My Top 5 Tinted Lip Balms

Right now I'm crazy about tinted lip balms. Lip balms which have hydrating and moisturising properties and leave a hint of colour on my lips is like my all-in-one product, my go-to product for everyday use and I make sure to always bring one with me. I find that wearing bold-coloured lipsticks, especially during the day can be a bit much when I'm opting for a natural look and can be a little drying after a while. And while clear lip balm helps to soften and smooth dry lips the best, it doesn't do a lot for my overall look in terms of enhancing my natural lip colour! This is exactly why I'll be needing and using tinted lip balms for a lifetime.

Even when I'm wearing lipstick out, the colour tends to fade and my lips become a bit dry so I want to re-moisturise my lips and at the same time, add colour without having to use two different products. I will always stay loyal to clear lip balms and repairing balms like Blistex, Carmex, Burt's Bees etc. because tinted lip balms cannot replace regular lip balms or lipsticks. They're simply a substitute for when my lips are in mint condition. In no particular order, here are my 5 favourite types of lip balms:


1. Maybelline Baby Lips - Color and Glow

L-R: Cherry Kiss, Pink Lolita, Baby Pink, Pink Blast

I know I'll be using these for pretty much the rest of my life (that's if they don't become discontinued)! I love the scent of these and I've collected as many as I can of them in Australia. The colours vary slightly as seen in these swatches:

They remind me a lot of my childhood where I was obsessed with those 'Lip Smackers' - the packaging closely resembles those which brings back lots of memories. They're really easy to identify based on their colours and designs on the tube. I found that the 'Color' ones predominantly give off a nice colour to the lips whereas the 'Glow' ones with the silver packaging give more of a stain which lasts for a great number of hours.

A negative would be that I haven't found them to be as hydrating as other brands of lip balm and I feel as though the clear versions of the Baby Lips are a tad more moisturising, probably because there's no colour component, hence a slightly different formula overall. Another would be that the balm itself is likely to get stuck when twisting up or down. Not all of mine are like that but for the ones that are, it can be annoying to have to physically push it back down.

2. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm*

05 Chunky Cherry

I've raved about this before in my February Favourites post earlier this year and I'm still as obsessed with it as I was back then. Gotta love these crayon-like chubby sticks which are so easy to apply. The colour is sheer when applied on the lips and only looks pigmented on paper due to its texture. I'd say that this one is the most moisturising out of the five tinted lip balms. It's the priciest one out of them all too but it's definitely worth it.

3. The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Happy Chu Lip

PK101

This is my latest purchase of a tinted lip balm. The shade on my lips is like a bright red-pink and it goes on nice and smoothly. The scent is very fruity and smells very artificial which is not really for me however I still make use of this product for its moisturising properties. I have trouble with the twist tube where the balm gets stuck so I have to push it down myself. Twisting it up is fine, just twisting down doesn't seem to work properly.

4. Etude House Shini Star Lip Balm

#5 Guava T

This is actually discontinued (it was limited edition) but I thought I'd mention it here anyway, since I like it a lot. I included this in my HK haul post and I definitely wish I had bought more when I could've. It smells amaaazing and the pink tint is too pretty. I noticed that Etude House has some similar ones called Dear Girls which also look very cute. I admit that I prefer tube lip products over tins and tubs however for me it comes down to how well the lip balm works for my lips :)

The consistency for this is smooth and glossy, just like a lip gloss so it gives a really nice wet look with a hint of colour. I rarely use lipglosses on their own because many aren't long-lasting, nor do they nourish my lips but with this glossy lip balm, it seems to give me supple lips. I can't say that it can do the same for everyone as I feel that with extremely chapped lips, a different texture and formula of lip balm may do a better job.

5. Innisfree 98% Natural Tint Balm

#2 Camellia Pink

This Innisfree lip balm, hands down, lasts the longest out of the five. A lip balm that leaves a pretty pink tint and smells like sour skittles (I'm a fan!). It has a thick consistency which some may like and some may not, depending on one's personal preference. I would prefer it to glide on a little smoother so that it can accommodate for dry lips. Because of this, I don't see it as a repair and care type of lip balm but more a lip balm to help prevent the dryness on well-conditioned lips. If my lips are dry already, I wouldn't pick this as my first choice. The packaging is appealing yet sturdy and I have no real issues with the lip balm itself.

My questjen to you:

Do you use tinted lip balms?

