BITE BEAUTY

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick, $24.00

I think i'm addicted to Bite. Lipstick has always been my all time favorite makeup product to purchase and use, so when i heard about this brand i was very intrigued. Bite is an all natural lip care company that makes their lipsticks with ingredients good enough to eat (literally). Their products use organic, food-grade ingredients and are packed with nourishing and restorative ingredients beeswax, Argan oil, Manuka honey, and Shea butter. Now all of this is nice and good on paper, but how do the products actually perform? Awesome, in my opinion.

From left to right: Pepper, Musk, Zivoli, Vigne, Date, Fig

I first tried them when my cousin went to the US for holiday, i asked her to pick up a shade for me to try. Safe to say I was very surprised and thankful when she came back with three. She got me the two nude shades (Musk and Pepper) and the deep red (Zivoli) from the Luminous Creme Lipstick range, and I was in love the moment I tried one on. They are creamy and extremely pigmented, while still being very comfortable to wear. I found that they last pretty well on me, a good few hours at least, and leave a light stain when the glossyness has worn off. They also have a sweet-ish smell and taste (anybody else?) which I love.

When I went to the US during my winter break i knew i had to pick up at least one more color, and their Agave lip mask which I had heard great things about. I decided to go for a pink (Vigne) as i wear that color quite a lot. I also wanted to try out one of their lip crayons, but i indulged on too many other items i let it pass for this time around. However, the Sephora isle of doom got me (you know what i'm talking about ladies) and i popped one more double ended lipstick in my basket - i mean, two in one AND mini sized? How could I say no? My mom and sister also picked up some other shades and finishes themselves, so i can always borrow theirs to try out.

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, $26.00

Sorry for a bit of a rambly post. Let me know if you've tried out of any Bite's products and what you think of them, I'd love to hear x

THE LIP BALM LINEUP

Let's be honest here, no ones likes the look or feeling of dry chappy lips, but at the same time it's something we all go through at one time or another. Unlucky for me, my one time is pretty much all the time. However, what's unfortunate for me is lucky for you, as this means i have tried and tested many balms, and can help you decide what to try out and what to pass up. Having constantly dry lips has left me on a never ending hunt for the perfect lip balm (or shall i say lip balms), and here are my top five picks.

You might be wondering why i haven't narrowed these picks down to the ultimate one, and the truth is .. i can't! They ultimately do the same job, but i use each one in a different way and for a different reason, so here's the break down:

1. Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil, £3.69

Not only is this one of my all time favorite lip balms ever, it is the easiest one to find. I prefer the pomegranate version over the others mostly for the scent, but all of Burt's Bees lip balms are brilliant. So much in fact, that i never leave the house without one of these in my purse. It's great underneath lipstick to keep your lips hydrated and protected, but also ontop of some of the more drying formulas. I also find that applying this once a lipstick has faded away and left a stain really helps even things out, and stops the color from settling into the lines of the lips. 

2. H&M Lip Balm in Wild Vanilla, £1.50 (Can't find exact product, linked a similar one)

I have never actually heard anyone talk about these before, so it may seem like an unusual pick, but i really think this is one of those hidden gems. Honestly, i would never have thought to pick this up, but those stands they have near the cashiers -you know what i'm talking about- pulled me in and i thought 'what the heck, might as well give it a go' and i'm happy to say i was pleasantly surprised. Given that it's only £1.55 for such a huge tube, i had nothing to lose anyway. The formula has Shea butter in it which i absolutely love, and i find the texture to be nice and rich - great for no makeup days. So yes, it's quite big and chunky and definitely not ideal handbag size, but it's a great one to have in your room/bathroom/around the house. 

3. EOS Lipbalm in Lemon Drop, £4.20

Now this is one that has been raved about over and over, and after finally getting my hands on one i can see why. It's not my FAVORITE out of my picks, but it's a great one none the less. Full of Shea butter and vitamins C&E, this is once again a great light balm for daily use. It's also the only one on here with SPF 15, which makes it great for holidays. If a lemon-y scent isn't your thing though, i'd suggest trying out one of the other flavors, as it is quite strong.

4. Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm, £9.50

Time for a cult classic. After seeing many beauty bloggers and youtubers go on about this balm i had to give it a go. The texture is super rich and creamy which makes it a great one for overnight use. I use this one daily before going to bed and it has helped SO much with the overall condition of my lips. I hardly ever wake up feeling chapped and dehydrated as the thick texture is ultra moisturizing and makes it last all night. If you have very problematic lips or are going through a 'rough patch' i'd definitely recommend to give this a go. It's not the cheapest, but honestly so much product comes in this little pot that it will last you a very long time (and it's well worth it).

5. Dr. Lipp's Original Nipple Balm for Lips, £11.50

This is my ultimate SOS balm when nothing else seems to do the trick. I know the name seems a little weird, but the product is really something else. It's a thick, clear, and slightly sticky textured balm that can be used on dry lips, eczema, cuticles, burns and you guessed it - sore nipples. I have personally only tried it on lips and dry elbows, and it's definitely a super intensive treatment. So much so in fact, that i sometimes still feel it on my lips when i wake up. The glossy finish it leaves means it can also be used on top of any lip product of your preference to add a nice shine. The site even suggests trying it for highlighting the cheekbones, but given the texture it's not something i'm too keen on trying out. Nevertheless, if you need an intensive treatment that just works, try this out.

So let me know what are your all time favorite holy-grail balms, as i'm always open to trying out new ones. You never know, one might end up replacing one of my top 5.