensai by Kanebo- Total lip Treatment

I had a lip emergency. Between the weather outside and the dry heat in the house (I keep things toasty), I've been going through tubes and pots of lip products. I didn't notice I was running low until I found myself on a cold NYC day with painfully chapped lips. Dryness is even worse on my bottom lip because of the stupid tiny scar that runs across and starts bleeding if not moisturized regularly. It's not pretty and my lipsticks deserve better.

The day was saved by a small sample of Kanebo Sensai Total Lip Treatment I had tucked somewhere in my purse. I had a few of those around- one came from the company and another one or two were a Bergdorf GWP that arrived in the nick of time. It only took minutes for the balm to start hydrating my lips and restoring them to a soft and healthy look. A good lip treatment also plumps- not by stinging or irritating but by making your lips look their natural best. It's an excellent starting point for a dark lipstick (you can't wear red if your lips are pruny and peeling) or a simple gloss.

Bottom line: This is real skincare for lips. Worth every penny.

Total lip Treatment ($65, 15 ml) and the rest of Sensai by Kanebo products are available online from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. In store they are exclusive to Bergdorf. One can also place the order on kanebo.com and have a rep call you to confirm and consult. Not exactly my way of doing things, but I can see why it would appeal to some.

Image: blog.modernmechanix.com

Sensai by Kanebo- Total lip Treatment

I had a lip emergency. Between the weather outside and the dry heat in the house (I keep things toasty), I've been going through tubes and pots of lip products. I didn't notice I was running low until I found myself on a cold NYC day with painfully chapped lips. Dryness is even worse on my bottom lip because of the stupid tiny scar that runs across and starts bleeding if not moisturized regularly. It's not pretty and my lipsticks deserve better.

The day was saved by a small sample of Kanebo Sensai Total Lip Treatment I had tucked somewhere in my purse. I had a few of those around- one came from the company and another one or two were a Bergdorf GWP that arrived in the nick of time. It only took minutes for the balm to start hydrating my lips and restoring them to a soft and healthy look. A good lip treatment also plumps- not by stinging or irritating but by making your lips look their natural best. It's an excellent starting point for a dark lipstick (you can't wear red if your lips are pruny and peeling) or a simple gloss.

Bottom line: This is real skincare for lips. Worth every penny.

Total lip Treatment ($65, 15 ml) and the rest of Sensai by Kanebo products are available online from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. In store they are exclusive to Bergdorf. One can also place the order on kanebo.com and have a rep call you to confirm and consult. Not exactly my way of doing things, but I can see why it would appeal to some.

Image: blog.modernmechanix.com

Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX

Every cosmetics user knows the agony of losing a favorite product to the big discontinued beauty counter in the sky. Sometimes (more often than not, actually) everything turns out all right, since companies tend to offer new products and better formulas. But sometimes a products just goes away, leaving us with a gaping hole in our beauty arsenal.

Smooch from Benefit Cosmetics was a weird little thing: a thin, watery, non-balmy lip treatment that performed miracles on chapped lips. I've gone through many tubes of this white runny substance and stocked up when realized it was being discontinued. But my stash has been running low and I started looking earnestly for a good alternative. While I haven't found an exact match, Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX is the closest I've gotten so far.

Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX is considerably greasier than Smooch, but still thin and not sticky (at all). It comforts and heals distressed lips, adding a light shiny coat that transforms a miserable look into a happy, healthy one. It also makes pretty but too dry lipsticks much more comfortable to wear, which saved several tubes in my collection from a back of the closet oblivion.

Maquillage is a mass market brand by Shiseido which, unfortunately, is only sold in Asia. The internet is a beautiful, beautiful thing and allows us to buy good stuff not available in our stores. Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX (around $30) is available from various websites specializing in Japanese cosmetics. Google, as always, is our friend.

Photo by me.

Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX

Every cosmetics user knows the agony of losing a favorite product to the big discontinued beauty counter in the sky. Sometimes (more often than not, actually) everything turns out all right, since companies tend to offer new products and better formulas. But sometimes a products just goes away, leaving us with a gaping hole in our beauty arsenal.

