My Favorite Lip Treatments

My name is Kelsey, and I am a lip balm hoarder. I don't think this picture even shows all of my lip balms.

Since a random allergic reaction to a lip balm last year, my lips have been very sensitive to many different products, and I found that the best way to take care of them was to rotate my treatments.  If I used one for more than a few nights in a row, the flakiness and cracking would return.

So since I have quite the arsenal of lip balms, I thought I'd share which I've been reaching for over and over.

First I'll mention the product which no doubt has fixed my lips - I've been using this every night since I got it a couple weeks ago with no need to rotate to another product.  It is the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask.  I was nervous about it at first because I was starting to think I was reacting to something in more natural lip balms, but this immediately softened and healed my lips.  I love the thickness of it because I put it on at night and can still feel it on my lips in the morning.

Another favorite is the Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm.  I was surprised by the consistency the first time I put this on. It's a very thick yet soft balm with a matte finish.  This is one that if I layer it on too many nights in a row my lips will start to crack, but I love using it in the morning before I put lipstick on.

If my lips are feeling dry or irritated but not necessarily flakey or chapped, I've been reaching for the Lush Chocolate Whipstick Lip Balm.  It's quite a solid balm, but it smells amazing, and you only need a tiny bit to make your lips feel hydrated again.

What are your favorite lip treatments/balms?

Current Skincare Loves

In May, I decided to do a complete overhaul of my skincare routine (or lack thereof) and start doing it the right way (inspiration struck after reading through most of Caroline Hirons's blog, of course).  After almost three months of following her tips, my skin has improved so much.  I still get the odd breakout, probably because I still could be eating better, but uneven texture and tone have been virtually banished. 

The product that I think has made the greatest difference in my skin is an acid-based exfoliating toner.  After one week of using the Pixi Glow Tonic, all the blackheads I had on my nose and congestion had disappeared.  The Pixi Glow Tonic is alcohol-free, so it doesn't dry out my very easily dehydrated skin. It contains glycolic acid to gently get rid of dead skin cells and leaves my skin clear and glowing.

My other favorite skincare product that I've been using (I'm almost on my second bottle) is the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. At the beginning of the summer, my skin was so dry and dehydrated that is was constantly red, patchy, and irritated.  This is a very thick (but non-greasy) cream that I use every night, and by morning my skin is plumped and juicy.  I think this product single-handedly solved my dehydration problem. I highly recommend it.

What skincare bits have you been loving?

August Favorites

I say this at the end of every month, but I can't believe how quickly August passed.  I tried a lot of new products over the summer, so here were a few things I reached for a lot in August.

Lorac Pro Eyeshadow Palette

After lusting after this for months, I finally picked it up in July and it's been my most-used palette of the summer.  The 8 matte shades and 8 shimmer shades allow me to create any look I want. My most used shades have been Pewter or Light Bronze on the lid and then Mauve or Taupe in the crease. The shadows are unbelievably pigmented, creamy, and blendable - even the matte shades!

Stila Kitten Eyeshadow

Before I got the Lorac palette I was using this eyeshadow all over my lid, but now I've been using it as an inner corner highlight.  The pinky tone compliments my skin and instantly makes me look more awake - a must for my consistently tired-looking eyes.

L'Oreal Shocking Extensions Telescopic Waterproof Mascara

I had used Benefit's They're Real Mascara for months, but I noticed it wasn't holding a curl as much as I'd like, so I decided to try out some drugstore mascaras so if I bought one I didn't like, it wouldn't be a huge waste of money. This was the first one I picked up, and I think I've already found a new holy grail mascara.  It only slightly volumizes my lashes, so if you're looking for intense volume this might not be the one for you. But this gives me amazingly long, fluttery lashes, and the exact curl I get from my eyelash curlers in the morning remains until I wash it off at night.

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter

Speaking of waterproof mascara, I needed something to get it off because my normal eye makeup remover just wasn't cutting it. I had wanted to try a cleansing balm and decided on this one for its price, and it's just amazing - I don't feel like I'm missing out by not buying a more expensive balm.  I've been using this as a first cleanse at night. It dissolves every trace of makeup and leaves my skin smooth and nourished instead of stripped.  I massage it over dry skin, and then remove with a warm washcloth, and it's my favorite part of my nighttime routine.

What products have you been loving this month?