Balms, glosses, shines, conditioners — whatever you want to call the soft, smoothing stuff we smear on our lips, I like ‘em. All of ‘em.

Though I will pretty much give any lip stuff a try (my poor, overflowing beauty vanity proves this!), it’s only a few that I think about repeat-purchasing.

Why? Because, as we all know, lip balms greet us at every checkout line, online apothecary and the like, begging us to just “get an extra to toss in your bag” (or is that just me?).

Splurge Skincare is a new girl on the natural beauty block, and I really like the cutely named “lip buttahs” the company has to offer.

{Splurge Skincare sent me a sample of its Almond Lip Buttah, which retails for $7 for a 0.15-ounce tube. Photo Courtesy Splurge Skincare}

Created by two teachers in the Boston area, Splurge Skincare’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that you should be able to treat yourself to only the best every day.

If you’re like me, one product you probably use every day (maybe even multiple times a day!) is lip balm — or as Splurge Skincare calls it, lip buttah.

Splurge Skincare’s Almond Lip Buttah has found its way into my pocket, my purse and my makeup bag on several occasions during the past month, and I can’t get enough of it.

{I love the pretty green packaging on Splurge Skincare’s Almond Lip Buttah. The “Lip Buttah” font is also very fun and sassy!}

The light, subtly sweet scent of almond is evident during application, but it’s by no means overpowering. You just get a hint of almond — thanks to the combination of sweet and bitter almond oils — and a ultra-soft, thin application of moisture.

Here’s the full list of ingredients:

Babassu oil, organic cocoa butter, beeswax, sweet almond oil, organic castor oil, bitter almond essential oil, vitamin E

There’s something quite charming about this short, to-the-point ingredients list. You’ll see the usual suspects — cocoa butter, beeswax — but I’m very impressed with babassu oil as the first ingredient.

Babassu oil is a gorgeous, fatty acid-filled oil that hails from Brazil and could easily rival coconut oil. It’s incredibly moisturizing and wonderful for hair, skin and nails, but what I like a little more about babassu oil compared to coconut oil is that its a little faster absorbing.

I credit the babassu oil (combined with luxe moisturizers cocoa butter and beeswax) with giving Splurge Skincare’s Almond Lip Buttah that slicked-on, smooth feeling; it’s not too thick or heavy, and you really don’t feel like you have anything on your lips!

Beyond the ingredients in Splurge Skincare’s Lip Buttahs, I really like the packaging. In addition to the cute colors and design, I like the shape of the tube; the oval-shape makes it less likely to slip out of your pockets — but it may not save itself from falling out of a purse or makeup bag, depending on where you carry your 17 different lip balms.

Seriously, is this just me?

Have you tried anything from Splurge Skincare’s line? How many lip balms do you own — or carry around everyday? Tell me in the comments section!

Julia Noik, co-founder of African Botanics, couldn’t have been more succinct:

When I started this blog, it was a hodgepodge of everything I liked — fashion, pop culture, beauty, home decor and food.

While it’s obviously become more focused in the lifestyle and natural beauty space, I can’t help but continue to think about our bodies’ connection to food as it pertains to beauty and overall wellness.

Starting very, very soon, I’ll be sharing my tips, questions and other musings on beauty food, supplements and wellness with you.

Today, Julia shares a few of her own beauty tips as well as her naturally beautiful routine.

As usual, I’ve starred the items and activities I also use and do!

{Julia Noik was inspired to create a wellness line of beauty products that captured the exceptional beauty and pure floral wealth of Southern Africa. Photo Courtesy Julia Noik}

Julia’s Inner & Outer Beauty Tips

“*Eating healthy, exercising and hydrating are the key for a healthy body and skin.”

–

“*Practice yoga. Exercise stimulates the whole system and feeds the body with oxygen, which stimulates the skin.”

–

“Start each day with a glass of water and the juice of half a lemon for a vitamin C, antioxidant, antibacterial, detoxifying and alkalizing boost.  Lemons contain powerful cleansing properties, and drinking fresh lemon juice each day can really help clear up a breakout and contribute to glowing skin! I also love incorporating raw organic juices every day.”

In Julia’s Bathroom

Amala Purifying Gel Cleanser

“This very gentle, refreshing, light and natural cleanser leaves my skin with a soft matte finish and a radiant, healthy glow.”

Amala Jasmine Hydrating Toner

“This toner is amazing to use before I apply neroli-infused marula oil. It softens and comforts the skin.”

African Botanics Neroli Infused Marula Oil

“I use this omega-rich beauty oil as an anti-aging moisturizer, an overnight treatment and make-up primer for its high antioxidant properties and naturally high levels of vitamins and nutrients. It is fast-absorbing, hydrating and smells divine. Miracle in a bottle.”

Trinity Candle By NuboNau Organika

“For a euphoric experience and total relaxation, I love that this candle is made from plant wax and infused with real aromatherapy oils. The scent transforms the mood and uplifts your well-being anytime.”