Smooch from Benefit Cosmetics was a weird little thing: a thin, watery, non-balmy lip treatment that performed miracles on chapped lips. I've gone through many tubes of this white runny substance and stocked up when realized it was being discontinued. But my stash has been running low and I started looking earnestly for a good alternative. While I haven't found an exact match, Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX is the closest I've gotten so far.

Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX is considerably greasier than Smooch, but still thin and not sticky (at all). It comforts and heals distressed lips, adding a light shiny coat that transforms a miserable look into a happy, healthy one. It also makes pretty but too dry lipsticks much more comfortable to wear, which saved several tubes in my collection from a back of the closet oblivion.

Maquillage is a mass market brand by Shiseido which, unfortunately, is only sold in Asia. The internet is a beautiful, beautiful thing and allows us to buy good stuff not available in our stores. Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX (around $30) is available from various websites specializing in Japanese cosmetics. Google, as always, is our friend.

Photo by me.

Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX

Every cosmetics user knows the agony of losing a favorite product to the big discontinued beauty counter in the sky. Sometimes (more often than not, actually) everything turns out all right, since companies tend to offer new products and better formulas. But sometimes a products just goes away, leaving us with a gaping hole in our beauty arsenal.

Smooch from Benefit Cosmetics was a weird little thing: a thin, watery, non-balmy lip treatment that performed miracles on chapped lips. I've gone through many tubes of this white runny substance and stocked up when realized it was being discontinued. But my stash has been running low and I started looking earnestly for a good alternative. While I haven't found an exact match, Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX is the closest I've gotten so far.

Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX is considerably greasier than Smooch, but still thin and not sticky (at all). It comforts and heals distressed lips, adding a light shiny coat that transforms a miserable look into a happy, healthy one. It also makes pretty but too dry lipsticks much more comfortable to wear, which saved several tubes in my collection from a back of the closet oblivion.

Maquillage is a mass market brand by Shiseido which, unfortunately, is only sold in Asia. The internet is a beautiful, beautiful thing and allows us to buy good stuff not available in our stores. Shiseido Maquillage Lip Essence EX (around $30) is available from various websites specializing in Japanese cosmetics. Google, as always, is our friend.

Photo by me.

Sephora Brand Complete Lip Balm

There are a handful of gems hiding in the otherwise not impressing line of Sephora Brand products. One of them is their Complete Lip Balm. I'm usually not a fan of petroleum-based lip products because they feel heavy and tend to just sit there on the lips, not doing much other than providing a barrier (which sometimes, I admit, you need). But this tiny pot seems to also have a few more active ingredients, such as mango butter and vitamin E, both actually making my lips feel good.

The balm is not sticky at all and works well under many lipsticks. It seems to provide quite a bit of moisture and relief, and has just enough menthol to give a cooling effect (and supposedly some plumping, but I think that well-hydrated lips tend to naturally fill up).

Since it's one of those "dip your finger" packaging, I prefer to keep it at home for use with just-washed hands. These days you can't be overly germaphobe. I'd be very happy if Sephora would release a stick version.

Sephora Brand Complete Lip Balm ($8) is available in store and online. I got it as a gift with purchase.

Image: August 1940 cover of Harper's Bazaar

Sephora Brand Complete Lip Balm

There are a handful of gems hiding in the otherwise not impressing line of Sephora Brand products. One of them is their Complete Lip Balm. I'm usually not a fan of petroleum-based lip products because they feel heavy and tend to just sit there on the lips, not doing much other than providing a barrier (which sometimes, I admit, you need). But this tiny pot seems to also have a few more active ingredients, such as mango butter and vitamin E, both actually making my lips feel good.

The balm is not sticky at all and works well under many lipsticks. It seems to provide quite a bit of moisture and relief, and has just enough menthol to give a cooling effect (and supposedly some plumping, but I think that well-hydrated lips tend to naturally fill up).

Since it's one of those "dip your finger" packaging, I prefer to keep it at home for use with just-washed hands. These days you can't be overly germaphobe. I'd be very happy if Sephora would release a stick version.

Sephora Brand Complete Lip Balm ($8) is available in store and online. I got it as a gift with purchase.

Image: August 1940 cover of Harper's Bazaar

Sephora Brand Complete Lip Balm

There are a handful of gems hiding in the otherwise not impressing line of Sephora Brand products. One of them is their Complete Lip Balm. I'm usually not a fan of petroleum-based lip products because they feel heavy and tend to just sit there on the lips, not doing much other than providing a barrier (which sometimes, I admit, you need). But this tiny pot seems to also have a few more active ingredients, such as mango butter and vitamin E, both actually making my lips feel good.

