Beauty Blog

MONDAYS, blah and I’m done.

I hate MONDAYS!  It’s like the moment I stepped in here all the happy feelings and good times that occurred on the weekend immediately dissipated, and what was left was a gloomy Monday, chalk full of work and yecks. Sighs.

The only thing I could think of during times like this is … a DRINK! I don’t know what that says about me but it’s the truth. Since I can’t whip out a pink hued Cosmopolitan at my desk without drawing judgmental stares I decided to settle for the next best thing.

Cosmo Cocktail Lip Balm  - $5.00

Now unfortunately there is a touch of false advertising in the title since the actual product does not contain any actual alcohol. What it actually has is a delicious  soothing lip balm in sweet cranberry flavor.

Ingredients: Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Almond Oil), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Persea Gratissima (Avocado Oil), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) and Kettle One Vodka.

(Ha! I’m only kidding about the last ingredient, I wish. )

If you are interested in shopping or buying the Cosmo Cocktail Lip Balm, click here.

I woke up this morning and found my lips chapped and peeling, suffice to say not my sexiest moment. Being a supreme bonehead I took a pair of tweezers from my make-up bag and began peeling the dead skin off my lips, now their bleeding! Just grreat.

Culprits of my current dilemma:

• I have been on a matte dark red lipstick stint, (about a week and counting…matte lipsticks dry the lips)
• The fluctuations in weather is doing a number on my hair and skin. Dry, dry, dry…
• When I experience any sort of flaw on my face, I pick at it. Ugh! Thus the bleeding.
• I lost my mandatory stick of Burt’s Bees Lip Balm and have been too busy to buy a new one. (again, my fault..)

So yeah, my bloody lips are all my fault. But here’s how you can save yourself from the same hassle. I looked up what seems to be the Top 3 Best Chapsticks according to YOU!

1. Satin Lips by Mary Kay

Satin Lips, Lip Mask contains miniature buffing beads that gently exfoliate dead surface skin cells that cause lips to appear dull and lifeless. Anyhow, it seems to come highly recommended for chapped, dry lips. I personally have never tried it, but now I am more than a little curious myself.

Price - $9.50

(click on image or link to purchase)

2. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

This natural lip balm moisturizes lips with ingredients like ultra-emollient lanolin, coconut oil and sunflower oil, and seals in hydration with beeswax. This is my personal choice and my fan favorite. I live for this stuff. Leaves your lips smooth and leaves a little peppermint tingle. Take your pick of an old-fashioned yellow tin or a recycled plastic tube. It’s their most popular product and for good reason.

Price - $3.00

(click on image or link to purchase)

3. Moisture Therapy, Intensive Lip Treatment by Avon

Glide on this emollient-rich formula to help protect lips from chapping and dryness, with the added benefit of SPF 15 to protect lips from the sun’s harmful rays. Here’s a direct quote from a fan:

“Moisture Therapy from AVON–cheap cheap cheap but the best I’ve found. No scents or flavors ,doesn’t sting, just moisturizes and stays on. Both in stick form for convenience and a potted ointment. ” - Unknown

Price - was $1.49 on sale $.79 cents!

(click on image or link to purchase)

Wow! This I ordered right now, read the comments and for 79 cents, I’m giving it a try. - Michelle

Even if I didn’t love Rachel Perry products for what they do, I would still probably buy them for the packaging alone. Take this pot of Lip Lover lip balm in Very Vanilla (about $2.50), for example. How much do you love that art deco styling? Only the chicest of girls would pull this out of her handbag in lieu of some crazy expensive lip treatment that may or may not do all it promises.

Thankfully, it’s not all about the looks. In fact, Rachel Perry’s whole range of cosmetics and skincare products is natural and totally effective. This stuff includes antioxidants, exfoliating enzymes and soothing agents–the Clay and Ginseng Uplifting Mask, alone, includes clay from French Alps, Korean ginseng, papaya, Echinacea and eucalyptus.

Along with this luscious SPF 15 lip balm that also comes in Mint Tingle (love it!), Grape Juice and Chocolate Bliss, Rachel Perry makes toners, moisturizers, scrubs, makeup and more that won’t break the bank.