eos Holiday 2015 Collection; Tackle those dry lips!

For a harsh winter in Canada, we constantly need something to keep our lips protected and moisturized. eos always comes out with the cutest sets for every occasion! This year for the 2015 holidays, they've packaged 2 familiar lip balms, Pomegranate Raspberry and Sweet Mint, and one Limited Edition Vanilla Bean with a special and fun surprise!

Included in the package of the lip balm trio are a TON of jewelled stickers ready to be stuck onto your favourite lip balms.

I have so many lip balms, but I still keep an eos or two by my bedside... and use one almost every night before bed. They are so handy and cute. Plus they take forever to use up! The stickers in this collection are such a bonus, and great as an early christmas gift or stocking stuffer for children or teens. Just be careful when applying the stickers! I did have a couple break on me as they are sooo delicate. But there will be plenty left over and I realized they don't necessarily have to be used on eos balms.. can you say cell phone case, mugs, cards, keychains?

Find the eos Holiday Collection in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, ,
or shop the products below at Ulta and Target (US).

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Fresh Sweet Nudes Set: Sugar Lip Treatments

Fresh has come out with a new gift set for the holidays called 'Sweet Nudes'. It comes with 4 Sugar Lip Treatments, and 1 Sugar Lip Polish. If you shop at Sephora, you have to have heard of Fresh! They are well known for these lip treatments, and I'm glad they put together a 'nude' collection for those who love a neutral lip (me!). 

I actually noticed it has disappeared from the Sephora website, but hopefully it's still available in stores. Otherwise, the full-sized balms are available individually, or through other gift sets as well. I haven't done a complete review, but I've featured the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments in a few posts in the past, such as my Beach Day Essentials. 

So this set retails for $42, has a $66 value. The lip treatments all come in 'mini' sizes, 2.2g / 0.08oz. These are the same size that Sephora gave away a few years back as your Beauty Insider birthday gift, if any of you remember. 

In comparison, the regular sized treatments are $26 each and 4.25g / 0.15oz, so slightly less than double the size of the minis. The lip polish is also slightly less than half the regular size, at 8g / 0.28oz whereas the regular size is $26 and 17g / 0.6oz. My apologies for the boring math, assuming these minis are worth $13.20 each x5 of them, the value is true to $66. $42 is the actual cost of the gift set, so you are paying $8.40 per mini. 

Fresh refers to these as Lip Treatments, rather than the standard lip balms because it promises to nourish, protect, and plump the lips. It contains reparative oils and waxes, as well as real sugar, to create moisture. The treatments also contain sweet and tart black currant oil for plumping properties, antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols, and Vitamins A, C, E. The packaging has a luxurious and expensive feel to it, and it's pretty satisfying to open and close (it doesn't just pop open, you have to screw and unscrew!). 

The Sugar Lip Polish is an exfoliating lip treatment containing real brown sugar crystals to buff away dry flakes. It is packed with meadowfoam seed, jojoba seed, grapeseed oil, and shea butter to provide moisture. 

The entire collection is formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. It is also free of petroleum, mineral oil, and lanolin.

L to R: Lip Polish, Untinted, Honey, Rose, Petal

Thoughts:

Fresh's Sugar Lip Treatments are easy to apply; they coat the lips with a waxy formula that stays on and isn't sticky. They last the standard 3-4 hours or so on me. My lips feel softened and smooth afterwards. They all have the same lemon-citrusy scent which is a big positive for me because although some of them are tinted, they don't have an unpleasant flavour or taste. The lip treatments are said to all come with SPF15 on Sephora's website, however, I didn't see any mentioning of SPF on the packaging or box so I have no idea but I'm going to assume that they do (sorry I am of no help..). 

The Sugar Lip Polish will be the cure to my lip-picking habit! (Kidding, I don't think anything will be able stop me from picking my lips). But it is gentle, feels like a light exfoliation, and if you accidentally taste it, it doesn't taste too bad either.. I probably should have used this before taking the swatch photos below btws.

Please excuse my extremely dry, chapped, and over-picked lips! 

Untinted of course, has no tint, just a bit of shine and is the easiest to glide onto the lips. My favourite of the bunch is the shade Honey because it seems to compliment my pigmented lips the best and is the best neutral. Rose seemed like the most red and pigmented, but it is actually a very lightly tinted pink. Petal is the most tinted, and is a slightly darker nude pink. 

This is a great gift for someone who is into lip balms, and doesn't typically rock an extremely bright lip (me! again! although I wish I could rock bright lippies). I hope that they are still available in stores (as I mentioned, I can't find them online anymore). But they are available full-sized on Sephora here, the Lip Polish here, and a list of their holiday sets available here.

This product was received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.

Softlips Cube 5-in-1 Lip Care Review

With all the hype of eos's sphere-shaped balms, Softlips has recently launched their own specially shaped balm - the cube. It is a 5-in-1 formula and currently comes in three flavours; Pomegranate Blueberry, Fresh Mint, and Vanilla Bean. I am a sucker for new lip balms, so naturally I had to try this one out too. I was sent Vanilla Bean for review through Divine.ca's Review Program. 

