From the French Pharmacie: Bioderma's Atoderm Line

Most of you probably know Bioderma for its Sensibio solution - the gentle make-up remover popular with make-up artists, models and skincare aficionados the world over. But that's not all the brand does - they also have a bunch of other products that are gentle and effective.

Their Atoderm line is one I've tried a few products from. First is the Adoterm Ultra-Rich Foaming Gel. This comes in a huge tube and is suitable for use on those with sensitive skin - including children.

It's a blue gel that doesn't have much of a scent and doesn't really foam up much. It is very gentle - I have delicate and dry skin in the winter and this didn't cause it to feel tight or over-washed. And because it comes in such a huge tube, it will last for a very long time.

I decided to try the Atoderm Repair Hand Cream because of my positive experiences with the face cleanser. I have to say, though, this didn't live up to the cleanser.

Sure, it's gentle and doesn't have any strong perfumes to irritate the skin or nose, but it also doesn't feel great on the skin. I found that most of it absorbs almost instantly, but it leaves a sort of sticky residue. Not oily, just sticky and unpleasant. I won't be finishing the tube, because I just can't stand the texture.

The Atoderm Lip Balm is the final product from this particular line that I tried, and I'm pleased to say that this went down a lot better than the hand cream! No scent or taste, soft enough to apply without tugging, but non-greasy and absorbs immediately.

I like that it comes in a tube with an angled applicator which makes application easy, and I found that it left my lips soft and moisturized. It doesn't last as long as Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm, but not many do. This would be a great one for kids who don't like smelly or greasy products on chapped lips, or for men who don't want something shiny or sweet-flavoured. Two thumbs up.

*Update: After writing this post I ended up buying the Atoderm Lip Balm that comes in a stick rather than a tube. Here it is:

I fully expected it to be like the tube - scent-free, softening but perhaps a little bit slicker. I was way wrong. It's actually closer to Amilab. It's quite a bit softer than you generally expect of a stick lip balm, and it definitely has a scent. I quite like it, though I would like it better if it weren't quite so strong. I tried for the last two days to figure out what exactly the smell reminded me of, and it finally hit me: gummy bears. Yeah, weird, right? Anyway, I don't mind the scent, and I find it softening and hydrating. It's not my favourite, but it's definitely better than most!

First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Lip Therapy

I was browsing in the Sephora skincare department (you know, as you do) and I saw this brand. I'd never heard of them before, but I liked the smell of their products and some of the package descriptions appealed to me. I was later browsing on Feel Unique, and once again I came across the brand in their bestsellers. Interesting, I thought. Let's find out what the deal is.

Turns out their Ultra Repair Cream is something of a legend in the skincare industry for its ability to moisturize even the driest and most sensitive of skins (full review on that coming soon). The Ultra Repair Lip Therapy, like the cream, has Colloidal Oatmeal to protect the skin, shea butter as a barrier and moisturizer and an "antioxidant booster" to help fight free radicals.

It's also petroleum-free, which is not only good for those who are sensitive to it, but for people who don't like overly slick, shiny or goopy lip products. And the hint of mint (sorry, had to) is delicious when mixed with the oatmeal. It applies matte, doesn't feel thick or heavy on the lips and absorbs very quickly (much like the cream, once again) to leave lips soft, smooth and hydrated, and the effects last past when you can no longer feel it on the lips.

Similar to the Nuxe Lip Balm in the pot, I feel like this lip balm actually nourishes the lips rather than just acting as a barrier to prevent further moisture loss. Because the formula is based on their cream, it has a more creamy consistency than most lip balms I've tried, and actually feels quite soothing and even a bit cooling.

It has a convenient applicator tip, which makes it really easy to apply on the go - and not only is it non-shiny and nearly flavour-free, but the packaging is simple and gender-neutral, so if there are any lads out there suffering from dry lips, suffer no more!

I've heard a lot of people complaining about getting the product out of the tube because it's so thick. I had trouble too - the first time I used it. After that, once I got it going - no problems at all. I'd recommend just popping it in your pocket when you buy it before the first time you use it and there should be no problem.

I love this stuff. Not quite as much as I love the Nuxe Lip Balm, which I use as a night treatment every night before bed, but it'd definitely second in line. While Nuxe has a lovely orange-citrus scent, while this one's a combo of sweet oatmeal and a bit of fresh mint - so between the two I've got both my favourite lip flavours covered. This one's great to throw in my purse, whereas the Nuxe is in a heavy glass jar that I adore, but isn't the best for lugging about. I don't think I'll ever be without both of these, since I love them both! If you have allergies, are sensitive to petroleum, or are looking for something for kids or  a guy with dry lips, this is my top recommendation.

Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream

For years I've heard beauty bloggers and YouTube makeup gurus raving on and on about the amazing cream that is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. As you can tell, mine's a bit old now (the packaging has been updated), but it's still the same formula.

I have had this for months and never really used it. Partly because I wasn't sure what to do with it at first (while I'm all for them in theory, multi-purpose products always take me a little while to figure out). But mainly? The smell. MY GOD the smell. It has lanolin in it - which, for those of you who don't know, is an oil that is naturally-occurring on sheep's wool and is an excellent moisturizer and barrier to lock in moisture - which has quite a gamey scent. On top of that it has a 'herbal' smell, and the combination is killer.

According to the package instructions (above), you can use this anywhere you have dry or chapped skin, including the lips. Seriously? No WAY would I put this anywhere near my nose. I'm guessing that with a smell like that, it wouldn't taste too delicious either! I've heard beauty bloggers on YouTube say that it works wonders on dry lips. In fact, Tanya Burr, whose videos I love, carries it in her purse:



And I'm sure it works well. But I don't think I'd be able to handle it that close to my nose, no matter how well it worked!

