14 Best and Worst Lip Balms

See which balms to pick — and which ones to skip — for your softest lips ever

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article

As a beauty product no woman should ever leave her house without, lip balms are probably a staple in your purse, car, and desk drawer. For the most moist, plump, kissable lips, see what lip balms our readers say are the best and worst.

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THE WORST NO. 7: JUICE BEAUTY SPF 15 TINTED LIP MOISTURIZERS, $15

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.5

“The balm’s surface has a rough, dotted-looking texture.”

THE WORST NO. 6: CHAPSTICK TRUE SHIMMER, $3.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.5

This product is “complete garbage that was created with a 5-year-old in mind.”

THE WORST NO. 5: BLISTEX FRUIT SMOOTHIES, $3.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.1

“Stick to the cheaper Bonne Bell version. It’s a lot better.”

Want to see the rest on this list? Click here!

BE RADIANT Extra Virgin Minerals™ Loose Powder Foundation SPF 25

BE FRESH New Extra Virgin Minerals™ Liquid Foundation SPF 30

BE MATTE New Extra Virgin Minerals™ Cream Compact Foundation SPF 15

 So, The Body Shop has finally decided to join the minerals bandwagon. This is what they have to say about the much anticipated products.

This is the first mineral make-up collection from the Body Shop to feature an exclusive combination of award-winning 100%Community Fair Trade pure cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and ultra-fine mineral pigments, for foundation that’s in total affinity with the skin. As a result of being so finely milled, the 100% mineral pigments make the foundations incredibly easy to blend, so you enjoy natural-looking flawless results. Wonderfully weightless for a ‘barely-there’ sensation, this mineral make-up is actually good for your complexion as it contains SPF, to help protect the natural beauty of your skin. Each non-irritating formula is fragrance and paraben-free and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and blemished skin – each foundation is non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t block pores and lets skin breathe. The three formats are also available in suit-all shades, to help you achieve the perfect look.

I just love mineral make-up. Don’t we all? No matter what others say about mineral make-up, I believe they are much more gentle on our skin.

Therefore, I personally cannot wait to give these products a try.

Extra Virgin Minerals™: The Collection

• Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation SPF 15 (8.5g, $39.90) – 8 shades
• Extra Virgin Minerals Liquid Foundation SPF 30 (30ml, $36.90) – 6 shades
• Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation SPF 25 (5g, $36.90) -  4 shades
• Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation Brush ($29.90)

Ok, so I digress. But let’s get down to serious business. It is time for my official review of Kiehl’s Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment.

I’ve been using Kiehl’s Blemish Control for nearly two months and I must say, I LOVE IT!

Formulated with a powerful blend of blemish-fighting Dioic, Salicylic and Lipo Hydroxy Acids, known to minimize the appearance of acne and blemishes.

Unlike other treatments, the Blemish Control not only helps prevent blemishes, it also lightens and reduces dark spots from previous acne scars.

This seems to be true as not a single pimple popped out while I was using it religiously every morning and night.

However, it doesn’t work as well on fresh pimples. Wait a minute, didn’t I just say that not a single pimple appeared while I was on it?

Well, whenever I’ve been lazy (I sometimes skip washing my face at the end of a long tiring day. GASP!), a pimple manages to find its way onto my face. Thus, I’ve to slather the Blemish Control and on top of that, I apply my very own trusty acne/pimple fighter – Benzac AC 2.5 (review not done yet).

How I use the Blemish Control

I usually apply this product all over my face, as according to its description, the Blemish Control also treats blackheads and whiteheads.

Usually when I use such treatments on my face, I will have a sudden breakout as most products tend to purge your skin before it starts the renewal process. But that wasn’t the case. This product is very gentle on the skin and when I used it with my Benzac AC 2.5, it didn’t peel at all. In fact, I think it works twice as fast with Benzac.

On top of that, the Blemish Control is very light and it absorbs quite fast.

But as far as whiteheads and blackheads go, I still have to rely on exfoliating or scrubbing my face every other day.

The only downside about this product is the price. With a price tag of S$52, someone on a tight budget will definitely consider buying this. But one tube can last a long way. I think I am barely half-way through my tube.

This product will definitely be part of my skincare regime from now.

And oh, speaking of skincare regime, I will update you readers what I do on a daily basis soon.

Until then, do checkout our Facebook page and leave comments there.

P.S. We’re given a brief mention in Berita Harian (Singapore’s Malay newspaper) on Friday. The article titled ‘Muslimah (Hijabi) Fashion Blog’.

