The Thursday Three: Lip Balm Edition

So I'm thinking that if I include more weekly features on this blog, it will force me to start posting more regularly. In that vein, I'm introducing "The Thursday Three," a weekly round-up of three... somethings. Really, this will encompass pretty much anything that I can neatly corral into sets of three, probably with a focus on my favorites in any given category. I think I can stick with this, because at the very least, I can surely come up with a weekly list of three items even if I don't elaborate about them at length, right?

For this first Thursday Three, we're going to delve into my plethora of lip balms. Lip balm is one product that I can't function without, and I feel like I'm constantly on the prowl for my "holy grail" product. My lips tend to chap, especially in the winter, and I  can't stand the feeling or the look of dry, icky lips. At any given time, I've probably got at least five lip balms in rotation between my makeup drawer, my purse, and work. Minimum. Along the way, I've stumbled across a few products that really made me happy, so I'm sharing them with you!

 #3. Hawaiian Tropic SPF 45+ Tropical Lip Balm ($2.49)

I stumbled across this drugstore gem while on vacation in Florida, and I just adore it. It's the most "traditional" balm of the bunch, a twist-up solid stick, nothing special about the packaging. This balm's got a couple of things going for it that distinguish it from the glut of similar stick balms, though... first, the high SPF, which I dig. You see, not only do I want to protect my lips from the sun, I also have a relatively recent and large scar on my left leg that requires extra sun protection if I want it to fade as much as possible over time. So because I am kind of tacky, I have been known to use this product on my scar too; I feel like it's more effective than traditional sunscreen because the waxiness of it clings to the scar area longer, especially on the beach or in the water!

The other thing that I really love about this lip balm is the FLAVOR. It smells like the most delicious tropical sunscreen, which alone would have made me like it, but it also tastes amazing... like a fruity, delicious piña colada or some other tropical drink that would come with a little paper umbrella. The flavor lasts a good while, too, unlike a lot of products that lose their flavor rapidly after application. As far as moisturizing my lips, it does a perfectly fine job; I mean, I don't feel like angels are dancing on my lips or anything, but it's more than adequate in the dryness-prevention department. The only complaint I have about this product is that it's hard to find in stores here in my landlocked state... so I stocked up when I went back to the beach a few months later! (It's readily available online, though, and I'm just a brat about paying shipping charges.) 

#2. Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm ($12.00)

I received this item back in my January Ipsy bag, which was full of skincare products that I thought would be totally boring. Boy, was I wrong! I ended up really digging the contents of that bag, especially this lip balm! The squeezy tube is super-nondescript, although I grudgingly guess I get the hipster vibe they're going for with the design. To my eye, though, it just looks medicinal, like a tube of antibiotic ointment... not like something epic to put on your face, which is what it actually is. I also hate that the application surface is a flat top instead of a more lip-friendly angled or rounded one, but honestly, I usually end up applying with my finger anyway.

Once opened, the product itself also looks pretty underwhelming at first glance: a clear, kind of thin-seeming gel formula. Don't be fooled, though, because it turns into moisturizing awesomeness on the lips. It leaves a nice little hint of shine and lasts a really long time. The only reason this lip balm isn't at the top of the list: the flavor (or lack thereof). It's perfectly fine, but it's just a very subtle and short-lived hint of mint, with none of the lime tartness that I'd expect from something named "mojito." Step up the flavor game, Malin+Goetz, and I'll de-throne my current #1 for you.

 #1. TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixir in #36 Salted Caramel ($7.00)

 

I've actually already reviewed this delightful product once on this blog, but it more than deserves another shout-out, because it's earned the top spot on my list and in my makeup bag. I don't want to repeat myself ad nauseum, so you can clicky-clicky here to read that full review, or you can just stick around and roll with my CliffsNotes. Pros: ginormous size for the very reasonable price, smells and tastes like orgasmic syrupy waffle-y deliciousness, moisturizing as all get-out, swanky packaging. Cons: um, the tin can be a little hard to open sometimes? Recommendation: GET SOME, and check out TokyoMilk's other flavors while you're at it.

So there you have it, folks: my first Thursday Three. If you're actually a real, live human being who is actually reading my blog, please leave me a little feedback or a suggestion on what categories you might like to see me tackle. I'd welcome the challenge (and the confirmation that someone actually sees this crap I write)!

