Best of 2010 - Lip Repair

Good morning ladies! Its time for me to round up all the best items of 2010! I will be doing posts on various items and categories, as well as new items (as usual!) I'm starting off with lips because it is the HARDEST thing for me to find and therefore the most exciting when I do! Living in Canada and in the DRIEST place in Canada (I don't actually know that, but I'm convinced!) I am always searching for the next best lip balm/gloss/scrub - anything to help my parched lips! Here are the best of the best that I found this year! (well, this winter - since it got so dry and cold!)

First things first. My lips get so incredibly dry that they flake and peel like nothing else! If your lips are like that, nothing will moisturize them unless you get rid of all the dead skin thats forming a barrier (just like your skin!). This is the best lip scrub I have found because it is SO intense. It is the LUSH Lip Scrub in Sweet Lips (tastes like vanilla/chocolate). The sugar grains are very abrasive, which is what I need, and get rid of ALL the dead skin cells that are blocking your fresh, new cells. This is really easy to use, I just tap the surface with my finger and that is enough sugar grains to get a great exfoliation (this will last forever!). Scrub over your lips until they feel soft and smooth, the oils in the scrub are left behind to help with moisturization! (Oh, and you can eat this! So clean up is a breeze!)

Next up is the most moisturizing lip balm I have ever found! This is Korres Lip Butter in Guava. I never thought I would find something so great for my lips, honestly! I had a 25% off (or whatever it was) VIB discount at Sephora and was desperate to find something incredibly nourishing for my lips. On a whim, I picked up this little beauty. (I actually have two of these already but they are tinted so I use them more as a lip colour). This is the best purchase I made of 2010, seriously. I know these are a little pricey at $13 CAD each but trust me they are worth it! I'm not sure what is in them that makes them so incredibly hydrating, but whatever it is I LOVE IT! This smells amazing too and doesn't feel thick on the lips. It feels super slick and hydrating without a waxy feel. I highly recommend any of these, they come in great colours too! (I've had this for less than a month and am almost half done it, thats how much I love and use it!)

Last but certainly not least, is Dermaglow's Instant Lip Gloss Plumper. This is the most unique and interesting gloss I have ever tried! Dermaglow was nice enough to send this to me (In their Thirsty Winter Lips Set) to test out against the harsh Alberta climate! And I must say, it performed more than well! I would have shown you this in the package but I literally went to the post office to pick it up, ripped the box open and tore this out and applied it right in the parking lot! haha I was hesitant if this would stand up to -30 degrees with a windchill of -40 because it looked like "just a gloss". This is anything but "just a gloss"! Sometimes I like to have more of a shine to my lips but still want an intense moisturizing treatment (hard to come by!). I also like to have a wand applicator when I'm out and about (pots seem unhygienic and are just a pain at times.) so this is GREAT! This goes on like a clear, shiny gloss but as it sets into the lips, it turns to a balm feel which I LOVE! It also plumps the lips with hydration without the stinging or tingling (which I really don't like). This has been my go-to and a permanent fixture in my backpack and purse. I apply this so much its crazy and it works amazingly! (Oh and did I mention they are a Canadian company? I should have known they would make great hydrating products!)

So, thats all of them! These are my three lifesavers and the only things that keep my lips from being crinkly, chapped messes! What are your go-to lip products? Let me know! I always want to try new things! :)

LUSH Lip Scrub Review

Good Morning (again!) all! As you may be able to tell I've been on a Lush kick lately...Actually I'm always on a Lush kick, what am I saying!? haha Heres another product I picked up recently from them:

Sweet Lips - Lip Scrub

First off, I have extremely dry lips (hence why you never see me do lip swatches on my actual lips!) and am always looking for something, ANYTHING to help them! A lip scrub is great when you have dry, flakey lips already. They also usually contain oils which help to moisturize during the scrubbing process!

Sweet Lips

Because of my extremely dry, flaky lips I picked this up on my most recent trip to Lush. They have four flavours right now of Lip Scrubs which are Sweet Lips (chocolate/vanilla), Mint Julip (minty), Bon Bon (Cranberry) and Bubblegum (self explanatory, lol). I chose the Sweet Lips because it smells incredibly good! Not only do I love chocolate, but I also love vanilla so you get the best of both worlds, COMBINED with the sugar! Yay! haha

Texture

They really do pack these little pots to the brim! These contain sugar (to exfoliate), jojoba oil and flavours and scents. I love jojoba oil, its fantastic for moisturizing so I was glad to see it in this product. To use these, all you do is dip your finger (don't dig, you will get enough for your lips if you just pat the surface of the sugar a few times) then rub it all over your lips to get rid of all the dead skin. Afterwards....you EAT it! Don't bother taking it off with a washcloth or tissue, all of these are completely edible and give you a sweet treat throughout the day (love it!).

Pros

- Amazing smell & taste

- Exfoliates lips well

- You can eat it!

- Moisturizes with Jojoba oil

Cons

- Price: $8.95 CAD (more on that later...)

- Jar Size (small)

- Messy

Okay, one last comment. I do think exfoliating your lips is essential, especially in the winter. But, if you don't want to fork out the money you can always make this yourself at home! Just mix together a little oil (olive, jojoba, whatever you have!) with some plain granulated sugar and apply to your lips. Either way you do it, be sure to get a good exfoliation so your lips are soft and your lip colours look great! :)

I still highly recommend these little guys, they are great! :)