Lips like sugar... sugar kisses

A review of Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment and Twist & Pout Lip Balm
By Jessica M

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment was destined to be a best-seller. Everyone is already familiar with the original Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, so who wouldn’t love a new version with “your lips but better” color, not to mention a pale dusty-pink tube?

I purchased a Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment on a recent visit to a Fresh boutique, and at first I was happy with it; it does moisturize nicely, it provides a smoothing base for lipstick, and it has a light citrus-rose scent. On the other hand, it didn’t hold up well at all. The lettering wore off the tube within a couple of weeks, just from being kept in my handbag; I know that the packaging is secondary to the product itself, but this really disappointed me somehow. Worse yet: when warmer weather arrived, the Lip Treatment turned soft and started to wobble in place, so I had to be careful about using it. This is a high-end product; shouldn’t it be more durable? Lastly, the rosy color was all but invisible when applied.

On the other hand, I’m very satisfied with a funny-looking product called Twist & Pout Lip Balm that I picked up on an impulse in some little gift shop. It seems gimmicky at first: the balm is housed in an orb-shaped case that unscrews to open. Twist & Pout offers a range of colorful designs; I chose a leopard-spot pattern, just because I love animal prints. Then I realized that the ball shape actually makes Twist & Pout easy to find at the bottom of a handbag, and the version with an attached clip can be hooked to a key chain or anything else, for quick access when you want to touch up.

The balm inside Twist & Pout’s playful containers is actually high quality and very effective. Just like Fresh’s Lip Treatments, it contains octinoxate and oxybenzone for sunscreen (it has an SPF of 20); grapeseed oil, beeswax, castor oil, and sugar for softening; and naturally derived forms of vitamins A, C, and E. It applies easily with the touch of a fingertip, it feels creamy, and it has a long-lasting honey-citrus scent and flavor. Best of all, it sells for one-third the price of Fresh’s lip products, for the same amount of balm.

I’m really trying to be conscious of my sun protection this year, and I know which of these products I’ll be repurchasing when I run out mid-summer.

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment is available for $22.50 at Sephora and Fresh (website and stores). Twist & Pout Lip Balm is available for $7 (basic) or $9 (with clip) at Amazon.com; also see http://www.twist-and-pout.com for more information.

Review title is from a song by Echo & the Bunnymen.
Disclaimer: Both products were purchased by the reviewer.

Kiss Them For Me

Philosophy's Irresistible Kiss Me Collection

Kiss Me SPF20 lip balm in red wakes your lips up with a dash of some type of peppermint goodness. Just a quick moment of tingling. It tastes like gum and looks like your lips have been recently kissed. It is a "just flushed" shade. Do not let the darkness in the tube deter you. This lippie retails for $14.

Kiss Me Tonight is an intense lip therapy that soothes dry lips while you sleep. It is creamy soft and tastes like a cupcake. It only takes a tiny dollup of product to cover the lips. The formula is highly moisturizing and leaves no tacky mess on the lips or your pillow case. This retails for $20.



Visit http://www.philosophy.com/ for more details.



Title from Siouxsie & Banshees
Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Philosophy

MAC's Baby Bloom Balms

Released just in time for Hades temperatures in the Midwest! Now it is hot enough for skin tints, bronzers, coral nail polish and sheer lip balms.

MAC has launched a small collection of skin tints and lip balms. The lippie's full name is Suntints SPF20 Liquid Lip Balm. The balms come in a variety of sheer colors such as pale pink, lilac and rose. The lippie's texture is light yet substantial. It is moisturizing yet does not feel tacky or leave your lips looking like you ate something greasy. The hint of color is just perfect for surviving the blazing sun. The shade I have tested is the Just a Smidge. It is soft pastel yellow with a pearlized gold flash. It looks lovely alone or layered over coral or pink lippies. I layered it over MAC's Trimming Talk with much success.

The SunTint SPF20 Liquid Lip Balm is currently at your MAC counter and retails for $14.50
Visit http://www.maccosmetics.com/
for more information.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by MAC Cosmetics

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Cult Classics
Day 28,Smith's Rosebud Salve

Rosebud Salve has been around since 1892 and is often lauded as a cult classic by the magazines. It is a multi-functional lip balm. It is supposed to help with chapped skin, blemishes, diaper rash and detergent burn.

I have never had good luck with this can. It seems to accelerate the flake issue on my lips. The texture and feel is similar to Vaseline.

In fact the can lists the ingredients as cotton seed oil, aromol with essential oils blended in a special petrolatum base.

It is thick and kinda goopy.
Rosebud gives the lips just a tinge of color and a dollop of shine. The price ranges from $6-$7 and it can be found at your local Anthropologie store.

What do you think of Rosebud Salve? Do you think it is worthy of cult status or is it overhyped?

How does it fare in comparison to Kiehls?

Let us know in the comments.

Disclosure: I purchased this can at my local Anthropologie store.