Thursday 7 January 2010

# 115 Lippity Split

Anyone who regularly reads this blog will know that I'm a balm maniac. I'm not blessed with unflappable (or unchappable) lips, and come winter, my mouth is really put to the test. I'd been swapping between Prescriptives Lip Specialist Triple Action Therapy (now, ain't that a mouthful), Trilogy Everything Balm and Mama Mio Wonder-Full Balm when it became undeniably obvious that none of them were working. Fearing a case of the ol' overdoing it, I cut back to Prescriptives; a week later, when lips were chappier than a rodeo show, I tried Trilogy - this was better, but re-application seemed to be required every few minutes; then Mama Mio, which I'm convinced made my lips a lot worse (it seems better on dry body patches than lip-situated ones).

Despairing, and with a pout that just would not stop peeling, I emailed the Sisley PR. Two days later the Nutritive Balm arrived and just one day in, the chaps are healing nicely. I said I wouldn't fork out for this one (it's just SO bloody expensive and in such a little pot) - but I'm now entirely convinced that it's the best lip balm on the market by a very very long way. And other readers have concurred. Accept no substitute. (Oh and I also tried Nivea, Chapstick, Carmex & Suqqu).

And while I'm talking about poor substitutes, my recent trip into sulfate-free shampoos has come up against some problems. First bump in the road: Naked Shine Hydrating Shampoo. Nice smell, decent lather on the second wash (not on first), and not-bad levels of shine left on hair shaft... along with (*pet peeve alert*), a nasty, tacky residue along the scalp, where the product refused to rinse away cleanly (this was on outing 4 or 5).

So, the question - is there a decent, clean-rinsing, moisturising, calming & shine-boosting sulfate-free shampoo out there?

A friend has mentioned Louise Galvin - I tried her range many moons ago, so perhaps it's worth another shot. Another colleague swore by Frederic Fekkai's sulfate-free shampoo during her pregnancy - so we'll see how this fares too.

I shall feedback in good time - and in the meantime, do weigh in with your recommendations. My hair & I need you!

18 comments:

Ellen Burney said...

SUQQU lip balm has saved my lips this winter - sort of recall you've already tried it though?

Beauty Scribbler said...

Hey there! I have tried most SLS-free shampoos on the market... I have written a brief review on the ones I can remember on my recent blog post here: http://www.beautyscribbler.com/2009/12/shampoo-and-conditioner-difference.html

But in a nutshell, I don't think I ever did find a perfect SLS-free shampoo! After all that! None really left my hair feeling that clean because of the low lather, and if they did lather well, they didn't leave my hair feeling particularly moisturised.

I'm now using The Body Shop Ginger Anti Dandruff shampoo which isn't SLS-free... but has never irritated my scalp, unlike other shampoos with SLS.

If I hadn't discovered the TBS Ginger shampoo, I might have tried the Louise Galvin or Frederic Fekkai shampoos... but kind of glad I didn't because they're soooo expensive, and I find that I always need to use so much of SLS free shampoo to lather. I used to go through the bottles really quickly.

On the lip balm front, I'm a balm maniac too, and I love REN Biomimetic Perfect Lip Honey (which I have also reviewed on my blog recently!). It might be a bit cheaper than Sisley. It's the best lip balm I've ever found.

lotionspotionsandme said...

Hey, normally my lips are not too bad but this winter along with my normally combi/oily face they have just flipped and been dry and cracked!! In the last couple of weeks i have been using YU.BE moisturising skin cream, i was given a little sample to try out in space nk and so far so good it has sorted out my lips and they have been completely unchappable. Sometimes at night i slather on some vaseline on top of the YU.BE to really seal the moisture in and that seems to work quite well.(now if only i could find something to work for my face that would be fab!!)


On the SLS front i have been using a shampoo called Elasta QP - Creme Conditioning Shampoo for the last couple of months and i completely love how it makes my hair feel/look. I have afro hair so I really need something that puts moisture back in my hair, otherwise it just gets brittle and starts to break. I know it's marketed for "afro hair" but a friend recently tried it on her blonde locks and felt that it worked for her too. So it might be worth a shot... x

Miss Malcontent said...

Wow! Thanks for all the great suggestions! When it comes to lip balm it really is an incredibly objective thing - I liked Suqqu but was put off by the slight chemical whiff it left behind on my lips... anyone else get that?

Thanks for the other suggestions... I've never tried YU.BE but have a friend who loves it...