African Botanics Marula African Muti Mud Mineral Body Scrub

“This unique mud scrub is great for detoxifying the skin, increasing circulation and improving skin texture. Wild-grown South African marula and avocado oils hydrate and tone the skin. South African green rooibos tea extract with cocoa and cooling peppermint create a sensory experience, taking you on an African journey.”

African Botanics Marula Firming Botanical Body Oil

“Love the fine aroma of South African green rooibos tea extrac,t which is infused with wild-grown marula and grapeseed oils. The dry oil blend improves elasticity and firmness, providing antioxidant defense against free radicals. It absorbs instantly, leaving the skin glowing.”

African Botanics Marula Botanical Body Hydrator

“I use this daily for retaining moisture and an overall glow! Cooling peppermint, lavender, neroli and tea tree essential oils soothe, soften and revive.”

Inside Julia’s Cosmetics Case

{Julia stores her natural beauty products inside a handmade cosmetics purse from Mjita in South Africa. Photo Courtesy Julia Noik}

*African Botanics Pure Marula Oil

“This helps restore elasticity and protect skin from the hard effects of the environment. I also use it on dry hands, lips and my face when traveling.”

*RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

“Perfect highlighter. It really brightens my eyes and adds just enough sheer glow!”

*RMS “Un” Cover-Up Concealer

“Gives you that subtle, flawless, even coverage. It contains all the ingredients to treat your skin as it covers.”

Sephora Classic Concealer Brush #46

“Applies and blends my concealer smoothly and evenly.”

Jane Iredale PureLash Lengthening Mascara

“Non-irritating mascara, lightweight and clump-free. Like it for the length and volume, too!”

ILIA Illuminator in Sway

“Love this product as it contains a lot of organic, healing ingredients! Also doubles as a beautiful cream shadow to illuminate the eyelids and contour the face. Gives my skin a fresh, dewy glow anytime!”

{La Bella Figura sent me a sample of its Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum, which retails for $115, for review. I’ve been using it at least once a week for several months now.}

La Bella Figura Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum is as essential to my nighttime rest as my moon, clouds and stars jammies pictured above.

Made from glorious barbary fig seed oil, which La Bella Figura proudly introduced to the American natural skincare market, this serum boasts a rich helping of vitamin E, vitamin K, linoleic acid and vitamin A, a natural retinol.

In addition to these powerhouse ingredients for treating tired skin, Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum is topped off with coffee bean, tomato seed and argan oils to help decrease puffiness, reduce dark circles and continually hydrate the delicate undereye area.

Here’s the full ingredients list:

Ingredients: Organic Argan Kernel Oil, Organic Barbary Fig Seed Oil, Organic Rosehip Seed Oil, Wildcrafted Tomato Seed Oil, Wildcrafted Coffee Bean Oil, Wildcrafted Rose Otto Flower Oil, Organic Blue Tansy Flower Oil, Organic Helichrysum Italicum Oil, Organic Palmarosa Oil, Organic Lavender Oil

I love the cooling rollerball application and have learned that just one gentle back and forth sweep is enough of this precious serum to nourish my eyes and help me appear bright and refreshed by morning.

I’ve also learned that it’s best to allow the thin application of this super serum to sink in overnight — as in, don’t rub it in after rolling it onto your skin!

Just be sure that you’ve applied it at least an hour before you hit the sack and rub your face all over your pillow as you toss and turn to dreamland.

Though I received my first helping of La Bella Figura Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum as a press sample, it’s easily made it onto my repurchase list (as has most of La Bella Figura’s collection has!), and has even climbed to the coveted “holy grail” list (any other MUA people out there know what I’m talking about?!).

Have you tried La Bella Figura Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum? Do you use a separate or special eye treatment daily or at night? Tell me in the comments section!

When I got a small sample of Sevani Botanica’s Vitale Essential Nutrient Oil, I was immediately taken with the old-world packaging (who knew you could make a cork that small?!).

{Sheryl Lynn Gibbs of Sevani Botanica sent this adorable sample of Vitale Essential Nutrient Oil to me for review. A full-size of the oil, which is 1 ounce in a glass dropper bottle, retails for $75 (though it’s on sale right now for $65!).}

But, we all know that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and this gorgeous oil gets a spot on my shelf because of its luxurious feel layered over its sister product, the C+ Resveratrol Elixir (reviewed here) for a deeply moisturizing evening of rest.

Typically, I use oils as the first layer on my skin, but before bed, when I’m working with my vitamin C treatment elixir, I like to have that powerhouse product closest to my skin and then follow with a light patting of Vitale Essential Nutrient Oil for added moisture.

This treatment style allows me to conserve this precious oil mix and prompts me to be a little more regular about using my vitamin C treatment on a regular basis.

