LIPTEMBER CHALLENGE // DAY 8

Ugh. So I'm sick...again. With the flu. Most likely caught from my brother who's just recovered. Cheers, bro. And I'd say that I look about as delightful as I'm feeling (read: not very), so instead of a charming photo of my face, I'll leave you with a little list of lip balms that I'm currently contemplating - 'lip balm longings', shall we say?

It's no secret by now that I have a peculiar penchant for lip balm. I don't know how to explain it (or justify it, for that matter!), but it's probably got something to do with non-chapped lips, smooth, subtle glossiness, a hint of tint, and occasionally, pretty packaging... Though I've still got a few (*cringe*) unopened/not-yet-used-up tins, I've already been eyeing the ones I'll add to my collection when I'm in need (read: probably not any time soon). It's embarrassing enough that I've got a Word document titled 'Lip Balm', which is basically a huge list of lip balms that I've come across and become interested in...so you can imagine the tough time I had trying to narrow it down to just five. C'mon, a girl can dream!

1. Mecca Cosmetica Lip De-Luscious SPF 25 - $28
I've been eyeing this one for ages, ever since I saw it on Beauty Swatch! Mecca Cosmetica's own range recently got a reboot, and the new packaging looks pretty swish. I've just been having a difficult time justifying spending that much on lip balm...

2. Go-To Skincare Lips! - $14.95
You know how I feel about this one - I'm pretty keen to get my hands on this lippie created by Ms Zoë Foster herself! So far it's the most affordable option of the lot.

3. Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose - $16
I've also had my heart set on this one for a couple of years now. Perhaps it's the allure of a cushiony, hydrating tinted balm that's got me - hook, line and sinker. It's just a struggle trying to decide which one to get first - ideally I'd like to collect, Pomegranate, Mango, Quince, and Wild Rose ;) This option is surprisingly affordable, too.

4. Honest Skincare Lips - $10gbp
I heard about this homegrown (well, local British) skincare brand from Sophie of A Private Life of a Girl, and was instantly smitten with their pared back approach to skincare, and 100% natural ingredients. I've just been putting off purchasing this because of international shipping costs...

5. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Berry
I heard about this much-raved about tinted lip balm a long time ago but gave up hope after seeing how ridiculously overpriced it was online, as it's not available here. My interest was reignited with the announcement of Sephora's arrival later this year and reports that they would match US prices.


Have you tried any of these?
Do any take your fancy? x

CURIOSITY PIQUED //

I'm usually pretty good as resisting hype about products, but lately I feel my resolve weakening. I once heard a lady tell her son that he shouldn't look at things while out shopping, because once you see you start to want. She was right. (Why are mothers always right?)

Here are a few products that have sparked my interest:

Go-To Skincare Lips! - Firstly, I am a huge lip balm fanatic, so when beauty guru Zoë Foster-Blake released her own range of skincare, I was instantly intrigued. It must be good. I've toyed with purchasing Lips! on a few occasions now, despite my determination to not buy any more until I've finished 5+ that I'm currently using. I have to admit that, while it was Lips! that originally drew me, the Properly Clean cleanser and Very Useful Face Cream also look interesting. Uh-oh, this isn't going to end well (for my debit card)...

Ecoya Sweet Apricot and Orange Blossom Candle - This one snuck up on me while I was very innocently shopping for curtains in a homewares store. I came across a stand of Ecoya candles and found that they had just released two limited edition candles in the Madison Jar - Sweet Apricot and Orange Blossom, and Violet, Fig and Cassis. After taking a whiff of each, I decided that Violet, Fig and Cassis was a little too heady for me, but the Sweet Apricot and Orange Blossom was lovely and fresh. I didn't buy it, but I think a seed has unfortunately been planted!

Schmidt's Natural Deodorant in Ylang Ylang and Calendula - I've been interested in natural deodorant for a while now, due to my easily-irritated and eczema-prone skin, which seems to worsen with the colder weather. Schmidt's offering seems like a good one, along with this one by Black Chicken and this one by Soapwalla, though I'm not thrilled that shipping to Australia costs more than the product itself.

Tender Love + Carry - These New Zealander toiletries bags have just landed in David Jones, and the prints are adorable! I'm particularly smitten with this pouch from the Patchwork line. They are surprisingly affordable, too, compared to brands such as Uchi and Cath Kidston. I can't really justify buying one at the moment, but they're just so damn cute.

Tangle Teezer - Hold up. If Emma Watson raved about it, it must be somethin'. I haven't used a hairbrush for the last few years, simply because my hair often looks worse afterwards. I previously brushed this one off (see what I did there?) as another fad, but lately I've been reconsidering it. I particularly like the idea of this compact styler - a portable version that comes with a cover, so it doesn't get stuck on bits and pieces in your handbag.

Clarisonic Mia - I previously thought I didn't need to wash my face with a fancy contraption that had a spinning head to ensure a proper clean - especially not one as expensive as the Clarisonic. Lately I've been rethinking this, and doubting the humble washcloth's ability to remove the sunscreen/makeup/sweat/grime/whatever else that accumulates on my face as the day transpires. Plus, I've been told that it's like having a face massage - actually, that's kind of what sucked me in in the first place...

Are you hype-resistant?
Have you tried any of these? Do they live up to the hype?

*Images from Google