Urban Rituelle Beachcomber Body Balms

Urban Rituelle is an Australian brand that I know haven't tried enough of.  Over the years I have tried some of the fragrances & enjoyed the Ginger Apple lip balm (it graced one of my favourite videos on YouTube many moons ago).  However, it wasn't until late last year I got to experience some of this brands' skincare when I tried the new Body Balms from the Beachcomber Collection.  I received two travel sizes in my monthly Her Fashion Box, (I am subscribed to the Classic style box for $39.95AU).*  

 The Beachcomber Collection

There are four Beachcomber Body Balms available one, from each of the summer blends in the collection - Coconut + Honey, Mango Milk, Island Citrus & Frangipani. The body balms are available in a handy travel size of 45ml ($6.50) & also a full size of 200ml ($21.95).  

They are all indulgent in chamomile & cucumber extracts, shea butter as well as Vitamins A, C & E.  This luxurious combination is promoted to leave your skin smooth, moisturised & hydrated which I reckon is a must in these summery hot Australian days (& nights!).

I have actually been enjoying the 45ml size tubes in the Frangipani & also the Coconut + Honey.  My favourite is definitely the Frangipani which has notes of bergamot & musk that I find gives my skin a gentle floral scent while moisturising it like a body butter.  The Coconut & Honey smells just as good as it sounds, & like the Frangipani, glides on like white liquid-silk making my skin feels so supple. Although I have had run-ins with itchy sensitive skin on my legs over the last few months, thankfully, I found that these balms haven't irritated my legs at all.

I prefer to apply the balms after a shower from my décolletage down, I even like to mix both together after a shower & I reckon I smell like "sweet rose tea on a tropical island".  Yes folks I like a bit of "aroma magic" happening on my skin! I have even popped the travel sizes in my bag & squeeze out a little as my hand cream - for I find the consistency of the products are more like a buttery emollient cream than a "balm".  

Now would I actually purchased the Beachcomber Balms? Yes, I would love to try the other two balms & have already checked out the Urban Rituelle website.  I signed up to the VIP e-news for the 10% off every order (so I advise you to do so too!). 

I have also made good note of the free delivery over $75 & I am already adding some other products to my wish list from the Beachcomber Collection which covers fragrance, soap, body wash & even candles. I admit that I have made a good resolution to cut down the spending in 2014 but one must do what they can to support Australian brands as well as test items for review - right? Right!

*I am not sponsored by HFB or Urban Rituelle but I have merely jumped on board the voluntary, unpaid HFB review team to highlight any products I think are worth mentioning.  In other words, I am NOT reimbursed in any form & i pay FULL price for my monthly boxes!!

CoverGirl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balms + Mini GIVEAWAY (closed)

*now closed - winner post shortly* I went into Priceline a few weeks ago & picked up the Covergirl Lipslicks Balms in the Smoochies range that we have available here in Australia - Luv U (#215), Tru Luv (#235) , & Sweet Tweet (#255).  There are 12 shades listed in the whole range on the Covergirl US site but although their sister site here in Australia lists 12 to collect, only three are currently online & distributed by Heat Group P/L.

The lip balms are sheer to provide a hint of colour & as well as help condition the lips.  Out of the three shades Luv U & Sweet Tweet would have been ones that I would've chosen anyway had all 12 been readily available. Sweet Tweet is a light pink & Luv U is a deeper berry pink which are my typical colour picks.   Whereas Tru Luv is a tawny dusty pink with just a hint of shimmer.

My natural lip colour

GC Lipslick Smoochies Luv U

But when I popped these on my lips only Luv U shows up over my natural lip colour . It has the best pigmentation of the three & gives a nice rose colour to the lips.  It is comparable in consistency to my much loved Lipstick Queen Medieval Lip Treatment which is a fancy way of saying "balm". It also cost over 5 times the price!

(Top) CG Lipslick Smoochies Luv U (Bottom) Lipstick Queen Medieval

As in the photos, Sweet Tweet & Tru Luv get lost over my natural lip colour with the shimmer in Tru Luv barely showing up but at least they feel moisturised.  They also have a slight candy smell which I couldn't noticed once applied.