I'm on the lookout for any others out there that tick the boxes of being moisturising, hydrating and has long-lasting colour. Would love to hear any of your recommendations~

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Disclaimer: Products were purchased by me unless marked with a * which has been provided for consideration, with no obligation to share or review. This is not a sponsored post, nor am I affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this post. All opinions stated by me are 100% honest with no bias. See more at http://www.questjen.com/p/disclaimer.html for full disclaimer.

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner - Hit or Miss?

One of my favourite cosmetic brands, Benefit, has released their highly-anticipated 'They're Real! push-up liner' which follows in the footsteps of the best-selling 'They're Real! Mascara' along with another product, the 'They're Real! Remover'. After trialling this eyeliner for just over two months, I can finally share my thoughts on it. Now I know that there are already many reviews for this but I reckon I might be able to offer something different (at least, that's what I think).

To be honest, I wanted to review this product within days of receiving it because I was that excited and that keen on sharing my first impressions. So then you might be wondering... what happened, and why is this review up two months later instead of days later? Let me walk you through my thoughts and experience...

The eyeliner itself looks great, and even better when surrounded by jewels

This all sounds and looks very exciting

I wonder if I can make my eyeliner look this awesome

A handy instruction leaflet in the box

So here's the eyeliner with an orange tip protector which needs to be removed and discarded first

The base is twisted to 'push up' the gel eyeliner. The excess is wiped off and you're left with the gel liner sitting right on top of the Accuflex tip

Something that I found to be a bit difficult was making sure that I didn't twist the base too many times for too much product to come out (this actually happened a few times). It doesn't always go by how many times the base is rotated as there tends to be a delay after each twist. You twist, you wait, nothing comes out so you twist again and then all of a sudden a chunk of it comes out instead of a small amount which you were hoping for. It may sound dramatic but that is what really happens. When this happens, the excess can't be pushed back into the tube so it gets wiped off and straight into the bin. I wish it could be helped! If only it had the same mechanism as those automatic twist-up eyeliners and eyebrow pencils - at least the product goes back into the tube and nothing goes to waste.

The swatches look great

I was quite pleased with the swatches on the back of my hand as the black was very pigmented and matte (perfect for oily lids). However I was a bit concerned about its consistency with slight parts of the lines being lighter than the rest. I think it's noticeable in the bottom line where it's lighter at the top on the right. This can also be seen on the first swatch image of the horizontal lines where the line becomes lighter and less crisp.

Gel eyeliners can be difficult to work with due to their thick, cream consistency which requires a more effort when applying/pressing right above the lashline compared to say, liquid eyeliner. I have very thin eyelids so the gentlest motion can cause minor tugging (even when I try to hold the sides of my eyes taut), thus the gel liner pen doesn't allow me to achieve crisp lines as a result of the tugging. It works better on the back of my hand because the skin on the back of my hand is less thin and fragile compared to the skin on my eyelids, hence less tugging and smoother lines.

You can see how the line is jagged and not smooth

I'm getting better at applying it but still I can't make the lines look super-sleek

I'm really envious of those who have no issues with applying this eyeliner! I've seen many reviews and images where the eyeliner is applied well and no matter how many times I try, I can't perfect my eyeliner with this which to me feels like such a fail for a beauty blogger :( I have no problems with 'stamping' the wing and connecting it - it's just the lining itself being a very fiddly, time-consuming task.

So to answer the question as to why it's taken me so long to put up a review... it's all to do with me. Initially I was thinking of posting a negative review because I was quite unhappy with this product not working as well as I hoped but then I realised that it doesn't feel right to blame the product itself for not catering to my thin eyelids. After all, I am part of the minority (thin eyelids isn't common and MUAs have pointed it out) and this is a newly-released product that may have its flaws/room for improvements. Not every product is for everyone and this happens to be one that isn't for me, unfortunately.

Although I can't personally rave about it and tell you how amazing it is, I can still find positives in this product and I know that others can and do too. I truly believe in the saying that there is always a positive to every negative, even when it seems impossible to find:

Pros:

+ Matte black, superb pigmentation (tick tick, impressed)

+ Accuflex tip allows ease of alignment with its angled shape (achieve the perfect wing)

+ Smudge-proof, waterproof, long-lasting (it doesn't budge)

+ Neat, attractive packaging (sleek, criss-cross pattern)

+ Innovative, creative design (the first ever gel liner in a pen)

+ Hugs the lashes as it claims (it pretty much goes into the lash line, if that makes sense)

+ Stamping method the assist with connecting the lines (for accuracy)

Cons:

- Inconsistencies with line smoothness (refer to swatches)

- Can be tricky to use and may cause tugging (especially when having thin eyelids)

- Particular eye makeup removers required (dual-phase ones or the They're Real Remover)

- Troublesome to remove excess before/after each use (a bit of wastage)

- Unable to create very thin lines (would need an additional tool like a brush)

Hit or Miss?

