DECA Candle Lip Balms & Mini-Giveaway! {ended}

I'm a bit in love with these balms! They are fantastic! And guess what?! I have one extra, so I'm having a mini-giveaway! Instructions at end of post! :)

Anderson Soap Company Lip Balm {review}

I first heard about this balm in a forum. And then it was also suggested to me. Also, I have heard talk about the Anderson Soap Company. So, how could I pass this balm up?

WHERE TO FIND:

Found this one at the Anderson Soap Company.

PRICE:

Price is about standard at $3 per balm. No package deals are offered.

SHIPPING & PACKAGING:

Shipping isn't too bad, at $.75 per balm. I got in during a sale and pretty much got free shipping. An extra 75 cents -- SCORE! And it was sent out the day after I ordered it!

APPEARANCE:
Personally, I think this balm looks better in photo than in person. Not saying it looks bad, but it does look a bit cheaper than it does in the photo. Anyway, this balm comes in a standard .15oz tube, which is semi-clear. The labels have alternating strips of black & white floral pattern and solid color. From the shop, it seems that the solid colors are usually associated with the flavor of the balm. However, mine is purple and I don't really see the connection with chocolate cheesecake. But it still looks cool -- I do love purple! Also on the label are the ingredients, company name, and flavor (of course!). Overall, the label is nice. Good graphics anyway, but kind of cheap label.

INGREDIENTS:

Beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin e, and flavor oil.

TEXTURE & GLIDE:

This balm is super creamy. When I first got the balm, it was so soft, it was always coming off in the cap. It was a bit annoying, but it doesn't seem to do that anymore. Anyway, I just took it as a sign of its creaminess. It glides on smooth and leaves a really pleasant feeling of a layer of creamy goodness on the lips. Sometimes it takes a few rounds to get enough on, but that's alright because then you get more fun of applying. Also, I should mention that sometimes the glide is affected by temperatures. I kept this in my  outer-coat pocket (yes, I dress in layers - Alaskan winter!) for awhile and it'd get kind of hard being in that semi-cold place. It wasn't so hard that I couldn't apply, but it did make it a bit rough at first.

MOISTURIZING ABILITIES:

This balm has about average moisturizing abilities. It's nothing super spectacular, but it does leave my lips feeling just a bit softer than before. Not enough so that I wouldn't need to reapply, however.

WEAR:

Again, about average. I'd say it lasts about 2 hours. It is a kind of thick balm, so it usually holds up pretty well through eating and drinking.

SCENT & FLAVOR:

I got this balm in the Chocolate Cheesecake scent. To be honest, it's not one of my favorites. It smells chocolatey, for sure. But it also smells cakey. I don't really get the cheesecake scent, but I do get the cake scent. It's kind of like boxed chocolate cake mix, the kind of cake that tastes better than it smells. But hey, you might like it. For me, it's a 'meh' scent. Another thing to mention, the balm doesn't have a flavor, just a scent.

BUY AGAIN?

As average as the balm is, I would buy again from Anderson Soap Company. One of it's redeeming features for me is that I have no allergic reaction to it at all! It is also super creamy and feels nice on the lips. And, at $3.75 per balm with shipping is a pretty good deal! I've considered purchasing more on several occasions. But I'm determined to finish this one off before I buy more. And, I should spend my money on new balms to review, eh? ;)

Bohemian Beetnik NOT! Petroleum Jelly {review}

This isn't exactly a lip balm, but it can be used on the lips and that is what I've been doing! And it surely is a life saver, so I say it deserves a review!

WHERE TO FIND:

This is another product from Bohemian Beetnik. The shop sells a variety of bath & beauty products, including natural deodorants and lip & cheek stains. I've also reviewed a balm from this shop, here.

PRICE:

Prices have gone up since I purchased, but the NOT! Petroleum Jelly is currently set at $6.99 for a 3oz. glass jar. Pretty good deal for that amount of product! And I didn't mention in my other Bohemian Beetnik review, but they are committed to reducing waste and offer $1 off of refills when you send an empty container back to them!

SHIPPING & PACKAGING:

It's been a loong while since I ordered this, so I don't exactly remember. But I know the shipping time wasn't upsetting and it didn't arrive damaged! :) On the listing, it says that shipping costs are $3.28. Not completely outrageous since it's a 3oz. glass jar.

APPEARANCE:
This comes in a glass jar with a white plastic lid. There is one label on the front with the name of the product, what it can be used for, and a link to Bohemian Beetnik. The label's holding up pretty well after all the bouncing around it has done at the bottom of my bag every day. What I don't like about the label is that no ingredients are listed! But at least the list of ingredients is very small, so it's easy to remember!