SoftLips Cube 5-in-1 Formula:
Hydrates: formulated with Shea Butter to restore moisture
Replenishes: with antioxidants Vitamins A, C, E
Smoothes: rich emollients leaves lips silky and soft
Protects: with SPF 15
Adds Shine: for perfect radiant finish

Active Ingredients: 
Dimethicone 2% – (Skin protectant) 
Octinoxate 7.5% – (Sunscreen)
Oxybenzone 3% – (Sunscreen)

Inactive Ingredients: ozokerite, petrolatum, octyldodecyl olivate, ethylhexyl palmitate, octyldodecanol, myristyl myristate, myristyl lactate, squalane, brassica campestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer, cetyl alcohol, flavor, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, stearyl olivate, myristyl laurate, myristyl alcohol, BHT, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, menthol, neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, PEG-8, retinyl palmitate [Vitamin A], sodium saccharin, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate [Vitamin C], tocopherol [Vitamin E], tocopheryl acetate [Vitamin E]

When first applied, the cube balm feels minty fresh on the lips. It feels nice to relieve any dryness or pain caused by cold weather (or lip picking.. a super bad habit of mine). It has a yummy true scent of vanilla bean, and tastes good too. The formula is light and slippery and adds a subtle shine to the lips. It does not feel sticky on the lips which is a huge factor for me when purchasing lip balms.

 It's great to see this contains an SPF as well. I have too many lip balms that don't, so they aren't as ideal to wear if you are going to be directly in the sunlight. The cube balm is great for daytime wear, but comfortable enough to wear while you sleep as well. I don't like that the packaging is a bit bulky for the size of the balm itself, although, it is smaller than the eos sphered-balms. The balm also tends to rub against the inside of the top lid which bothers me, and feels like I'm wasting a bit of product. The packaging is very cute, and the lid gives a satisfying 'click' when closed. As with all creamy lip balms, I find that you have to re-apply every 2-3 hours, but I am usually too lazy to do this anyways and try to wait it out as long as possible! I find it decently moisturizing, but I feel a bit of dryness once it wears off. This could just be my lips though; I get major chapped lips all the time. 

Overall, I still prefer my Epic Blend lip balms over this as I feel like they moisturize my lips much better and don't leave them feeling dry at all. But this is definitely an alternative for someone who loves eos but wants to try something new that contains SPF as well. Softlips Cube 5-in-1 Balms are available online on well.ca for $5.99 (currently sold out), and local drugstores. The price seems to vary from $3.50 in the US to $5 and up in Canada.

I received this for review through divine.ca's review squad for review. All opinions are my own and are never influenced :)

Epic Blend Lip Balms Review & Giveaway

I am a huge lip balm addict, but I will pretty much only use balms with natural ingredients that leave my mouth with a pleasant taste. Epic Blend lip balms are exactly my type of balm, they smell and taste greate, and come in a variety of flavours split into three different categories; hemp, vegan, and more moisture. They are made in Canada and launched in 2007 in Kelowna, BC.

Epic Balm says:
Smooth glide without the greasiness
Gluten free, petroleum-free, non-GMO, all natural
Not tested on animals
Nutrient-dense natural and organic ingredients

These balms are awesome and definitely pass the 'will I use you everyday?' test. Mainly because they smell and taste great! They glide smoothly onto the lips and don't feel heavy or sticky at all. There is no major shine added to my lips either. You do need a few swipes in order for the moisture to last longer.

I've been using Citrus Kick very frequently and noticed that I still have a ton of product left, so the product amount seems to last and be worth it for the very decent price of $3.49. They aren't the longest lasting natural lip balm I have came across, lasting maybe 1-3 hours depending on what you are doing with your mouth (like eating and talking, I mean! jeez), but with flavours like these, (my favourite being wild berry and cherry), I don't mind reapplying!

Hemp Balms
Organic Hemp Seed Oil is a great anti-oxidant, super-nourishing and quickly absorbs deep into the skill cells. Key Ingredients: Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Non-Gmo Vitamin E
Flavours: Coconut, Mint, Vanilla, Citrus Kick

Mint, as you guessed, does tingle a bit and is probably ideal for summer months or for those who find it refreshing. Coconut and Vanilla are both light and smell similar, with Vanilla sort of resembling a hot chocolate or coffee flavoured lip balm I would have used in my past. Citrus Kick has a bit of a punch and is fun and tangy. 

Vegan Balms
100% Plant-based and beeswax-free All-natural food-grade Candelila wax, which gives these balms an incredibly smooth texture. Key Ingredients: Food-grade candelila wax, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic cocoa butter, non-gmo vitamin E
Flavours: Wild Berry, Pineapple-Mint

Wild Berry has to be my favourite scent of the lot. It is such a unique lip balm scent, is the perfect strength, and smells like a body mist I would love to spray all over myself. Pineapple-mint was a bit strange at first, the pineapple being a bit stronger than the mint but overall a very light scent.