Based on my review, the answer to that question should be obvious. However that's only my answer from my own experience and I can't speak on behalf of everyone. It may not have been favourable for me but for you, it could be exactly what you're looking for :) So what will I do now, you might wonder? I might try using it with a brush like I would with regular gel liner or I'll just stick with my liquid pen liners.

If you are interested in trying this product, I would suggest that you try going to your nearest Benefit counter and have them do a demo on you, if they can.

Questjens for you, yes more than one:

Do you use gel liner?

Would you/have you used the Benefit Push-Up Liner?

Occasionally I would use gel liner if I want my eyeliner to last all day/night without flaking i.e. for special outings and I have been using the Tony Moly one with a very thin brush to make it glide on smoothly. It takes time to apply but the results are worth it. My go-to eyeliners will always be liquid ones because they're so quick and easy to use. With the help of an eyelid primer, liquid eyeliner can stay on for a number of hours.

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Disclaimer: Product was provided for consideration with no obligation to share or review. This is not a sponsored post, nor am I affiliated with the company mentioned in this post. All opinions stated by me are 100% honest and unbiased. See more at http://www.questjen.com/p/disclaimer.html for full disclaimer.

Illamasqua Counter Launch + Products

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Last month Myer (high-end department store) finally launched its first Illamasqua counter in Adelaide as part of the store's beauty hall makeover and I was delighted to be invited to its opening. I was really excited to get a chance to swatch and play around with Illamasqua products as I've heard such wonderful comments about the brand and high-quality pigments.

In case you aren't aware of this brand, Illamasqua is all about being bold and daring, allowing people to express themselves with a different attitude, a darker side or an alter ego, with products to suit every individual.

This wasn't like any ordinary blogger-meets-brand meet - I didn't see the other bloggers as we each had one-on-one appointments with the newly announced Australian ambassador, Frances Cutri. Frances gave me a tour of the new stall and introduced the different products that Illamasqua has to offer.

On the table: Summer 2014 collection (it's not summer in Aus but this is a worldwide launch)

And complementary cupcakes :)

*Swatches of new products*

L-R: Velvet Blushers x2, and Matte Lip Liquid in Forbidden, Exotic and Surrender

Did you know that Illamasqua also have their own perfume/cologne? And guess what - it's unisex!

A scent fit for a male and a female called 'Freak' and the bottle has a snail design on it. Frances asked me if I knew why a snail was used as the image and I told her that I had no idea. She told me that it's used because many snails don't have a gender (they have both male and female organs), which makes it a perfect image for this perfume/cologne, because it isn't gender-specific.

A screen playing Illamasqua makeup videos

 These lashes are maaad fancy!

 Ridiculously pigmented eyeshadows

Such a broad range of lippie colours - don't think I'll ever be able to pull off green lips!

It was lovely getting to know more about the Illamasqua brand and meeting the friendly counter people and of course, Frances who flew in from Sydney for the day. I was handed a goodie bag and it was completely unexpected, because I was already overjoyed over the fact that I had the opportunity to visit the stall and have this one-on-one! Here's what was in it:

I also got these 'Skin Base Mixers' which help to give the perfect contoured look. I followed the instructions provided and applied them on my face. It looked really messy but after applying them, a layer of foundation goes over it all so it subtly sculpts the face from underneath. Clever, hey?

Left: Applied Skin Base Mixers

Right: After applying foundation on top

It looks as though it's given me a 'facelift' in the slightest way possible, and I don't have to worry about any harsh lines unlike using powdered contour shades over foundation. It requires more effort when applying these Skin Base Mixers because there are 4 different cream-textures to blend into particular areas. In my opinion, the effort is worth it as it makes my face appear more 3-D and gives my face some colour and depth in the right places i.e. the hollows of my cheeks and the sides of my nose. With additional contouring with powder on top of this, I can add even more definition to my face! I've got to try that next time :)

Wearing the Velvet Blusher, Cream Pigment and Intense Lipgloss

I reckon the White Skin Base Mixer gave my face more of a glow too!

