Like most people I know, during quarantine I have not really been in the mood to deal with wearing much makeup. If anything, I’ve been gravitating towards the satisfaction of a less rushed (and sometimes indulgent) daily skincare routine, maybe managing some brow makeup for important work Zoom meetings, and anything to keep my lips from being parched and flakey.
Working from home all the time, I’ve found it’s much easier to forget about drinking enough water to stay hydrated and keep skin supple. Maybe I’ve just gotten lazier. Nonetheless, while I continue to remind myself to drink more water, my current go-to clean beauty products have to moisturize, treat, and protect the lips.
ILIA Beauty Balmy Nights Lip Exfoliator: My lips definitely need a good exfoliation more often these days. This lip exfoliator from ILIA is a tried and true favorite of mine that I’ve used for years. The main reason I continue to use Balmy Nights is because it gently and deeply removes dry, flakey skin, while also nourishing the lips with a hydrated lip balm-like-feel.
Organic ingredients like volcanic stone powder and Jojoba seed powder allow for an efficient yet gentle scrub, and nourishing, soothing ingredients like organic shea butter and castor seed oil leave lips hydrated and smooth. The convenient stick-form packaging also makes it easy to use and mess-free, and simple to take anywhere. (Mine is an older packaging and I’m going to be in need of a new one soon!) Balmy Nights Lip Exfoliator, $26.
Hurraw! Balm lip balm: I’m not lying when I say I have a handful of these lip balms in every makeup bag and every room in my house! I use these every day and all the time. These are my favorite lip balms to use because they are deeply moisturizing and hydrating, sink quickly into lips, yet are not overly greasy or oily. They come in a variety of delicious scents/flavors that are anything but ordinary (ranging from fruity to minty to ones that reflect Ayurvedic Dosha principles), but always pleasant.
I also like that the formulas can withstand extreme temperatures and situations. I’ve taken Hurraw! Balms with me during skiing in negative degree weather, hiking in tropical climates, or just sitting outside in normal summer humidity, and no matter the circumstance, the lip balms maintain their nourishing formula and lightweight balm texture–never melts or misshapes. It has a unique oval shape, which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also seems to fit better and effectively distribute product across the lips. Lip Balm, $4.99.
FitGlow Beauty Lip Colour Serum in Koi: Even before quarantine, I constantly used this lip serum whether for my daily work makeup, or on special occasions. This liquid lip-tint-meets-lip-treatment is not only beautiful in terms of pigmentation and color variety, it is also deeply nourishing, silky smooth, and long-lasting. It’s more like wearing an elevated lip balm rather than a makeup product. Whenever my lips are feeling dry or rough, as soon as I apply this Lip Colour Serum, it refreshes and treats my lips. The color tint is an added benefit and it lasts about 6 hours without getting dry or sticky. While the product does settle into the lips overtime, you’re left with a beautifully natural and hydrated appearance on the lips, and a noticeable tint of color.
Koi is definitely the type of lip shade I gravitate towards, it’s a neutral maeve-rose with a hint of coral. This is a great “my lips but better” shade that’s perfect for daily use or as used as a neutral to be worn with more dramatic face makeup. It’s funny that this is considered a makeup product, because I wear this at home all the time and to me, it just feels like a great additional treatment for my lips! Lip Colour Serum, $42.
Kosasport LipFuel Hyaluronic Lip Balm in Pulse: I’m weary of a lot of tinted lip balms because many are extreme versions of the hybrid product: either too heavily tinted and uncomfortable for a light lip care product, or extremely drying and nonsensical to be considered a balm. The Kosasport is surprisingly everything I desire in a tinted lip balm! It’s deeply moisturizing and lightweight, has a pleasing mint scent and soothing cooling feel, plus features a natural rose-hued tint. You can actually use this as an effective, moisturizing lip balm, with the benefit of a tiny pop of color.
The lip balm leaves behind long-lasting nourishment on the lips, as well as a visible, but natural-looking tint. My lips never feel dried out when I use this product. Pulse is considered a “warm peach” color, but I’d say it is more of a warm-toned rose color. The packaging reflects that sporty chic image Kosas aimed for, and has a nice oval shape (similar to the Hurraw! Balm) which helps distribute product evenly across the lips. LipFuel Hyaluronic Lip Balm, $18.
Swatches top to bottom: Fitglow Beauty Lip Colour Serum in Koi, Kosasport LipFuel in Pulse, ILIA Beauty Balmy Nights, Hurraw! Balm lip balm.
How has your makeup routine changed during quarantine? What are your favorite products for keep your lips healthy and nourished?
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