Product Review: TokyoMilk Lip Elixir and Bon Bon Lip Balm

As I have recently learned, I am a total sucker for pretty cosmetics packaging. This is both a blessing and a curse; my wallet doesn't always appreciate it, but occasionally it leads me to a little gem of a product I might not have picked up otherwise. Case in point: TokyoMilk lip products.

TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixirs in No. 42 La Vie En Rose and No. 36 Salted Caramel, Bon Bon Lip Balm in Candied Violette.

These lip balms are impeccably presented, and what's inside is generally just as appealing as what's on the outside... hit or miss on the scents/flavors for me, but there's sure to be something for everyone. I initially purchased the TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixirs in the two flavors that caught my attention the most, Salted Caramel and La Vie En Rose. TokyoMilk offers an interesting array of bold flavors, including Clove Cigarette and Smoked Salt, but I wasn't feeling particularly brave when I placed my order. After receiving and loving my first two, however, I decided to expand my collection and scooped up two more: Coco Noir and Dead Sexy.

Apparently I'm a closet Goth.

These puppies are huge for lip balms! 0.7 oz. of product, and I think it's going to take me a long time to hit pan. The tins are lovely, with the logo embossed into the top and sealed with colored sticker bands that identify the flavor; one small tinge of disappointment is that once the bands are broken and removed, a bit of the flair of the packaging is also removed, plus there's no way to tell the flavors apart at a glance. You've got to check the label on the bottom of the tin. (I know, I know, first-world problems.) I suppose I could have left the sticker bands in place, but I know the torn edges would have gotten raggedy and dirty and tweaked the hell out of my closet OCD. Another issue with these tins is that they can be difficult to pry open if they've gotten knocked around in your purse and/or pushed a little more firmly closed than necessary. As someone who's actively trying to grow stubby fingernails out, I have to be careful to close mine only as much as necessary so I don't have to risk a nail break while trying to yoink my balm tin open. One last tin issue: while the tin that was bopping around loose in the bottom of my purse has stayed immaculate, the tin that has been living in my crowded makeup bag has gotten a little scuffed up around the edges. Of course this doesn't affect its performance, but because I appreciate the aesthetic of the packaging so much, it's a little disappointing. That's what Sharpies are for, though, amirite?

Here be balm.

Inside is a clear petroleum-based balm, which I find to be much more moisturizing and less greasy-feeling than others of its kind. Some people may find lip balm tins unsanitary, but I have absolutely zero problem with sticking my fingers all up in there. (In my opinion, if my generation and I survived a childhood in the old-school McDonald's playgrounds, we can survive anything.) It lasts a reasonably long time, and my lips feel great, but let's get to the important part: the flavors!

• No. 36 Salted Caramel is, quite simply, heaven in a tin. Upon opening it, the initial scent is syrupy, like an epic stack of fresh waffles. On the lips, it turns into a beautiful, subtle burnt-sugar flavor... while I don't necessarily detect the "salt" in the name, it's not sickly-sweet like lip balms can be, so I attribute that balance to the "salt." True story: one day I put some on at work, forgot to wipe my finger off, then sat down to braid my colleague's hair (slow shift), and she immediately noticed the scent of it transferred from my finger into her hair. I kept catching her surreptitiously sniffing her hair for the rest of the night... and then she asked me where I'd ordered it, and placed her own order on the spot. It's that good. (TokyoMilk's flavor notes: "Sweet Cream, Sea Salt, Caramelized Sugar, Toasted Vanilla Bean.")

• No. 42 La Vie En Rose is a lovely and surprising little flavor. To me the scent is definitely rose, but a modern, fresh rose scent, not your grandma's stuffy rose perfume. I wasn't sure what to expect from the flavor after smelling such a pure floral aroma, but the flavor is lightly floral with a hint of fruitiness. Not as stellar as Salted Caramel, but still pretty nice. (TokyoMilk's flavor notes: "Rosewater, Sweet Orange, Peach, Tahitian Vanilla.")

• No. 60 Coco Noir is about to get damned with faint praise: it smells and tastes just like what you'd expect from a chocolate lip balm. By that, I mean that it's a somewhat artificial "cocoa" aroma and flavor... not bad, but not the complex and intriguing experiences of the previous two. I also detect a strong note of cherry in the flavor, but in keeping with the artificiality of the chocolate, it's a maraschino flavor rather than a true cherry taste. I'll use it, but won't re-purchase this one. (TokyoMilk's flavor notes: "Dark Rum, Maraschino Cherry, Sweet Milk, Cacao Bean.")