My eyes, cheeks and lips have different variations of purple and it sort of gives off a gradient effect from top to bottom which I quite like. It's funny how I used to only wear purple on my eyelids and nowhere else but now I'm comfortable with wearing it on my cheeks and on my lips. The creamy/velvet eyeshadow pigment and blusher were really easy to blend and it must've been because texturally, they're fantastic. The stand-out product for me was definitely the lipgloss because of its pigmentation (it's literally like paint), and I love the brush applicator which gives me more control as opposed to a sponge applicator.

It looks lilac under this lighting but in person it's darker

I also tried out the Colouring Pencil and to be honest, I'm not great with lining my lips but I gave it my best shot. I found that this lip pencil glided on very smoothly with maximum pigmentation and minimal tugging. 

 I need to practise my outlining. Looks alright from afar but up-close, nope.

A purple and red look? Hmm...

Purple and red is an 'unusual' combination, so they say, and the colour wheel will show that purple and red should not be combined. Though lots of people beg to differ, saying that purple and red makes an edgy combination and is bound to turn heads. I personally wouldn't put them together, but it's not like I find it distasteful - if you like it, go for it. Red is a colour that I rarely used on my face and I'm hardly brave enough to sport a red lippie.

I am thrilled that an Illamasqua counter exists in my city at last and it was a lot of fun playing around with the products, especially and quite unexpectedly, the Skin Base Mixers which I wasn't too sure about using at first. I had never thought about the idea of contouring before wearing foundation and now I feel that it's a crucial step to add to my makeup routine! It was crazy at first seeing my face look dramatically sculpted but once the foundation was applied over it, I was pleased with the results. To me my face has always lacked definition with my flat eyes and flat nose so having these Skin Base Mixers can help accentuate my features. Thanks Illamasqua!

Questjen of the week:

Pick one - red lips or purple lips?

They're both cool tones and since I suit warm tones better, these colours aren't really for me... but if I had to pick one, it'd be purple. And I guess I'm also a little bias since I like the colour purple more than red, just saying!

Disclaimer: Products were provided for consideration with no obligation to share or review. This is not a sponsored post, nor am I affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this post. All opinions are stated by me are 100% honest with no bias. See more at: http://www.questjen.com/p/disclaimer.html for full disclaimer.

Follow @thequestjen

[Swatches] Entire ELES Brighton Nail Collection

Hi! I'll be sharing my nail swatches of the new ELES Brighton Nail Collection consisting of 12 vibrant pastel nail colours inspired by UK's Brighton Beach. Despite it being known as an 'infamous beach', I hadn't actually heard about it. Instead it reminds me of the coastal suburb in my city - the suburb of Brighton which has a large sandy beach. Either way, this range is all about the seaside inspiration with their shade names to match.

 This was unexpectedly sent to me by ELES - surprise package!

They embroidered my name on the towel :)

 A clearer look at the shades. Such a colourful collection

RRP $15 AUD each

 Sorry, the brush isn't in complete focus but that's what it looks like

You may have noticed the '5 FREE' written at the front of each bottle. This simply means that these nail polishes have a '5 FREE' formula - NO DBP, NO Toulene, NO Formaldehyde, NO Formaldehyde Resin, NO Camphor. Don't worry, you're not expected to know what each of them are. Just know that these are 5 toxic ingredients common found in nail enamels, and these ELES nail enamels are FREE from them.

Aren't they ALL so pretty?! I'm a massive fan of pastels, so you can imagine how excited I was to swatch all of these shades. I love the glossy finish that they give and the coats were very easy to apply and fast-drying. I found that with the nail polishes I had, there were a few that weren't as smooth and streak-free as others (you can probably tell in the swatches) and some were opaque with one coat and some were better with an extra coat. I guess it depends on the brightness/darkness of the shade but nonetheless, they all had a nice consistency.

Overall I am really happy with these nail enamels and they're true to the colour seen on the bottle - what you see is what you get! For the quality, $15 each is a very reasonable price and I highly recommend them. If you're interested in checking them out further, you can find them on the ELES website here. those who have fairer skin, you can click on the 'Try it on' button on the site to preview the swatch.

Questjen of the week:

If you had to, pick a nail colour to have for life - what would it be?

My answer: Peach!

It suits my feminine personality and I think it's one of the most wearable colours for everyday wear! Peach Pebble is my favourite from this range and my favourite nail polish of all time is Essie's Eternal Optimist :)

Disclaimer: Products were provided to me with no obligation to share or review. This is not a sponsored post, nor am I affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this post. All opinions are stated by me with 100% honesty with no bias.

Follow @thequestjen