INGREDIENTS:

What I noticed about Bohemian Beetnik is that they use as few ingredients as possible in their products. I really appreciate this since products don't always need to have a million ingredients to be really awesome. NOT! Petroleum Jelly has only TWO ingredients -- organic palm oil and beeswax.

TEXTURE & GLIDE:

The balm makes my lips feel moist! Seriously, my lips feel drenched in moisture, but not in a suffocating way whatsoever. Actually, it is quite light. It almost feels a bit greasy, but not quite so -- it feels rather pleasant on the lips. This is in a jar, so you have to use your finger to apply, and it usually goes on super smooth. But I've found that the balm is really affected by temperature. I usually keep it on my windowsill and when it gets pretty cold, it takes a little rubbing action to get some on your finger to apply. And when I took it to Hawaii, it melted a bit on the top, but not to the point where it would run or leak. It takes a few swipes to get enough on your lips, and it leaves your finger feeling a bit oily, but the slight annoyances are worth it for how it makes the lips feel!

MOISTURIZING ABILITIES:

This balm... it adds a lot of moisture without being super moisturizing. Does that make any sense? It feels like it's the most moisturizing ever when it's on the lips, but it really has about average moisturizing abilities. Possibly a little above average. But in any case, it leaves my lips soft after using.

WEAR:

This is surprising long lasting for how light the product is. I put it on before bed sometimes and it is known to last all night! Which would be a good 7 hours for me! During the day, it can last up to 3 or 4 hours. However, it wears off fast with food and drink. And another thing worth mentioning, it leaves a nice gloss on the lips! 

SCENT & FLAVOR:

I never noticed this had a scent until a friend told me it smelled like honey. I guess I had never really sniffed it (after having it for months, ahem), because I didn't expect it to have a scent. But after taking a sniff or two, I noticed the slight honey scent! And it doesn't have any flavor, to me at least!

BUY AGAIN?

I've had this for several months, have been using it several times a day, and I'm not even close to being half way down the jar. If I ever need to buy more, I definitely will! It has become a product I must have with me at all times! It feels great on the lips and I have discovered that my lips have no allergic reaction to it at all! It's my go-to product when my lips aren't behaving! I would highly recommend NOT! Petroleum Jelly from Bohemian Beetnik to anyone, especially since its uses are not limited to just the lips!

Sweet Creek Herbal Care Lip Balm {review}

Oh, one of my great Etsy loves - Sweet Creek Herbal Care! I have lost count of the number of orders I've placed with this shop. Maybe over 10? Yes, I know. But it's just that great. I have never been disappointed with the products, as they're all pretty phenomenal, especially the lip balms! (Note: lip balm labels have changed since photo was taken.)

{the balm}

The balms at Sweet Creek Herbal Care are not all the same - the formulas vary depending on the flavor. I have not been disappointed with any I have tried. Some are firmer, others are creamier, and some offer more gloss.

My favorite is the formula for the Maraschino Cherry balm (one of their more popular flavors). It is soft and buttery smooth, so the balm glides on easily. I love to apply a lot because the balm has this amazing silky creaminess that feels just so darn pleasant on the lips. Also, it adds such a lovely gloss.

The wear is about average, maybe 1.5 to 2 hours. There is some great moisturizing to be had though, and is even great for applying before bed!

{flavor + ingredients}

I have tried a few more flavors, but they seem to have been discontinued recently. 

Maraschino Cherry: If I take the time to really smell this, it does smell like maraschino cherries. But at first whiff, this often reminds me of Fun Dip. It's not an overwhelming scent, which I appreciate. It's kind of perfect.

Ingredients include aloe vera in coconut oil, calendula in macadamia nut oil, sunflower oil, candelilla wax, t50 tocopherols, all natural flavor oil. Ingredients may vary depending on flavor (some have different butters).

{conclusion}

I love Sweet Creek Herbal Care, especially the Maraschino Cherry lip balm. Do you want to know just how much I love it? I am currently on my fourth tube. Never in my life have I repurchased any lip balm more than once. Now, if that's not love, I don't know what is. But there you have it. You should check out Sweet Creek Herbal Care and maybe you'll find a lip balm love... or some other loving.

(This review has been edited 7/21/12 to follow new review format.)

Epically Epic Soap Co. Lip Tints {review}

This is one of my most popular posts on this blog. And because of that, I am editing this post on 2/9/2014 to follow the current review format and the new lip tint review standards (more pics!).

If any shop deserves multiple reviews, it is Epically Epic Soap Co.! I am completely in love with this shop! One of the best on Etsy! (Also read my review of Epically Epic lip balms here.)

Allison Hill (who is EPIC!) runs Epically Epic Soap Co. out of her home in New Mexico. Besides lip tints, she sells lip balms, soaps, solid lotions, perfumes, and hair & body sprays. I've never been disappointed with any of her products! Hurry and check out Epically Epic Soap Co.!!!

