Under Ten: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm

I find it amusing that my most visited post is for my second favorite lip balm (Trader Joe's Virtuoso Lip Balm). And yet... I haven't said a word about my favorite: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. Personally, the Lemon & Chamomile is my favorite "flavor". As mentioned in the aforementioned post, I'm a chronic lip-licker and I do so unconsciously. As a child, I would get severely chapped lips. The worst part is that if I realize I don't have any lip product on and that they are feeling rather dry, I can't resist gently moistening my lips by smacking them together softly.

(Photo is courtesy of Jack Black website.)

There has been countless raving in regards to Jack Black Lip Balm (here and here for example), so I feel I am preaching to the choir. It is long-lasting and resistant to normal wear if you are constantly sipping out of straws. It has SPF 25 and is moisturizing. It comes in a variety of scents. Men love it as equally as women. It isn't super glossy, unless you put a bunch on. A little goes a long way. It's just... perfect! It's pricier than most lip balms, but nowhere near most lip glosses. Well worth the price. 

Additional Details: $7.50 for.25 oz. Cruelty Free!

Disclosure: I purchased this myself... over and over.

Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover

Taken from Neutrogena website.

I have been using this daily for about the past month. Originally, it was purchased on a whim because I needed a new cleanser; it was made of predominantly natural ingredients and inexpensive. Neutrogena claims the product thoroughly cleanses without "stripping skin's natural moisture". This has been quite true for me. Often, cleansers leave my already slightly dry face feeling parched and at times itchy. Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover has left my skin feeling phenomenally soft and smooth, yet absolutely clean and void of oil. For the 5.99 sale price I got it at, this cleanser is a phenomenal steal.

The only caveat to the product is the latter part of the title. It thoroughly removes makeup, but I found that it stings the eye area wickedly. Instead, I remove my eye makeup separately and just avoid getting the cleanser near my eyes. This is a minor issue and I am completely satisfied with the cleanser as it is. 

ARC's Ladies in Waiting, Versailles and le Chocolat

Last week I flashed some swatches of the eye shadows I got from Antoinette's Revolution Cosmetics along  with the adorable packaging. Since then, I've actively been putting Ladies in Waiting (sheer white-pink with shimmer), Versailles (copper with metallic sheen) and le Chocolat (espresso brown with light shimmer) to good use. The brown/copper/sheer pink combo is great for green eyes that are tinged with yellow (versus blue).

Final product.

Lots and lots of photos after the jump...

Boscia Pore Purifying Nose Strips

As a pre-teen, my father would buy Biore Nose Strips and it was always so much fun seeing what got pulled out of our pores (yes, my father would use them as well). I was stoked when I saw the new Boscia Pore Purifying Nose Strips being offered as a sample on Sephora. On the box, it states that there is charcoal powder for pulling out dirt and oil from the pores, silica for excess oil, and witch hazel extract to tighten the appearance of the pores.



I will refrain from publishing a photo of what got pulled out in the strip I used, but there was definitely some small particles and residue. It also pulled out the tiny millimeter length hairs that are on your nose (I didn't even realize there was any!). It was not as exciting as it was at age twelve when I could see visible whiteheads. Thankfully, those are (usually) no longer an issue. Ultimately though, my pores didn't look any smaller nor less visible. In addition, it left a stinging sensation for the next half hour. For someone with clear skin, I am not the target audience. Fifteen dollars for a pack of six of these is not worth the novelty of getting to see what is in my pores. It is a product for people with problematic skin (especially on the nose area). I'll be using the second strip in the sample set to see what I can pull out of my boyfriend's nose! They are certainly fun.

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

I have uber-long hair at this point. We're talking nearly waist length and starting to get into that weird territory where you look like you may be possibly Pentecostal or Seventh Day Adventist (although, my lack of skirts should dismiss that theory). Next week, I have an appointment to get my hair cut and color. In the meantime, I do what I can to keep good care of my Rapunzel-status hair.

The Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment is part of an extensive line of hair products featuring ojon oil. Ojon oil comes from the nut of the American palm tree and is sourced primarily in Central America. Interestingly, ojon oil has always been known as batana oil, but was renamed in the late 90's when it was introduced as a commercial product. Ojon is the word for American palm in the local indigenous dialect (batana being the Spanish word). I'm tickled by the idea of returning to the original word for an item.

The creamy pomade turns to oil instaneously via body heat.

While I like what I have researched about the Ojon company, this isn't a product for a fine-haired person (like me).

Under Ten: Trader Joe's Virtuoso Lip Balm

For all you lip-lickers out there, Trader Joe's Virtuoso Lip Balm is the second most moisturizing lip product I've come across thus far (first place: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm). I have a nervous habit of unconsciously licking my lips when under stress at work. I don't even realize it until the next morning when my poor little lips are parched and taut.

While I love my lipglosses, I prefer just basic shiny, silky, smooth balm for everyday wear. Virtuoso glides on slick and doesn't have any waxy qualities(which I hate). In addition, it comes in a chapstick tube, which is much more convenient for applying than the lip balms that are in tins. They retail for 2.99 for a 3-pack here in California; which means they come out to be less than a dollar each!

Beyond the physical preference of the product, the ingredients are nifty too: Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Beeswax, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Essential Oil of Spearmint, Shea Butter, Rosemary Extract, Organic Comfrey, Organic Calendula, Organic St. John's Wort. This equates to the lip balm being comprised of 50% organic materials. Did I mention it is also SPF 15?

Disclosure: I purchased myself... over and over.