The balm is not sticky at all and works well under many lipsticks. It seems to provide quite a bit of moisture and relief, and has just enough menthol to give a cooling effect (and supposedly some plumping, but I think that well-hydrated lips tend to naturally fill up).

Since it's one of those "dip your finger" packaging, I prefer to keep it at home for use with just-washed hands. These days you can't be overly germaphobe. I'd be very happy if Sephora would release a stick version.

Sephora Brand Complete Lip Balm ($8) is available in store and online. I got it as a gift with purchase.

Image: August 1940 cover of Harper's Bazaar

Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15

Being prone to dry lips, I can never have enough lip balm, and I certainly can tell a good one from cheap petroleum gel crap that does nothing but sit on the lips. That said, realizing that the o.5 oz tube of Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 I was sent retails for $34 was a bit shocking. After all, it's more than the cost of a Chanel lipstick.

I love Erno Laszlo products, and the pHormula No. 3-9 moisturizer is an amazing cream (and a lifesaver at times), and this lip balm is worthy of the label. It's the one I carry with me lately and leave by the bed at night. It goes on a bit oily at first, but when I look in the mirror it doesn't appear greasy, just balmy, and if I were one to go lipstick/gloss-free, this would be a good substitute, especially because of the SPF 15.

The balm heals and calms chapped lips. I have a scar that tends to bother me if my lips are dry, and even re-opens in extreme cases. Lately it's been feeling a lot better, and I've discovered that Octinoxate, the main ingredient in the No. 3-9 Lip Balm is not used just to protect skin from damage, but also to reduce the appearance of scars. Between this and the fact this balm is perfect with dry formula lipsticks (Shiseido and Nars are usually hard for me to wear), I'm starting to think this pricey product might be able to earn its keep.

Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 ($34) is available from Nordstrom and ernolaszlo.com. I got it as a PR freebie.

Art: Lips by Man Ray

Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15

Being prone to dry lips, I can never have enough lip balm, and I certainly can tell a good one from cheap petroleum gel crap that does nothing but sit on the lips. That said, realizing that the o.5 oz tube of Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 I was sent retails for $34 was a bit shocking. After all, it's more than the cost of a Chanel lipstick.

I love Erno Laszlo products, and the pHormula No. 3-9 moisturizer is an amazing cream (and a lifesaver at times), and this lip balm is worthy of the label. It's the one I carry with me lately and leave by the bed at night. It goes on a bit oily at first, but when I look in the mirror it doesn't appear greasy, just balmy, and if I were one to go lipstick/gloss-free, this would be a good substitute, especially because of the SPF 15.

The balm heals and calms chapped lips. I have a scar that tends to bother me if my lips are dry, and even re-opens in extreme cases. Lately it's been feeling a lot better, and I've discovered that Octinoxate, the main ingredient in the No. 3-9 Lip Balm is not used just to protect skin from damage, but also to reduce the appearance of scars. Between this and the fact this balm is perfect with dry formula lipsticks (Shiseido and Nars are usually hard for me to wear), I'm starting to think this pricey product might be able to earn its keep.

Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 ($34) is available from Nordstrom and ernolaszlo.com. I got it as a PR freebie.

Art: Lips by Man Ray

Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15

Being prone to dry lips, I can never have enough lip balm, and I certainly can tell a good one from cheap petroleum gel crap that does nothing but sit on the lips. That said, realizing that the o.5 oz tube of Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 I was sent retails for $34 was a bit shocking. After all, it's more than the cost of a Chanel lipstick.

I love Erno Laszlo products, and the pHormula No. 3-9 moisturizer is an amazing cream (and a lifesaver at times), and this lip balm is worthy of the label. It's the one I carry with me lately and leave by the bed at night. It goes on a bit oily at first, but when I look in the mirror it doesn't appear greasy, just balmy, and if I were one to go lipstick/gloss-free, this would be a good substitute, especially because of the SPF 15.

