[Review] Laneige Lip Glowy Balm – how does it compare to the iconic lip sleeping mask?

August 3, 2020August 3, 2020 Kim1 Comment

When Laneige released these lip balms (within the last year or so), I was curious to see how they would compare with their cult favourite lip sleeping mask. In my opinion this was the product which got a lot of hype and made Laneige a household name worldwide. Launching their line in Sephora also helped. I really like the sleeping mask, everything about it, except for the pot packaging. So when I saw these balms released in tube form, I hoped that they would be just as good as they are convenient.

I picked up 3 of the 4 shades, #Grapefruit, #Pear and #Peach. I couldn’t get a hold of #Berry at the time.

Claims

from laneige.com

The perfect daytime partner in crime to the cult-favorite Lip Sleeping Mask, Glowy Lip Balm is pocket sized for easy, on-the-go application. The formula contains murumuru and shea butters that provide powerful hydration and lock in moisture longer.

Price

$15.95 AUD, 10g, from letsfaceit.net.au

Ingredients

See laneige.com for the ingredients for all 4 flavours. Included ingredients from their website for Peach.

Peach: HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PHYTOSTERYL/ISOSTEARYL/CETYL/ STEARYL/BEHENYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, POLYBUTENE, PHYTOSTERYL ISOSTEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX /CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRISTALLINE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, SUCROSE TETRASTEARATE TRIACETATE, SYNTHETIC WAX, ETHYLENE/ PROPYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER, MICA, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX / CANDELILLA CERA HYDROCARBONS / CIRE DE CANDELILLA, ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEEDBUTTER, BUTYLENE/ ETHYLENE/STYRENE COPOLYMER, CANDELILLA WAX ESTERS, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, DIMETHICONE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, METHICONE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX / COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / CIRE DE CARNAUBA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 6 LAKE (CI 15985), POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIISOSTEARATE, RED 6 (CI 15850), PRUNUS PERSICA (PEACH) KERNEL OIL, BHT

Without analysing all the ingredients in each one, which I won’t be doing, the hero ingredients do differ between the lip sleeping mask and the glowy lip balms.

From laneige.com:

Lip Glow Balm

Key Ingredient: Murumuru Butter, Shea Butter

Lip Sleeping Mask

Key Ingredient: Berry Mix Complex™

Comparison summary

Packaging

The packaging is a small and slim plastic squeezy tube, pretty common to other lip balms on the market. It’s easy to squeeze out your desired amount and you can use the applicator to also spread the balm on your lips. Hands free lip application is the most sanitary option, especially in these dark times, so I’m all for simple tubes because they do the job efficiently.

One of my pet peeves for lip products is having to use my fingers for application. I know that Laneige does provide this small spatula thing (which I already lost/threw away on day one) with the lip sleeping mask, but even if I did use that I would still need to keep it sanitised which requires unnecessary effort in my opinion.

Cost

The lip glowy balm only has 10g of product where the lip sleeping mask has 20g. Sephora sells the lip sleeping mask for $28 and the glowy balm for $23. So for an extra $5 you can get double the product of the lip glowy balm with the lip sleeping mask. I’ve used my jar for months (not consistently because of the packaging) and I haven’t made much a dent yet so I can vouch that it’s far better value. It will probably expire before I use it up. The cost of convenience however, is priceless. If I can get the glowy balms on sale (which I did), the difference isn’t that bad.

This is all in AUD by the way and cost varies depending on where you shop. This is more common for k-beauty since it’s sold through many different retailers. I would definitely recommend the Let’s face it online store (I’m not affiliated) if you are in Australia, their prices are competitive and shipping was super quick.

Performance

True to its claims, it does provide a lot of hydration and moisture to my lips, which are pretty dry but not cracked or anything. It makes my lips look very juicy with high shine, which I don’t mind since I’ve only been wearing it at home. It gives the same effect of the lip sleeping mask, glossy, non sticky lips.

