Beauty Vixen: aloe vera

Aquaphor's New Lip Balms Let Nature Do the Work

You already know Aquaphor. It has been a staple on bathroom counters for decades, and there is a reason for that, it works. In fact I have already done a post on Aquaphor for my Vintage Vanity series, check out the link here. So, when I heard they had a new Naturally Inspired Lip Repair line, I was curious.

I have been trying out the Lip Repair Stick with Coconut Oil and the Lip Repair Stick with Aloe Vera, and here is what I think.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick Naturally Inspired Coconut Oil.

Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Beeswax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Water

Designed as immediate relief for Very Dry lips, this one noticeably richer on the lips than its counterpart, which I really did like. It is not heavy or greasy, but you can tell it is doing something. It glides on smoothly and doesn't smother the lips with a gloopy texture or feel waxy. The texture reminds is very similar to the original “Advanced Therapy” lip balm, but with a slicker smooth feeling to it. My lips felt noticeably softer after using it consistently for a few days, and to be 100% honest, they finally are not cracking (something I have been struggling with for a few years now).

Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick Naturally Inspired Aloe Vera

Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Beeswax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Water

This one is formulated for immediate relief for Dry lips and as a result has a slightly lighter texture to it when applied, nothing too drastic though. If you tend to find regular Aquaphor too heavy for daytime use, this one might be the better fit for you. As a person who has currently 40+ aloe vera plants growing in their home, I really believe in the plants healing properties, and I think having it in a lip balm is always a great thing.

What Both Have in Common

Both sticks are formulated with 99% naturally derived ingredients, and have a base of Shea, Sunflower, Coconut and Castor Oils as well as beeswax, all of which are excellent for hydration and slip on the lips. They are fragrance-free, preservative-free, and dye-free, which is great news for anyone with sensitive lips. I find them very slick and has a great glide on my lips, something that I really like that in a lip balm.

Pros:

Fragrance-free, dye-free, preservative-free
No taste
99% naturally derived ingredients
Both glide on smoothly with no waxy or gloopy texture
Great for sensitive lips
Stick format

Cons:

No SPF, which would have been a nice addition
The coconut oil version may not be moisturizing enough for extremely chapped lips on its own

Overall:

I like both of these a lot. I think most people would be happy with either one, but if I had to pick, I would say the coconut oil stick for the drier seasons, and the aloe vera for the spring and summer. They are a solid addition to the Aquaphor lineup and a nice option if you want something a little more nature-forward without sacrificing performance.

You can Aquaphor at most drugstores and mass-market retailers, including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart.

*This post features products that were gifted to me for review. As always, all opinions are honest and entirely my own.

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Summer officially started last week, so I thought it would be a good time to reflect on what I have really enjoyed using this past season. It has been a long time since I did one of these, but they always inspire me to write a little and to me that is a good thing.

1. Kiehl's Since 1851 Beyond Screen UV Serum SPF 50

I got this for free from Topbox in exchange for a review, and I loved it. It is a combo of serum and sunscreen that works incredibly well on my skin.

It is light in texture, absorbs quickly and is loaded with collagen peptides. It is basically skincare I really enjoy using that happens to have spf 50 in it.

I am also very much loving Belif Aqua Bomb Broad Spectrum SPF 50, which I did a full review on here. I am pretty much loving the skincare with lots of SPF trend.

2. Dove Glow Recharge Body Wash

This is Dove's latest body wash, it has a brightening serum with vitamin C and exfoliating minerals in it, as well as a light tropical berry scent.

I have been using it since March and really enjoy how it lightly exfoliates my skin everytime I wash without being harsh or drying. It makes my skin look more even in both texture and colour while getting me nice and clean (pool season just started so I am really going to be using it a lot now).

3. YSL Loveshine Lip Oil Stick

I got two of these from Butterly to try out, oh my gosh these are the best. Imagine a lipstick and a lip oil had a baby in stick format. They feel slick and slippery, smell like watermelon and give a kick of colour to your lips. So in love.

I love how they feel, I love the look, I want them all. I have been carrying one around in my purse all spring and I just can't get enough. Tip, Shopper Drug Mart, The Bay and Holt Renfrew all sell it for $5 less than Sephora. They also may still be listing it as YSL Loveshine Hydrating Lipstick on their sites, it is the same product.

4. Belif Aqua Bomb Brightening Vitamin C Cream

I have been using this one for a long time now, and this past spring it has gotten lots of rotation at night. I really like how light it feels but also how heavily hydrating without actually being heavy.

If you like Belif's creams, you are going to like this one.

5. The Face Shop JEJU Aloe Fresh Soothing Gel

My skin has always reacted well to aloe, and I have always had aloe growing in my homes. I remember being a 4 year old and getting my face bit by a dog and having my parents treat it with a fresh chunk of aloe from a plant. I just repotted mine and have 44 new plants growing in my home.

This time of year I find myself reaching for aloe vera a bit more often as I get more exposure to the sun and I find my skin gets drier from swimming. I struggle sometimes to find a good pure aloe vera gel, lucky I found this one from The Face Shop.

It is 95% aloe vera, it absorbs almost instantly without any stickiness or residue. I can even use it with my microcurrent devices, which I love. Best of all, it is massive at 300 ml.

Ok so that is it, what I am loving right now. I am sure it will change a bit now that summer has started, but these were the things I love the most the last few months.

* some products were sent for review purposes with no obligation to post about here. The views and opinions are my own and honest. Some links may be affiliate links and I may or may not end up getting a small commision from them. Thank you for supporting my blog, I appreciate it.