The balm heals and calms chapped lips. I have a scar that tends to bother me if my lips are dry, and even re-opens in extreme cases. Lately it's been feeling a lot better, and I've discovered that Octinoxate, the main ingredient in the No. 3-9 Lip Balm is not used just to protect skin from damage, but also to reduce the appearance of scars. Between this and the fact this balm is perfect with dry formula lipsticks (Shiseido and Nars are usually hard for me to wear), I'm starting to think this pricey product might be able to earn its keep.

Erno Laszlo pHormula No. 3-9 Lip Balm SPF 15 ($34) is available from Nordstrom and ernolaszlo.com. I got it as a PR freebie.

Art: Lips by Man Ray

Lip Smacking

This sugar scrub and lip balm combo is one of the little things you start using and immediately wonder how you managed without them. It's not that there aren't several lip scrubs already on the market or that a simple washcloth didn't do a fine enough job at sloughing off dry skin, but I find the Perfect Pout brown sugar scrub from Maiden Beauty to be highly addictive and it works amazingly well.

To test this properly, I didn't do the washcloth exfoliating for a few days and let some icky skin build up (I know you're all happy to know that). Then I tried the scrub and let it do the work. To my delight, it was just what I needed and then some. You rub a tiny amount all over your lips (you need very little) and enjoy the sugary, caramely taste (the smell is very candy-like, quite pleasant but might not be to everyone's taste). You can tissue it off, but since the product is completely edible, I find that giving it a quick lick to clean off the granules works best, as it leaves most of the balm part of the product on your lips until it sinks in and nourishes the skin without any heavy residue.

It tastes good and can become addictive, especially since the results are great. It's become part of my twice-a-day routine and my lips haven't been this happy in ages.

The balm has a similar scent though it doesn't actually taste as sweet. The texture is different than other popular products (Smith Rosebud Salve or Burt's Bees): It's more solid in the tin but wears much thinner. It feels a bit oily for the first 30 seconds before it starts sinking in and giving the lips a plump, healthy look, without stickiness or extra weight. The balm would probably not protect the skin from blistering winds as well as petroleum-based products would, but it does a better job in actually nourishing them.

The balm is tinted, but very sheer. I'm using the one in the darkest color, Lady, a supposedly cherry red that's actually more rosy. In any case, unless I'm applying a huge amount (totally unnecessary, as a little goes a very long way), the color doesn't even show. If you're pale you'd probably get more color.

The scrub and balm are sold together as a gift set (a stocking stuffer idea?), so you can't get them separately.

Lip Smacking

This sugar scrub and lip balm combo is one of the little things you start using and immediately wonder how you managed without them. It's not that there aren't several lip scrubs already on the market or that a simple washcloth didn't do a fine enough job at sloughing off dry skin, but I find the Perfect Pout brown sugar scrub from Maiden Beauty to be highly addictive and it works amazingly well.

To test this properly, I didn't do the washcloth exfoliating for a few days and let some icky skin build up (I know you're all happy to know that). Then I tried the scrub and let it do the work. To my delight, it was just what I needed and then some. You rub a tiny amount all over your lips (you need very little) and enjoy the sugary, caramely taste (the smell is very candy-like, quite pleasant but might not be to everyone's taste). You can tissue it off, but since the product is completely edible, I find that giving it a quick lick to clean off the granules works best, as it leaves most of the balm part of the product on your lips until it sinks in and nourishes the skin without any heavy residue.

It tastes good and can become addictive, especially since the results are great. It's become part of my twice-a-day routine and my lips haven't been this happy in ages.

The balm has a similar scent though it doesn't actually taste as sweet. The texture is different than other popular products (Smith Rosebud Salve or Burt's Bees): It's more solid in the tin but wears much thinner. It feels a bit oily for the first 30 seconds before it starts sinking in and giving the lips a plump, healthy look, without stickiness or extra weight. The balm would probably not protect the skin from blistering winds as well as petroleum-based products would, but it does a better job in actually nourishing them.

The balm is tinted, but very sheer. I'm using the one in the darkest color, Lady, a supposedly cherry red that's actually more rosy. In any case, unless I'm applying a huge amount (totally unnecessary, as a little goes a very long way), the color doesn't even show. If you're pale you'd probably get more color.

The scrub and balm are sold together as a gift set (a stocking stuffer idea?), so you can't get them separately.