{the tints}

These tints feel soooo good! They have a very smooth application and glide on beautifully! There's a lot of shine and moisture without feeling greasy. The formula used is of the perfect consistency; it feels very creamy. And I actually think that these feel smoother than the balms! The extra shine, perhaps? :)

Just like the balms, these tints also keep my lips super moisturized! I always have soft lips with Epically Epic products! And this stuff lasts FOREVER! It keeps my lips moisturized for hours! I let my cousin use one of mine once and she was so amazed! The next day she was telling me that she could still feel the balm on her lips at the end of the day (and then she had to buy her own)! They are seriously very long lasting! However, I still apply them often just because I like 'em! ;) 

{the colors}

One thing I love about EE lip tints is that all of the colors come with delicious flavors to go along with the delicious colors. Following are photos taken of how the lip tints look on me. All of the photos were taken in natural, afternoon lighting. Sorry if some of the photos are a bit blurry - it's a bit difficult taking close-ups of your own lips! 

Here is the before shot with no lip tints. Okay, now that you have seen that, quickly look away and go onto the other photos with all the pretty lip tints! 

Bullfrog - This is a peachy pink color in the tube, but on my lips it is a light pink color with a nice bit of shimmer. The shimmer makes it seem lighter and brighter. The tint is peach and cherry scented, and it smells wonderful! All fruity sweet and delicious. My sister-in-law had to have one of these ones for herself!

Guava Pie - This one is probably the brightest EE lip tint I have tried. It is a bright pink on my lips with some good shimmer. It almost reminds me of bubblegum pink. Without natural lighting, it looks even brighter. Fun color for a night out! I can't speak too much about the scent as it is very, very light.

Pink Frosting - Can you just see all that shimmer?! This tint is a very girly one - all pretty pink with tons of shimmer. It is definitely a playful one, but still very wearable. I love that the pink isn't too bright but still has a nice pop to it. The scent is a sweet buttery frosting with a hint of strawberry - quite delicious without being too sweet!

Red Velvet - This tint adds a nice wash of red to the lips. It's not too dark, despite how it looks in the tube. It's a natural looking color, like bitten lips. The scent is red velvet cake and it is delicious and decadent but not overwhelmingly so.

Strawberry Rhubarb - This is very much a "your lips but better" color. It makes my lips look pinker and brighter and more alive, but in a natural-looking way. With a good hint of gloss. Very pretty. The scent is strawberry rhubarb, in which I mostly detect the strawberry. It is a nice, sweet scent that is almost a bit candy-like.

{the ingredients}

Ingredients include pistachio butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba seed oil, castor oil, vitamin E, candelilla wax, flavor, natural sweetener, and mineral colorant.

The Strawberry Rhubarb has a different formula. The ingredients include olive butter, olive oil, cadellila wax, castor oil, olive squalane, vitamin e, flavor, natural sweetener, and color.

{final thoughts}

I will definitely buy again from Epically Epic Soap Co.! I wasn't sure if I'd really like lip tints, but I'm so glad I tried 'em! And I will continue to do so when I spot colors I like! Allison's lip products are the best and I recommend them to everyone and anyone! It's a must have because it's EPICALLY EPIC!

Penn Soap Co. Lip Conditioners {review}

*UPDATE* This shop is now called Penn Soap Co.. I have changed the title of this post for those looking for reviews for the shop under it's new name. The previous name of the shop (through which I purchased) was Mountain Mama Chic.

I was super excited to find these lip balms! They looked simple, but good. And there were lots of choices for flavors! This has truly been a GREAT discovery!

WHERE TO FIND: 

These lip conditioners can be found in the shop called Mountain Mama Chic. Aside from lip balms, the seller has a variety of other bath & beauty products. The seller actually sent me a soap sample from her shop. It had a very manly scent and my brother really likes it.

PRICE: 

So here's the awesome part! For one tube of balm, it's $3. About normal. BUT. If you buy more, the more you can save! If you buy a 2 lip balm set, it's $5, saving you $1. And if you buy a set of 4 balms, it's $9! That's like buying 3, and getting one for free! Or, you can think of it as each balm being $2.25 each. Isn't that a great deal?!

SHIPPING & PACKAGING: 

Shipping was reasonable at $1.99, but also a bit slow. My package wasn't shipped out until 5 days after I ordered it. But once it was, I received it within a few days. The slow shipping didn't bother me too much though. Living in Alaska, one has to expect slow shipping for everything! Oh, and everything was packed in a bubble mailer. Safe arrival!


APPEARANCE:
These balms come in standard .15oz white tubes. The color of the labels correspond to the flavor of the balm. On one side of the label, the flavor is listed in big font. On the other side is the shop logo for Mountain Mama Chic. And inbetween, on its own little sticker, the ingredients are listed. I'm not sure if the label is waterproof. It might be -- I can't tell! 