Makeup Tips That’ll Make You Look Instantly Younger

Some simple changes in your makeup application can make you look 10 years younger — it’s true

This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup tips article

We discovered the best ways to use makeup in order to turn back time (well, at least until we wash our faces) by talking with several top makeup artists who were more than happy to share their expertise. So, if you’re curious to see how some small switches in your regimen can make a big difference, read on.

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Ingredients That Clog Pores

Find out which commonly used ingredients in beauty products actually cause comedones (AKA the dreaded blackheads)

 

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article

We talked to celebrity makeup artist Terri Apanasewicz to find out which comedogenic ingredients you should watch out for when buying products. Here’s what she had to say …

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I bought a whole lot of NYX stuff (lipsticks and blush) from Cherry Culture. I knew NYX existed but never had the opportunity to try them out.

My love affair with NYX started almost a year ago. During my honeymoon in Bandung to be exact. I was shopping at one of their department stores and there was a NYX booth. I was convinced to try out two shades (Thalia and Louisiana) and the rest as they say, is history.

I’ve never been more in love with lipsticks than I have with my NYX Round Lipstick collection. I’ve always been a lipgloss person pretending (or trying very hard) to be young – as I used to find lipsticks very mature.

Boy! Am I wrong. With the right colour and shades, lipsticks can do wonders to your face. You can look as girly as Katy Perry or as hot as Scar Jo or as divine as Jennifer Lopez.

And of course with super cheap prices on Cherry Culture (USD 2.50), there isn’t any better deal or lipstick to replace my current lipstick or NYX Round Lipstick addiction.

Now, why do I love NYX Round Lipsticks so much? The lipstick is so creamy that it helps moisturise my super, already-dried-chapped lips. Other lipsticks and most don’t. In fact, they make my lips even worse.

On top of that, they have so many colours to choose from! I read from Skin Deco, NYX Round Lipsticks has 142 shades! No wonder I had a hard time picking the right colour.

From left to right: Tea Rose, Louisiana, Eros, Snow White

From left to right: Circe, Hermes, Thalia, Lala

Of course, lipsticks weren’t the only things I got from Cherry Culture. I also bought two NYX blush powders as trial. I was looking for the perfect, coral sort of peachy blush.

As I could not decide, and the NYX blush swatches I found on the internet did not help at all, I decided to go with Peach and Terra Cotta.

The shade Terra Cotta is more of a brick colour. It’s perfect for those who prefers a bronzed and glowing skin. Meanwhile, their Peach looks more Pink rather than Peach. I was quite disappointed.

Nevertheless, the shimmer-less Peach blush does give you a natural flushed look. And I find that the staying power of the blushers are quite good and they’re are quite pigmented as well.

I definitely do not mind spending my money on them again.

After all, I spent S$50 including shipping at Cherry Culture on five NYX Round Lipsticks and two of their powder blushers. Definitely a good bargain!

13 Cheap Beauty Product Breakthroughs

You, too, can have the newest beauty breakthroughs without emptying your bank account

This is a TotalBeauty.com budget products article

We’ve rounded up the beauty product game changers that are the first to boast a certain technology at the right price tag. And we know how important that is to you (it is to us, too). See the affordable beauty product breakthroughs now.

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I was of course excited to have received all the items which came in a cute picnic basket (sorry no picture). But what made my day was the Moisture White Shiso BB Cream (happy dance!).

As you all know, I’m an advocate (a very BIG fan) of BB creams. Thus, I couldn’t wait to try it out.

The Body Shop recently introduced their first BB cream as part of their Moisture White line.  At S$32.90, the Shiso BB Cream comes with SPF25 PA+++ and is suitable for all skin types with beneficial ingredients like Shiso, Vitamin C, Liquorice and Community Fair Trade Aloe Vera.

Apparently, Shiso is an aromatic Japanese basil that is often eaten with sashimi. Shiso helps to reduces early melanin-making signals before the hyperpigmentation process and melanin production cycle starts.

I’ve been using this BB cream for a few days now and I quite like the product.

The texture of the BB cream is creamy. I like how it glides on smoothly on my face and gives my face a dewy yet matte look. However, the matte look doesn’t last long as I still find myself blotting my face away after a few hours (I still have problems finding the perfect product for my oily combination skin). You don’t have to worry about blotting if your skin type is dry to normal.

As for the shade of the BB cream, I thought it was too dark at first, but after applying, it blends well. In fact, it does make my skin look slightly fairer than it’s supposed to be.

Apart from the BB cream, I also received the Moisture White Shiso Foaming Facial Wash (S$32.90). I used the facial wash twice – once in the morning and once more before going to bed.