CG Lipslick Smoochies Tru Luv

CG Lipslick Smoochies Sweet Tweet

They definitely contain ingredients that would provide moisture to the delicate skin on the lips & help hydrate them - cocoa & mango seed butter, shea butter, coconut oil & aloe extract with castor oil as the main contender.  

However, the main ingredients that are listed which are probably the real reason the lips feel so buttery & "moisturised" from the barrier slicked on the lips are: lanolin, petrolatum & even paraffin - so common in cosmetics but not necessarily anything I want to eat.  These could eventually dry out the lips if you are constantly reapplying them to the lips. So they are not my everyday lip balm (MooGoo Strawberry Tinted Lip Balm which contains edible ingredients is!) Check out my MooGoo products review if you are interested in more on that line.

Anyway, that being said they do feel good on the lips & provide a touch of colour & sheen that I like in my lips balms.  My favourite finish in lipsticks & glosses are sheer & these lipstick balms are a good when I don't want to reapply my dearer lip products such as my Saint range of Lipstick Queen or Revlon Colorbursts. So, I do actually carry these in my arsenal of lip products in my everyday bag.

 
As for the design of the tubes they are very similar to the CG Lipslick Glosses with a long tube & a clear lid. I do like the funky packaging but of course it may not be to everyones taste, after all the shaft is the same colour as the balm & the bases are brightly coloured so that they actually look more like colouring pens. But that way I find I can easily identify the Smoochies from the other typical lip balm containers that I have rolling around in my handbag. 

I also can't complain at the price which is fairly standard at $4.95 for a 4g balm. Because, honestly, I was expecting it to be dearer for a CG product in Australia. So, overall I reckon it is a good little tube to pop in anyone's bag when they need a little smooch of colour & moisture.

Because of this I grabbed another set which I am happy to share with you in a mini giveaway! Hey I couldn't go MIA again & not bring back a little gift?


GIVEAWAY
If you would like to win the three CG Lipslick Smoochies please leave a comment on your favourite Covergirl product or if you don't have one leave feedback on your favourite lip balm! 

Conditions of Entry:
- MUST be a follower of this blog (if you follow the blog via email please leave your username so I can validate your entry - you don't need to leave your full email address just the username & if you follow me through Google+ & your username is different to your Blogger profile name please leave that in the comment)
- You can enter WORLDWIDE but please if you are under 18yrs get your guardians permission to be able to provide your postal address & be aware that there may be taxes/custom charges to pick up your package!
- You can leave multiple entries but it would be nice if you could leave a different comment for each entry (maybe a different product recommendation)
- Entries close Wednesday 12th February, midnight AEST 2014  
*see below for other conditions of entry/prize delivery

 If you would like a chance to win more remember to check out my BIG Favourites Giveaway on YouTube which has a range of makeup & beauty tools which is running until the first week of February.

Congratulations again to Lorlzee who won the last Giveaway - I am so glad to hear you like the Remedica Body Milk!

 *Other Terms/Conditions of Entry
- The winning entry number will be drawn using random.org 
- An announcement will be posted on the blog as well as on Penumbra Doll YouTube channel of the winner
-  The prize will be sent out by Australia Post registered mail within a week of receiving the postal details (from Penumbra Doll Beauty)
- Notification will be made to the winner of the approximate delivery times (within Australia approx 2-5 days & international up to 3 weeks)
- Penumbra Doll Beauty is unable to cover the costs of any custom charges that apply to the package
- Registered mail cost is covered by Penumbra Doll Beauty as well as the full cost of the prize package
- Penumbra Doll Beauty blog & Penumbra Doll YouTube channel is not affiliated with Covergirl or Priceline
There is no paid product placement or paid advertising by Covergirl Australia or by any other agent on behalf of Covergirl or Priceline.  THIS IS NOT A PROMOTION run by Covergirl, no products where sponsored.