INGREDIENTS: 

Coconut oil, beeswax, organic shea butter, organic cocoa butter, vitamin E, and flavor oil. One of the balms I got (Cran Grape) had different ingredients listed: sesame oil, beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, mango butter, vitamin E, and flavor oil.

TEXTURE & GLIDE: 

O-M-G! These balms are amaaazing! They glide on oh so smooth. And they feel like liquid silk on my lips. Seriously. I can't think of another way to describe them other than being so silky that it must be liquid silk. And then the liquid silk sinks into my lips and then my lips feel like silk. It's not something everyone would enjoy I'm thinking, but I LOVE IT!

MOISTURIZING ABILITIES: 

This balm just keeps on amazing me. My lips feel sooo soft! Seriously, after the balm sinks in, I just keep on touching my lips because they feel so soft and silky. They condition!

WEAR: 

The balm isn't the longest lasting ever. It lasts for about an hour, I'd say. But, like I said before, it sinks into your lips and leaves them soft and silk. I don't really need to reapply after it's gone, but I do anyway because it just feels heavenly!

SCENT & FLAVOR: 

I bought the four pack of balms from Mountain Mama Chic (of course!):

• Aloha Mango: Smells just like a juicy mango! It's fruity and delicious!
• Cran Grape: To me, this one smells like Welch's grape juice. I'm not very into grape lip balm flavors, but I really enjoy this one. It's not a too sweet medicine like grape scent. 
• Vanilla Bean: I'm still on the hunt for the perfect vanilla bean scent! This is a really nice one. Nice, sweet vanilla.
• White Chocolate Truffle: This scent might be my favorite of the ones I got! It's a light, sweet chocolate scent with a hint of coconut (at least it smells a bit coconut-y to me). It reminds me of an Almond Joy candy bar -- which is one of my favorites!

BUY AGAIN? 

Ohhh yeahhh! I would definitely buy balms from Mountain Mama Chic again! They are just amazing and there's so many good flavors! AND, they have awesome prices! TOTALLY WORTH IT! I really wanna buy some more flavors, like Fudgecycle, Lemon Squeeze, Tuscan Biscotti... I need more!

Bohemian Beetnik Honey Bee Balm {review}

I discovered this product when I went through my "I love honey!" phase (until I realized I actually don't). I had purchased from Bohemian Beetnik previously, so I had some high hopes for this balm.

WHERE TO FIND: 

The Raw Honey Butter Lip Balm can be found in the shop called Bohemian Beetnik. Apart from this balm, the seller has a variety of products in her shop, including lip & cheek stains, lip plumpers, and a honey lip gloss.

PRICE: 

The price of this balm is $4.99 for a .25oz glass jar of balm. (I lucked out and bought it on sale!)

SHIPPING & PACKAGING: 

Shipping was $2. Not too bad for it is a bit heavy (glass jar and all), and it was packaged very well. 


APPEARANCE:
This balm comes in a .25oz glass jar with a white plastic lid. It's a cute little jar! There's a round sticker on the bottom with all of the info for the balm (name, shop, ingredients).

INGREDIENTS: 

This balm has only TWO ingredients! Raw honey and organic palm shortening.

TEXTURE & GLIDE: 

Since this is in a mini jar, you have to apply this with your finger. Mine always seems kind of hard on the top whenever I use it. Maybe because it gets cold? The texture is kind of grainy, but that wasn't unexpected (you can see the texture in the photo). It goes on fine, but then it feels a bit sticky and well, kind of liquid-y. Perhaps I tend to put too much, but it always feels way too glossy on my lips.

MOISTURIZING ABILITIES: 

I'm not sure how well this moisturizes. Supposedly honey is supposed to have some healing powers, but I am never able to leave the balm on long enough to see how well it moisturizes.

WEAR: 

I find the feel of the balm too uncomfortable on my lips, so I tend to take it off in about 10 minutes. So I'm sorry, but I don't know how long this would last, but I'd assume that it wouldn't be too long anyway. It's too liquid-y (to use that word again...) to stay on the lips for an extended period of time. 

SCENT & FLAVOR: 

Well, it smells like honey. And it tastes like honey. On the plus side, when you're done applying the balm, you can just lick your finger to get the rest of the balm and you're basically just eating honey. Ha! Don't judge me...

BUY AGAIN?

No, I would not buy this balm again. I just don't like the texture and I realized I don't like honey that much. However, I would probably purchase other items from this shop! Previously, I bought an organic Vaseline substitute called NOT Petroleum Jelly from Bohemian Beetnik. It's a fantastic, versatile product that I sometimes use on my lips at night for extra moisturization. And it lasts ALL night! So Bohemian Beetnik does make some good products, but the Raw Honey Butter Lip Balm is not for me.