In terms of its lasting power, I would say that it’s just as effective as the lip sleeping mask. You will need to reapply it after eating (depending on how heavy your meal was) but it does last if you’re just drinking and going about your day. I have applied it before bed as well and my lips have felt soft in the morning. The same result as using the lip sleeping mask. It’s marketed as use for daytime, but it also kept my lips moisturised throughout the night too. Either might not be enough if you have extremely dry or cracked lips, you might need to re apply during the night.

Shades

The tint is barely noticeable too so the difference colour wise across the different flavours is very minimal especially once on the lips. I would say they are pretty much transparent. Each flavour has its own scent of course, which is most detectable when freshly applied and isn’t offensive whatsoever. It doesn’t smell artificial which I appreciate. I’ve only used the Berry flavour of the lip sleeping mask so I don’t know if the other flavours have a stronger scent but the Berry one has a subtle yummy scent, as do these glowy balms. My favourite of the bunch being Peach. Grapefruit is a tad bitter which I don’t like as much but it’s also pretty subtle.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm – Swatched from top to bottom: Pear, Peach and Grapefruit

Final thoughts

Rating: 5 out of 5 (Love this, will always need it in my beauty arsenal!)

I really like these Lip Glowy Balms from Laneige. I enjoy its fuss free packaging and don’t mind paying a bit extra for this convenience. I would actually get use out of them for this reason which is worth it. I would say it’s incredibly similar to the lip sleeping mask in terms of how it feels and performs on my lips. Would definitely prefer these over the cult classic lip sleeping mask. If you don’t mind using a spatula or fingers, the latter is better value.

Have you tried these out yet? If you already own the lip sleeping mask, how do you think it compares? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Makeup favourites of 2018

January 2, 2019January 3, 2019 KimLeave a comment

2018 involved a swift expansion of my makeup collection because I went a bit bonkers with experimentation. I grew to love playing with and wearing eyeshadow and discovered a bunch of awesome products from different asian and western brands.

It was hard to pick one product from each category but I decided to pick them on the basis of what I used the most in 2018 and what I would use if I was in a rush that didn’t require much time and thought.

Foundation

I had to break this down into two sub categories since I enjoy using both cushion and normal liquid foundations and have tested many last year.

Cushion Foundation: COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion

COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion - SPF47 PA++ — COSRX Clear Fit Blemish Cushion – SPF47 PA++, Mochi like cushion.

This cushion provides amazing coverage (med-high) and I love the mochi cushion. It allows the puff to pick up an even amount of the foundation, resulting in using less. It doesn’t cake and shade #27 is pretty perfect for me. It contains centella asiatica, tea tree oil, adenosine and madecassoside so it’s a better option for times when I am battling breakouts.

Reviewed here

Purchased from yesstyle.com*

Liquid Foundation: MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof

Pictured right – MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation

I haven’t reviewed this on my blog yet but it was the foundation my MUA used on my wedding day. That was almost two years ago and I have loved in since. It provides buildable full coverage that you can sheer out if you prefer. I apply it with a kabuki brush for fuller coverage and I sometimes go over it with a clean damp beauty blender, just to mesh it all in. It’s matte but not a flat matte. It is definitely waterproof, I sweat heaps in summer and it has lasted. I’m in the shade #NC35.

Purchased from MAC.

Concealer

The Saem – Cover Perfection Tip Concealer SPF28 PA++

This was an easy choice, it provides the best full coverage, is cheap and it has SPF. It also comes in a few shades which is great for a korean brand.

Reviewed here

Purchased from yesstyle.com*.

Setting Powder

It Cosmetics – Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder

This loose powder, although it’s messy to use, really does make me look poreless. It doesn’t feel heavy and doesn’t cake on top of foundation. I apply the smallest amount anyway because it’s all I need. I do press it into my pores with my Wayne Goss Air Brush and have also used a makeup puff and both methods work well. It mattifies without drying out my skin and is translucent. Great for the sweaty humid weather here in Sydney.