At first try, the product didn’t lather as much as I’d like it to be. So, I had to wash my face twice with it. Even though I double cleansed, the facial wash wasn’t harsh on my skin. I didn’t feel any tightness at all proving that the facial wash is very gentle indeed.

Lastly, my basket of goodies came along with The Body Shop Earth Lovers shower gels! The shower gels will be launched in Singapore on March 24 and will retail for S$14.90 each.

Photo credit: The Body Shop

The gels are suitable for sensitive skin and they all smell yummylicious! I haven’t tried them yet but….. I’m giving some of them away to THREE lucky winners!

Each winner will win a bottle of Earth Lovers Shower Gel. To win, just go to our Facebook page, click like and comment why you should be receiving that particular shower gel. Best of luck!

23 Horrible Anti-Aging Skin Care Products

Readers say these anti-aging products did nothing that they claimed to do

This is a TotalBeauty.com anti-aging skin care article

To help save you from getting hurt by these products that don’t deliver, we’re here to share a list of the anti-aging goods our readers have tried, tested and rejected.

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No. 23: Cosmedicine MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum, $60

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

“I was completely disgusted by the smell. I don’t know what this is ‘supposed’ to do for your skin, but the smell makes me not care.”

No. 22: L’Oreal Paris RevitaLift Complete Lotion SPF 15, $16.59

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

“I tried using this once and had to stop, [because it made my] face start to itch and feel dry.”

No. 21: Benefit Eyecon, $28

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

“After applying it twice a day for over a month” one reader didn’t see “changes under my eyes” or “any lightening at all.”

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

My Kiehl’s and Paul & Joe ‘loot’

My husband tells me that it is dangerous for me to be shopping alone. What he means is that it’s a danger to our bank account and financial situation.

Remember my tweets about my wallet-breaking beauty hauls? Well, I admit, when it comes to shopping, I know no boundaries. I intended to get two whitening products but in the end, I came home with four beauty items, a birthday gift for my fourth sister, and a maxi dress.

I was extremely happy at the end of the shopping trip. My bank account however, was a different story.

The day started with a trip to the doctor’s and the dentist. In between those two appointments, I had time to spare. I went to more than four beauty counters to check out their brightening and whitening items.

I did say that Clarins White Plus products are one of the items under my wish list. However, they were slightly too pricey for my humble purse.

So, I decided to check out other items too. I went to Paul & Joe, Clinique, and even Origins. I had already done some background research on what products to look for prior to this. Thus, I know exactly what sort of products I was looking for.

After much scouting, I was still torn between Paul & Joe and Clarins.

Paul & Joe has prettier packaging and is slightly less expensive. On top of that it plenty beauty bloggers rave about its effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Clarins doesn’t purge my skin, smells really good but will do serious damage to my wallet.

In the end, I picked the former. The Beauty Advisor (BA) recommended that I get both the whitening essence and whitening serum. He convinced me that the two products together will be more effective in helping to get rid of my brown acne scars.

Just look at this beauty, who can resist it?

Paul & Joe Intensive Whitening Essence ($120)

Or the citrus scent that’s been infused inside them?

Paul & Joe Whitening Serum ($76)

And just like that, I succumb to his word.

Next stop was an IPL treatment at Plaza Singapura. On the way there, I spotted Kiehl’s and my heart went, ‘DAMN!’

You see, I read online and on other blogs that Kiehl’s New Photo-Age Corrector Spot Treatment and Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Blemish and Acne Control are really effective and I thought if by chance I were to pass by any Kiehl’s, I would get one of those myself.

And as I didn’t see any Kiehl’s while at Orchard, it was a momentarily relief for my wallet.

That sense of relief dissipated when I happen to pass by Kiehl’s on the way to my third appointment. So, after the appointment, I dropped by to check out their products.

I asked for a spot corrector for my blemishes and the BA recommended me Kiehl’s Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Solution. I was told that this product will help prevent pimples and at the same time, it’ll reduce my scarring.

It cost me $52, and I was short of $70 to become a Kiehl’s friend (member) – they BA managed to convince me to join.

So, I bought Kiehl’s Line Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate ($72). After all, Fai has been complaining about his dark circles (a perfect excuse for me to get another beauty item).

The best part about shopping for beauty products, are the free gifts.

At the Paul & Joe counter, the BA was kind enough to give me this Paul & Joe eyeshadow and a tote (no pic).

While Kiehl’s gave me a couple of samples.

I was really happy with my purchases. On top of that, both of them were kind and patient enough to explain to me the steps and questions.

So hopefully, it’ll be bye-bye blemishes and hello clear skin in no time!