Here’s what’s inside the Vitale Essential Nutrient Oil:

Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Olive Squalane, Avocado Oil, Rosehip Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Argan Nut Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Sea buckthorn Fruit Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Natural Vitamin E, Essential Oils of Palmarosa, Patchouli, Lavender, Rosewood, Frankincense, Neroli

The essential oil mix at the end excites me because as an acne-prone girl, I’m always looking for antifungal ingredients (like lavender and frankincense) to help combat breakouts while still getting the much-needed moisture and nutrients from dense oils such as olive, grapeseed and avocado.

No matter what your skin type — oily, normal, dry or combination — Vitale Essential Nutrient Oil should be beneficial to your skin’s needs! It really does contain a well-edited mix of vitamin-, antioxidant- and fatty acid-rich oils to please almost any skin concern.

Oily and acne-prone skin can get away with using just one or two drops; dry skin will probably want a few extra drops to quench thirst and get the full benefit of the holistic ingredients.

Have you tried anything from Sevani Botanica? Do you layer oils over other serums? Tell me what you know in the comments section!

May brings such beauty to everything she does, as evidenced in the video above, and her well-edited skin care collection (remember my review of “The Clean Dirt“) calls for a level of intimacy with your skin care that allows you to get lost in the ritual of mixing, applying and enjoying her beauty products.

{May sent me a sample of “The Problem Solver” to review. It retails for $90 for a 250 ml glass jar. Photo Courtesy May Lindstrom Skin}

When I use “The Problem Solver,” I like to set aside enough “me time” to mix the treatment (the beautiful glass jar is full of dry ingredients that need water to activate) and relax while the mask deeply penetrates my pores and firms up my skin to reveal a beautiful, flushed glow.

This isn’t the type of mask that you should just slap on and go about with your multitasking — to get the full effect of true, slow beauty, allow yourself to indulge a bit in the application, relaxation and removal of this mask.

And, yes, there’s a bit of cleanup you’ll have to get used to until you’ve perfected your mixing and removing methods.

{May also sent me her beautiful treatment duo, a handmade clay bowl ($32) and facial brush ($30), to make my application of “The Problem Solver” as beautiful as the results on my skin would be.}

Here’s what’s inside “The Problem Solver” that makes it such an intense treat for your skin:

Fuller’s Earth Clay, Red Moroccan Rhassoul Clay, Raw Cacao, Red Alaea Sea Salt, Vitamin C, Sodium Bicarbonate, Bamboo Carbon Charcoal Powder, Organic Vanilla Planifolia Bean, Organic Lavender Flower, Organic Marshmallow Root, Wildcrafted Frankincense, Organic Gotu Kola, Organic Angelica Root, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Nutmeg, Organic Clove, Organic Turmeric, Organic Cayenne Pepper

{Just add water to “The Problem Solver” to get that little fizzy action and beautiful onyx coloring of the mask activated.}

You’ll notice toward the end of the list the collection of warming spices — you’ll definitely smell the delicious scents of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove and feel the heat of cayenne stimulating your pores and getting your blood circulating in your face and neck.

My skin isn’t sensitive, so I had no problems with these warming spices, but please do test “The Problem Solver” on a patch of your skin before going for the full facial!

{Once you’ve mixed “The Problem Solver” with water, you’ll get a creamy, jet-black concoction that’s ready to be brushed all over your face and neck.}

I allow the mask to remain on my skin for about 45 minutes — it will harden just a bit and turn a lighter shade of green-gray — but you’ll continue to feel the warming effects even after the mask is dry.

{My Instagram buddies got a little sneak peek of me and May Lindstrom Skin “The Problem Solver” in action last night.}

When the mask is dry and ready for removal, please, please, please don’t reach for your white or pale-pink wash cloths to remove it — because, obviously, you will then have a blackish-brown cloth and little chunks of the mask in the fibers.

Instead, try to rinse the mask clean by massaging cool lukewarm water into your skin with your fingertips.

You’re essentially reactivating the mask by doing this and giving your skin a little extra exfoliation and circulation treatment — you may want to turn the water down to a cooler temperature as you continue to massage your face and remove the mask, as your skin may feel a little more heat again.

Once you’ve removed the mask, your skin will likely have a light pink flush and look as radiant as ever.

While the skin is still damp, I like to spritz a little extra hydrosol or alcohol-free toner onto my face, pat it in and then apply a thick oil to my skin — the mask leaves your pores clean and ready to receive moisture and beneficial antioxidants, so don’t wait to massage in your favorite super serum!

(May also makes her own serum, The Youth Dew, which I’ll be reviewing very soon as well.)

With regular use (weekly or bimonthly at least), your skin will see fewer blackheads, fewer flakies and a more consistent glow thanks to the amount of constant circulation and stimulation this mask provides.

I’m sold on keeping May Lindstrom Skin’s “The Problem Solver” in my face mask arsenal — not only for its lovely results, but also for the lovely slow beauty ritual its introduced to my weekly DIY facial treatment.

Have you tried May Lindstrom Skin “The Problem Solver” yet? Have you tried anything from May’s skin care line? Tell me what you think in the comments section!