I used to use an intensive conditioner from The Body Shop - I seem to remember it being hemp? - anyway, I always, without fail, got compliments on the shininess of my hair after a hot cap session... but then they discontinued it. Sob!

I'm convinced there's a perfect SLS-free shampoo out there somewhere & promise to report back once I've found it...

Michelle (BeautyEditor.ca) said...

Kiehl's has a new sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner and masque - the only range I've tried that I actually like:

http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/hair/whatsnew/sunflower-oil-color-preserving-shampoo.htm

Not sure if it's available in the UK though?

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

I have been a lip balm addict since my early teens - I'm now in my thirties - and nothing compares to Burt's Bees' Beeswax lip balm.
I don't need to reapply it every two minutes, like some brands (Blistex, Palmer's Cocoa Butter) and it really conditions my lips.

I've tried premium brands too, such as Eve Lom, which I found too sticky and 'gummy'. I felt it dried out my lips.

I absolutely hate leaving the house without my little Burt's Bees tin. A touch obsessive, me thinks!

Linda x

Andrea said...

I'm glad someone has mentioned Ren - their Mayday Mayday rescue balm is also top notch for sore lips - and chapped hands , and (how do I do this to myself!) chapped eyelids (ouch!).


Mac Lip conditioner made sore lips more sore.

Anonymous said...

Once I've finished all my lip balms I might try the Sisley one if I can bring myself to pay this much. Agree with the Ren lip balm - I really liked this.
When I first started using SLS free shampoos, I was initially put off as they never seemed to rinse clean or do anything.
But now that there are more available on the market, I have found a few I like - Dr.Organic Manuka Honey shampoo (mixing with a little water before applying builds a good rich lather) and Giovanni shampoos.

Lindsay said...

I'm another lip balm addict and my all time favourite is Burts Bees too. Really moisturising. I used to love the Ren one, put when it changed from a pot to a tube the formulation changed too and now I think it feels a bit gritty? And the smell has changed too.

I wasn't impressed with Louise Galvin at all, her range left my hair dry, frizzy and with a flaky hairline.

Guiltyhyena said...

Some lovely lip balm during winter is heaven

@ The GUILTY HYENA †

Anonymous said...

Sisley is definitely the best I've tried...
Last year I bought the RMS Lip & Skin Balm and Lipstock Cream Lip Conditioner - both are nice but in truth just aren't as good as Sisley...

NetochkA said...

Favorite lip balm of the moment is L'Occitane Mini Pure Shea Butter tin. It's so nice to keep in your purse because it applied anywhere your feeling dry.

Canon digital cameras said...

I feel you girl. My lips are always dry especially on winter, thanks for the very useful tips.

curtain fabrics said...

I’m so excited to know your feed back on this one, thanks for sharing this.

Unknown said...

Having recently embarked on an SLS / Paraben / PEG / Petroleum free craze I've found that the bset place to start looking is in the baby product section. I've tried many different brands at varying price points & my favourite so far is the Original Sprouts line. I initially found it frustrating that the lather is less than I was used to but being SLS free it only makes sense... Smells lovely & delicate & baby-ish, I really suggest trying out this small line.

I can't wait to try out the Sisley lip balm as you and others have raved about it, but am curious what you think of the La Mer, as it is one of my favourites & to me quite a luxury item?

Miss Malcontent said...

nmarkewitz asked what I thought of the Creme de la Mer Lipbalm - I have to say, it either does it for you or it just doesn't. On the up side, it's a big pot & lasts a long time (whereas the Sisley one seems to run dry within a month), but in my opinion & experience it didn't 'heal' my lips as well as the Sisley (and I'm not a huge fan of the CDLM's minty scent either). But, I do have friends whose pouts owe everything to CDLM and who wouldn't be parted from it under any circumstances. As ever, it really does depend on the individual... let me know how you get on! MM

Oz said...

Hey there,
I came across your blog while looking into the natural hair care choices available in the UK.

Have you come across the Italian organic lifestyle brand Philip Martin's?? My company has just become the exclusive UK distributor of the brand, which includes natural haircare and skincare, as well as EcoCert certified organic makeup. This brand is all about getting rid of the nasties (parabens, SLS, SLES and the like) while producing products that do not compromise on performance, fragrance and fashion (let's be honest as much as we want natural we still want the product to look good on the shelf).

Check out www.philipmartinsuk.com for more info!

If you (Miss Malcontent) would be interested in trying out samples of a couple of our hair care products please drop me an email at oz@philipmartinsuk.com.

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