More Moisture Balms
Seven moisturizers, including Organic Shea Butter come together to provide an extra kick of moisture plus a boost of staying power. Key Ingredients: Organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic castor oil, organic beeswax, non-gmo vitamin E 
Flavours: Cherry, Grape, Unflavoured, Green Apple

I do notice the more moisture balms lasting slightly longer than any of the other balms, which would be why, if I had to choose, I would recommend these over the other 2 lines of balms. There is also an Unflavored version in this line, perfect for those who prefer no flavour or are sensitive to it. Cherry, Grape, and Green Apple are all perfectly scented and smelt just as expected.

Garnet Star Tinted Balm

Sheer merlot colour and a subtle shimmer that maintains a natural look. Key Ingredients: Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax, Vitamin E, Rosemary Extract

 The Garnet Star Tinted Balm comes in one flavour, Pomegranate. It is priced slightly higher than the regular balms, at $4.99. It has a slight scent, but mostly just smells like a standard lip balm, or like Burt's Bees tinted balm. The tint is slightly darker than most people's lip colours so it might do more for them. I have pigmented lips so this was essentially the same colour as my lips and just helped to even them out. However, I wouldn't use this everyday as I just didn't feel it was as moisturizing as the others.

I thought it was interesting that the ingredients and flavour changed the light/darkness of the balm.

My favourite flavour is definitely wild berry, with cherry coming in at a close second. All of the fruity scents are amazing, with the non-fruity scents being much lighter in scent but still smelling delicious. There is not one balm in the pack that I would not use. 

Epic Blend lip balms are available at retailers across Canada, sold individually for MRSP of $3.49. You can purchase individuals or 4-packs for $12.99 directly from the Epic Blend website. The Garnet Star Tinted Balm is $4.99. Shipping is as low as $4 for Canada and the US and $15 internationally. A full list of locations can be found here when you enter your postal code. In Canada you will likely find them in a local health food shops, Boathouse's, and other organic shops. I do not believe they can be found in stores outside of Canada, they are only available for online order.

I would definitely purchase more Epic Blend balms once I finish up the ones I have. I have already given away a few to some friends and family and they are all loving them! One friend actually called me the next day to tell me the lip balm is 'the bomb' and feels like butter on her lips (this seriously happened!)

Giveaway!

Epic Blend actually sent me two lip lovin' superpacks and mentioned that the extra was for some friends or a giveaway. Well.. I've already given a few of my balms to some close friends to see what they thought, so the final lip lovin' superpack + a garnet star balm is available for you to win! The superpack contains 1 of each of their hemp, vegan, and more moisture balms. Enter via Rafflecopter below and the winner will be randomly chosen! Open to US and Canada residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This product was received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.

eos Visibly Soft Lip Balm Review

eos has recently introduced a new line of lip balms called Visibly Soft. There are 2 lip balms that have launched to start off this collection; Vanilla Mint and Coconut Milk. I'm not sure if they will come out with more, but I'd definitely be interested in seeing the new flavours they come up with. The balms are in their usual fun sphere shape, but with a slightly different design. The casing has swirls designed to mimic the 'buttery richness' of the Visibly Soft formula. It is nice to see eos bring out some new designs to compliment their new Visibly Soft line, and in my opinion, a bit overdue!

So what is different about the new Visibly Soft balms? The new formula of the Visibly Soft balms contain hyaluronic acid (which can be seen in a lot of new skincare products), and it is said to increase moisture, hydration, and softness in the lips. The formula is also enriched with Vitamin C, said to stimulate the lip's rate of natural exfoliation and improve collagen production. The balms are 99% natural, petrolatum-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free. All eos balms also contain natural conditioning oils, shea butter, and Vitamin E.

Ingredients:
Coconut Milk

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire d’abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate

Vanilla Mint

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire d’abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate

Coconut Milk didn't smell at all to me like coconuts, but it still has a light and pleasing scent. Vanilla Mint didn't have the 'minty' flavour I was expecting, but it does feel slightly cool on the lips. It kind of reminds me of white chocolate and is similar to Nivea's Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss. Actually, both of these scents smell a bit artificial to me but are still light and sweet. Sorry that I am terrible at describing scents.. Anyways, I'd prefer the Vanilla Mint if I had to choose one. 

The Visibly Soft balms glide on the lips a bit easier, and the formula seems more delicate. I actually dropped the Vanilla Mint while it was open and put a pretty large dent in it. They are completely non-sticky on the lips. I also noticed that the colour of the Vanilla Mint was slightly darker than the Coconut Milk. I found them to be a bit moisturizing and longer lasting than the original balms, likely due to the hyaluronic acid. The one thing I don't like about eos balms is that they are not compact and difficult to fit into small pockets of the purse. But I guess an upside to their larger size is that they're easier to find. They are also fun to play with!

I would definitely choose these balms over the regular balms if I had to, just because they are softer, feel more hydrating, and glide on the lips much easier. The packaging is also fun and nice to see something different from the original balms. I'd love to see more variety of scents from the Visibly Soft line in the future. 

The balms have launched August 2014 and should be available at your local drugstore or superstore already for $3.99. If you can't find them in store, you might have some luck online, you can view online retailers here and even purchase at evolutionofsmooth.com directly.

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.