Purchased from Beautylish.com

Bronzer

I have liked cream bronzers too but since they require a bit more time to apply I didn’t include any for this category. I also didn’t love any cream bronzers enough to include it.

Becca – Sunlit Bronzer

This bronzer is smooth and easy to apply. The payoff is sheer and buildable and the shade, Capri Coast, really compliments my skin tone. Because it isn’t matte, it adds a healthy dimension to the face. It looks shimmery in the pan but it doesn’t translate once applied on the face. Really lovely option for those who are after a healthy and warm complexion.

Purchased from Beautylish.com

Blush

Hourglass – Ambient Lighting Blush

This was my first taste of the amazing quality which are Hourglass blushes. The shade Diffused Heat was rated highly by Temptalia and I very much agree. It is so easy to blend and the color payoff is amazing. The marbling is so beautiful, making it a joy to look at and use. This shade is a peachy pink on me and gives me a healthy looking flush and really compliments my complexion.

Purchased from Mecca.

Honourable cream blush mention goes to the RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Shade #Illusive. I carry this in my gym bag and gives such a healthy flush to the cheeks. Reviewed here.

Highlighter

This was the year of discovery for highlighters for me. Two years ago I didn’t even wear any bronzer or highlighter, just blush, how things have changed 🙂

NARS – Highlighting Powder

My absolute favourite has to to be the NARS Highlighting powder in shade Fort De France, a newish release from NARS last year. It is so finely milled, so it never looks powdery or cakey and doesn’t emphasise any texture. There is no shimmer whatsoever, just imparts a wonderful sheen. The colour is also perfect for my skin tone. If you are after a natural looking glow without looking like a tin man or disco ball, this one would be for you.

Purchased from Mecca.

A couple of honorable mentions for cream highlighters. The Son and Park Cube Highlighter and the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer were two highlighters I enjoyed using throughout the year but I didn’t favour them enough over the NARS highlighter.

Eyeshadow

Last year was also the year of eyeshadows for me. I’m still not the most creative and experimental mainly because I’m lazy. It was really hard to pick just one eyeshadow palette…

Urban Decay – Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette

This palette is the most versatile, easy to use and colour payoff is just amazing. It has so many shades across such a good variety of spectrums that you’ll be hard pressed to not find a colour that you were after. The formula is also beginner friendly, both matte and shimmer shades blend and layer very easily. This palette can also take you from day to night, simple looks to smoky looks can be achieved which makes it the best all rounder palette in my opinion. Their Naked palettes have kind of bored me, never interested me enough to pick up but this got my attention right away. Has not disappointed me yet, love!

Purchased at Mecca.

Eyeliner

Also had to break this into two sub categories, as there were two standouts last year.

Clio Waterproof Pen Liner Kill Black

After using a couple of tubes of the Macqueen liquid liner (reviewed here), I thought it was time to branch out. The Clio Pen liner is so popular among the masses so I had to try it. I got it in Kill Black and it’s pretty darn good. It’s definitely waterproof, smudge proof and the pen applicator is brush-like and easy to use and control. I hate the stiff actual pen applicators since they catch on my lids and wreak havoc. It’s very similar to my beloved Macqueen liner but I feel like the product keeps longer, as in doesn’t dry out as quickly.

Purchased from yesstyle.com*

Shu Uemura Lasting Soft Gel Pencil Eyeliner

It’s been a hard task, trying to find a pencil eyeliner that doesn’t smudge on my hooded eyes. I have oily eyelids so I need something to stay put and not give me panda eyes by midday. Have tried many korean and western eye pencils and none have really passed this test. I bought this Shu Uemura eye pencil on a whim (#Dark brown) and it’s been a reliable friend ever since. It has a very precise tip and while it isn’t overly creamy, it’s creamy enough to glide over the lid without catching on anything. I don’t tightline (it’s very uncomfortable) and don’t apply it to my waterline either so I can’t speak for when it is applied in those areas but I can say that when I apply it over my lid, it never smudges. I don’t use it to create a wing or anything, I use it when I need a little definition, usually when I wear eyeshadow. Otherwise eyeliner is a step I’m happy to skip if I’m going to work or am in a massive rush.