• No. 72 Dead Sexy is one that I chose because I wanted to try one of the more unique offerings... and it was definitely a bad choice for me. The scent is overwhelmingly pungent; I could smell it before I even got the mailing envelope open, and I could honestly see it being a migraine trigger. I can't pick out any scent notes, because I can't stand to smell it for any length of time... it triggers some unpleasant olfactory memory for me, although I can't place exactly what it is. I almost want to say that it reminds me of a funeral home, but that's not quite right. In any case, it went right back into the envelope without even trying it on my lips. Sorry for the lack of details on this one, but I just can't with it. (TokyoMilk's flavor notes: "Ebony Wood, Warm Vanilla, Citrus Peel, Rosewater.")

Lest I forget, let's also talk about the last of my TokyoMilk goodies: the Bon Bon Lip Balm in Candied Violette, another unique winner in my book.

Pretty lid, so so pretty.

Here be more balm.

Again, the packaging is really appealing, this time with a silver lid with the embossed logo, and a nice substantial glass container. As seen in the first photo in this post, the box it came in is also BEAUTIFUL, and it's a damn shame it had to be thrown out, but I'm just not dedicated enough to keep my cosmetics in their original boxes. The balm itself is similar to the Dark Lip Elixirs, but doesn't seem to last quite as long. Scent and flavor: I'm not sure I've ever noticed that violets have a distinct aroma, but this smells pretty and has a unique, light and sweet floral sort of taste. I can't explain it, but I REALLY like it. (TokyoMilk's flavor notes: "Sugared Violette Leaves, Crushed Nectarines, and Honeycrisp Apples.")

In summary: GET YOU SOME SALTED CARAMEL NOW. And if you want more, Candied Violette. And if you still want more, La Vie En Rose. And then maybe you should question whether you really need that many lip balms... but I could be projecting. In any case, the TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixirs retail for $7 apiece, and $10 for the Bon Bon Lip Balm.

Ramblings of a nicotine-deprived mind...

So it has been approximately seven days, seven hours, and 55 minutes since my last cigarette... but who's counting?

Fuck you, cigarettes. No, seriously, fuck you.

I AM, DAMMIT. I need every bit of affirmation I can muster. Side note: while trying to check the time I took the above photo so I could have an exact quitting time, I discovered that iPhones DON'T REPORT PHOTO TIMESTAMPS. What the hell, y'all? So I actually had to download some weird geek app that somehow scrounges up all the technical details about iPhone photos, just so I could have my precise starting point. It's the little things.

I don't have much to say about this right now... I haven't even told anyone other than my coworkers yet, because I don't want to get people (read: Mom) all excited, then have to feel even worse if I fail and fall off the wagon. I'll talk more about it later, once I'm not teetering so close to the edge.

I do, however, want to document the reward schedule I've laid out for myself, just for motivational purposes. I decided to make it makeup/pampering-type things, so I can at least feel pretty while I'm toughing this shit out.

• ONE WEEK: TokyoMilk Lip Elixirs (already ordered three of these a few hours ago, so Reward #1 is en route).

• TWO WEEKS: BH Cosmetics "Galaxy Chic" eyeshadow palette, so I can have some pretty shades to color on myself with.  Idle hands smoke cigarettes, ya know. The packaging looks like a nine-year-old designed it, so I'll have to hide it from public view, but the colors are gorgeous.

• THREE WEEKS: Buxom Full-On Lip Polish. I received a sample of this from my Ipsy subscription and just love it, so I'll be needing a full-sized one even though it's way more than I should really spend on a silly lip gloss.

• ONE MONTH: Skyn Iceland skincare products. I tried some samples from this line and am very impressed with how great my skin feels, but it is EXPENSIVE AS SHIT (in my opinion, at least). So I figure I'll have earned a big splurge at the month mark, right? And I'm really trying to find some anti-aging products that I like, because I'd rather prevent that shit before it starts. I want to keep people surprised by how old I am, and guessing a decade less than my true age, for a loooooooooong time.

And no, I really don't need any of this stuff, because I've already gone a bit overboard with my newfound cosmetics obsession, but I figure the cost will be covered by what I would otherwise have spent on cigarettes, right? And after I'm done with my little rewards program, some "cigarette money" will go into my vacation jar each week, and the rest will stay in the bank where it belongs.

The battle continues...