So what's the verdict, you ask? Well, while I'm not about to be slathering this on my kisser anytime soon, I can say that the shit works. I suffer from diabetic dry skin, which means that (particularly in winter) the skin on my hands and feet dries until it cracks - painfully. I have found that applying this to my cracked heels, letting it sit for awhile, soaking up the excess with a tissue and then applying a regular foot cream does do an amazing job on softening my heels. So for that it's great - but not really worth the price. There are plenty of intensive and lanolin-based products on the market that will do the same thing for half the price - and that smell better!

I believe there is a scent-free version of this, which I haven't yet tried. If you have, share your thoughts! Is it really scent-free? Does it work as well as the original? 

From the French Pharmacie: Amilab

From what I can tell, Amilab - or Amilab Baume Lèvres Réhydratant Régénérateur, Calmant (that's the full name - I know, a mouthful, right? No pun intended) is France's answer to Burt's Bees lip balm or Blistex. It seems to be pretty cheap and widely available in pharmacies. But once you try it, you'll swear it cost at least three time as much.

It's a portable stick, which is good, but this is where the similarities to our drugstore lip balms end.

It's creamy, light, very easy to apply and smells like an alluring mixture of sweet orange and vanilla. Basically, it smells like a Creamsicle. It sinks in well, lasts for ages and works to nourish the lips rather than just providing a barrier to prevent further moisture loss.

If you ever come across this, I recommend stocking up and buying a few extra to give to friends. It's that good.

From the French Pharmacie: Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lips

I suffer from very dry lips. I also suffer (though that may not be exactly the right term) from a life-long obsession with lip balms. So that works out quite well, really.

That said, rarely do I find one that actually helps my lips feel less dry and chapped once it wears off. I find that a lot of them act more as a barrier and make the lips feel better when applied, but if I go a day without using them, my lips are worse than ever.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Moisture Stick
Enter Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Moisture Stick. I discovered Nuxe recently during my obsessive research on French pharmacie cosmetics. The lip balm in the pot got excellent reviews, so I ordered it online - only to discover on my next trip to Shopper's Drug Mart that they carry the brand! I had a few bucks leftover on a gift card, so I treated myself to the stick.

I think I can quite accurately say that I have been applying it 5+ times a day since buying it. It isn't a solid texture like so many stick lip products (Burt's Bees comes to mind) where you have to warm it up before applying or risk uncomfortable tugging on the skin. It applies smoothly and easily, and it soaks in quite quickly leaving just a bit of slippiness behind, so it's very comfortable to wear.

One problem I've had with petroleum-based lip balms is that if I re-apply a few times in the day, I end up feeling like they migrate and my face gets oily. That doesn't happen with this lip balm. I also like that it's not super shiny. And because it is packed with healing honey and nourishing sunflower, it actually seems to help my lips feel healthier.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm (pot)
Once this arrived, I eagerly tore into it, wondering if it would live up to the hype. And boy, does it ever. I can safely say this is the best nourishing, long-lasting lip product I've tried, and I've tried pretty much all of them.

It isn't glossy or slimy at all, so you have to dig into it a bit to get the product out, but once you start applying it it goes on pretty evenly and easily. It instantly makes lips feel hydrated. Because it goes on completely matte you an wear it under lipstick.

And does it ever last. I put it on at bedtime and when I get up in the morning I can still feel it working on my lips. Between this and the matte texture, it would be a great one for guys who suffer from chapped lips, because you don't have to keep re-applying it and no one will be able to see it.

Because scent and flavour are a big part of making a lip product a hit or a miss, I have to say that both of these are winners. They have a very (and I mean very) subtle scent of citrus, and almost no flavour. They don't smell at all synthetic and aren't too sweet or intense.

As much as I love variety in my lip balms, and as curious as I am to try all the different ones out there, I have a feeling I'll always have some of this kicking around, too. Merveilleux.

Aesop - Rosehip Seed Lip Cream

I can't actually remember what led me to this brand - some blog post or other. But I decided to give it a try. This Rosehip Seed Lip Cream is hyped as a light-weight, vitamin-e rich formula meant for frequent application to soften lips. Well, it does that.

It's a creamy formula, very lightweight. More like a lotion than a lip balm:

As you can probably tell from the picture, there is a problem with this. It comes in a metal tube, which normally I'm a fan of - but with this product it's a disaster. The pressure seems to build up so whenever the cap is removed, a ton of product leaks out nearly immediately and won't go back in. So I end up wasting a lot, which sucks considering that this is a tiny tube (6 mL) which cost a fair amount (~$15+shipping).

The product itself is lovely, but you really need a tiny amount. The flavour is a bit stronger than I'd like, but it's not unpleasant. Overall if you can find a deal on it, or if you really want a gloss-free balm, give it a try - but I doubt I'll re-purchase. Just too much mess for the price.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balms

I was waiting in the line up at Sephora, and as usual, it was LONG. Though I usually resist their blatant attempts to up-sell with all the products by the checkout line on principle, I ended up sniffing the Lemon Lip Balm... and that was it. Hooked. Seriously, I wish I could virtualize the scent for you, because it is delicious. Just like lemon meringue pie!

Since then I've purchased: Mint, Grapefruit & Ginger, Lavender & Bergamot and Lavender & Vanilla. The lavender ones had a bit of a weird aftertaste, so they're not my faves, but still pretty good.

They all work well, aren't too thick and have SPF 25. My top pick is the Lemon (available at Sephora in Canada - you can get a duo of Lemon and Mint for $11.50 or individually for $7.50), but the Mint and Grapefruit & Ginger are also delicious!