If you have any recommendations for a reliable smudge proof eye pencil, please let me know because I’m always on the lookout for more affordable options.

Purchased from yesstyle.com*

Lipstick

I only have one pair of lips but I have accumulated so many this year. I have my favourite lipsticks in different formulas, mainly from NARS and MAC but the one I have chosen is the most versatile and no brainer option.

Dior Backstage: Dior Addict Lip Glow

This hybrid formula which Dior describes as a cross between makeup and skincare blew my mind. I thought it was just another overpriced, overhyped product but boy was I mistaken. There are three formulas, matte, original glow and holographic glow and I can only speak for the original formula.

Dior Addict Lip Glow – LTR- Coral, Berry, Pink

It contains mango butter so it’s quite hydrating and moisturising, best of all this feeling lasts, even through a meal. It gives a nice hint of color, contributed by a reaction to your body’s chemistry, as it uses Color Reviver technology to do this. This means that each colour will look different on everyone, pretty cool aye? It also leaves a sheen, making the lips look healthy, imparting them with a glow (true to its name). I can easily reapply without a mirror during the day which is the main reason I love it. It makes me look more alive without all the fuss of a normal lipstick. I have three shades, #berry, #pink #coral and I love coral the most.

Mascara

There were some great finds for mascara last year, some of them I’ve reviewed here.

Hourglass – Caution Extreme Lash Mascara

I don’t normally repurchase mascara because I enjoy testing out different ones and because of it’s short life span, you can easily do this.

This Caution mascara is definitely one that I will repurchase. It’s absolutely bullet proof thus making it very reliable. I have played basketball with this, have had my face squished in a massage and it’s lasted all day each time. I always curl my lashes beforehand but this gives the most fluttery and lengthening effect. It does give a little volume as well and also does a good job with lifting and separation of the lashes. So it pretty much does it all, without smudging and flaking.

Skincare favourites of 2018 to follow shortly!

Please note: links in this post marked with an * are affiliate links. They provide me with a small commission, if you should choose to use them for a purchase, without any extra cost to you 🙂

[Review] K-beauty lip balms/treatments (Missha, Laneige, Tony Moly, Nakeup Face)

March 30, 2018March 31, 2018 Kim2 Comments

Lip balms/treatments have always been a staple product for me and I’m sure I’m not alone here. I’ve tried many different types over my lifetime, most of which were from the drug store from brands such as Nivea, Carmex and Burts Bees. So pretty basic stuff which does the trick in terms of soothing my chapped lips.

Ever since discovering k-beauty, I have tried a few more. The packaging is so damn cute and colourful that I haven’t been able to help it. As well as being cute, they are also affordable. If you want to know how effective they are, please just keep on reading.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – Berry

This product has earned cult status big time! And there’s a good reason for it too. It is marketed as a sleeping mask, meaning you put it on your lips before bed, but you can totally use it during the day as well.

I generally use this before bed and I love how it feels on my lips. It feels very moisturising and comforting. The texture is like a thick lip balm and I apply it sparingly with my fingers. A little goes a long way. I have only tried the berry one and I love its (very) subtle scent of strawberry. There are also other flavours to choose from such as grapefruit, vanilla and apple/lime.

Its key differentiator from other lip balms is that when I wake up in the morning, my lips still feel smooth and hydrated, as if it had created a barrier of protection which really does last. I don’t feel the need to apply lip balm in the morning before my usual lipstick whenever I use this the night before.

Effectiveness: 10/10
Packaging: 8/10 (Not a fan of jars)
Tint: Transparent
Price: I purchased the mini set from Yesstyle.com which had the water sleeping mask for around $7. I recently purchased the full size for $19 AUD from bbcosmetics.com. Sephora AU now stocks Laneige and sells it for $26 AUD

Tony Moly Banana Lip Balm

Tony Moly has the cutest packaging in asian beauty. Period. As well as having great aesthetics with their packaging, they are also a massive powerhouse in innovation. Don’t let all the cuteness fool you!

This lip balm is on the thicker side so I tend to use it at night as the last step in my skincare routine. It’s easy to squeeze and is mess free to use. The lid is secure when fastened so no issues with leakage there. The texture is thick but glides on easily and isn’t greasy whatsoever. It’s very moisturising and I love the light banana scent which doesn’t linger. The scent reminds me of banana lollies. My lips also are still hydrated enough the next morning that I don’t have to apply more in the morning before lipstick.

Effectiveness: 9/10
Packaging: 10/10
Tint: Transparent
Price: I purchased it from from bbcosmetics.com for $7 AUD.

Missha Wrinkle Care Stick Lip Balm SPF10

This product’s packaging is more conventional and it’s more similar to lip balms you’d find in the drug store.

This is more of a daytime lip balm because it isn’t thick and sits well under lipstick. You can certainly use this at night as well by all means. It moisturises the lips and it lasts for a few hours (if you don’t eat) before you would need to reapply. The packaging is elegant because it looks like a lipstick with the bullet tip, making it a breeze to apply. Something to note is that it has a fairly strong peach scent which eventually goes away.

Effectiveness: 8/10
Packaging: 10/10
Tint: Transparent
Price: I purchased it from from ebay for around for $8 AUD.

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar

I couldn’t resist buying a couple of these glosses. The packaging got me again but thankfully the products are pretty good too.

They are more alike to lip glosses where there is a slight tint to them. There is also a shimmer to them which gives your lips a nice healthy sheen.

I tend to wear them alone during the day when I’m makeup free. You could layer it with a lipstick too but you would lose that nice sheen. They do provide moisture the lips but not as intensely as some of the others in the post. If I wanted to really hydrate my lips at night for example, I wouldn’t use this product for that. But decent enough for during the day. The stick form makes it easy to apply and the slim design hardly takes up any room in a purse.

I bought two shades, juicy orange and juicy strawberry. The orange one is more vibrant and you can see an obvious tint on my lips. The strawberry one is very light on me and kind of washes me out. Probably a better option for fairer skin tones. I prefer the orange one. There is a slight fruity scent for both but it doesn’t linger. They also both leave a light stain on your lips which is nice.

Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar - Left is strawberry, right is Orange — Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar – Left is strawberry, right is orange

Effectiveness: 8/10
Packaging: 10/10
Tint: Orange and pink
Price: I purchased them from iherb.com for around for $7 AUD each.

Nakeup Face You Can Eat Lip Balm

I haven’t tried anything from this brand before. These balms seemed popular so I thought I’d give it a go. I wanted to buy the clear one so that I could also use it as a glossy highlighter but that was sold out. I settled for #4 Coral and I’m glad I did.

This ended up being pretty transparent anyway though I am yet to try it on my cheekbones. As a balm for the lips however, it works great! It gives my lips a lovely sheen leaving it smooth and hydrated. This would be another balm for the day since it feels nice and light. Like the Missha, you could also layer this under lipstick too but I like wearing it alone. There is slight scent to it, which reminds me of the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, which I really like. This is also way cheaper and in my opinion, works just as well.

Effectiveness: 10/10
Packaging: 10/10
Tint: Transparent (on my lips anyway)
Price: I purchased it from Jolse.com for around 11 AUD.

Let me know if you have tried any of these lip products and if any of them are your HG. Also if you have any recommendations for me to try, I would love to hear it!