Lip Products

Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

The Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask from Ilia is a lip treatment that claims to gently exfoliate, nourish and hydrate the lips while providing a soft, smooth, plumped feeling.

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mango Butter Dimer Dilinoleyl Esters/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaoleate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Hydroxystearic Acid, Aroma, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, Silica, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).

Salicornia herbacea extract is said to improve hydration up to 6000% for smooth and supple lips. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, drawing moisture to the lips. Papaya enzymes gently exfoliate the skin, improving absorption of other ingredients. Plant butters and oils nourish and soften the lips over time. Undaria pinnatifida extract is a type of seaweed that is hydrating and soothing and acts as an antioxidant. Geraniol, limonene and linalool are fragrance ingredients.

Directions: Apply a thin layer during the day and/or before bed as a lip mask. Can be worn under lipstick. Due to the gentle exfoliating properties, the lip treatment can be applied up to a few times per day.

Ilia Lip Wrap is a balm-like treatment that has a bit of a herbal scent/taste. It feels nice on the lips initially, not too heavy. It makes the lips a bit shiny, but not sticky. I’ve used for 2 weeks thus far, two to three times a day, in the morning, sometimes afternoon, and as an overnight mask. My lips are generally dry and can get flakiness.

A number of times I’ve applied this, after about 15 to 20 minutes, the lip balm seemed to soak in really fast, leaving my lips feeling much drier with quite a bit of flakiness. The lips look smoother and little plumper while the balm is applied, but there are no real short or longer term benefits. As an overnight mask, the Lip Wrap does not last on the lips until morning. In the 2-week photo above, my lips look and feel drier with dry surface skin and a couple cracks, worse off than in the before photo. The lips are not smoothed, nourished, hydrated, plumped or exfoliated. Lip Wrap gives similar results to the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, although feels nicer on the lips.

I would stick with my must-have lip balm Quench from My Best Face Skin Care. As an overnight treatment, I layer squalane oil over Quench for soft, hydrated lips the next morning.

I will not repurchase Ilia Lip Wrap Hydrating Mask.

Yes / Almost / No / Not Anymore

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 3 Comments

I started my beauty story here back in 2015; below is a summary of my must-haves (I don’t have many; a product must provide great results to make this list), favorite repurchased beauty products that provide great results (yes), particularly bad products (no), those that are close to being favorites (almost) and ones I will no longer purchase (not anymore). For reference, I have oily/combination skin that is prone to congestion, breakouts and hyperpigmentation. My hair is dry, thin and frizzy.

No:

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. Drying. Not much improvement.

The Ordinary Suncare. Heavy and leaves a very noticeable white cast.

Drunk Elephant Slaai. Waxy and irritating. Used on my hands as an overnight treatment and my hands were so dry in the morning.

Abnomaly Petrowhat? Drying. No improvement.

Going blonde ruined my hair. Ended up having to cut about 8 or 9 inches of damage.

Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser. Does not cleanse or rinse well.

Must-Haves:

Follizin Hair Renew Leave-In Hair Masque. Improves frizz, silkiness, softness and moisture.

Your Best Face Skin Care Quench. Antioxidant lip treatment hydrates, protects and heals dry cracked lips after only a couple applications. Rose Otto seems the most moisturizing.

IPL/Photofacial. Improves sun damage, hyperpigmentation, scarring, blemishes, redness and aging skin.

Briogeo Blossom and Bloom volumizing spray. A lot of volume. Extends hairstyle and wash day.

Retin-A. Improves acne, scarring, texture and fine lines (review coming up).

Favorites:

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade and brush No. 12. I still need practice, but with this, eyebrows look full and natural.

Mixed nylon/boar bristle brush. Distributes oils. Removes dust, debris and static.

Got these scissors from Amazon. Great for trimming my bangs while the salons are closed. I found a great tutorial on YouTube from A Model Recommends https://youtu.be/EArJrHbbFrA

Boar bristle dry brush for daily body exfoliation.

Keratin straightening treatment. No frizz. Silky, healthy hair (review coming soon).

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser. Smooths skin and improves redness and bumps.

The Chemistry Brand Heel Chemistry. Hydrates and softens skin on the feet. I use in conjunction with KP Bump Eraser.

Cosrx Blackhead Power Liquid. Took a while to see results, but improved blackheads and texture.

Klairs Toner Mate Cotton Pad. Particularly love the sponge cotton pads for applying products with a thin formula.

Amarte Daily ExfoliPowder. Gentle daily exfoliation as a second cleanse or morning cleanse on its own. Improves texture.

BioBliss Lash Serum. Thicker and longer lashes.

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics. Layer with toner or water for hydration and plump skin.

NIOD Sanskrit Saponins. As a mask and cleanser, improves texture and oiliness. Skin feels smooth.

Kopari Coconut Deodorant. Fantastic odor protection. I wonder if I can layer with Drunk Elephant’s Sweet Pitti which is really good at absorbing sweat.

Drunk Elephant TLC Happi Scalp Scrub. Exfoliates the scalp. Hair feels lighter and has more volume. Makes a good exfoliant for the face as well.

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser. Removes makeup and sunscreen. No residue or irritation.

Almost:

Laneige Cream Skin. Moisturizes really well. Leaves a layer over the skin and I’m not sure that other products penetrate as well or as fast (review coming soon).

Etude House Sunprise UV Protection. Light weight. No white cast. Enhances dry patches and mixes with thin foundations.

Drunk Elelphant Sweet Pitti. Really good at absorbing sweat with applications throughout the day. Odor protection could be better during activity and when out in hot weather.

Not Anymore:

Your Best Face Skincare Balance. Was a must-have, however, with a reformulation, this no longer functions to absorb oil. The previous version stopped shininess and gave a matte finish to the skin. I no longer had to use blotting papers and this prevented foundation from moving around throughout the day.

Akita Hand Cream. This, too, was my must-have. After a recent purchase, something changed in the formula and it is no longer anywhere near as hydrating and leaves an almost dry feeling on the skin as it is rubbed in.

Thank you for visiting.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 2 Comments

The Lip Sleeping Mask by Laneige is an overnight treatment that claims to reduce flakiness and fine lines, and soothe and moisturize for smooth, soft and supple lips.

Ingredients: Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl / Isostearyl / Cetyl / Stearyl / Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax / Cera Microcristallina / Cire Microcristalline, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Synthetic Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax / Candelilla Cera / Cire de Candelilla, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Butylene / Ethylene / Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene / Propylene / Styrene Copolymer, Mica (CI 77019), Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Dimethicone, Fragrance / Parfum, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax / Cera Carnauba / Cire de Carnauba, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 6 (CI 15850), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Water, Potassium Alginate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside

The mask contains Moisture Wrap technology that forms an 8-hour time-release moisturizing layer on the skin that locks in active ingredients, and Berry Mix Complex that is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Directions state to apply a generous layer to the lips in the evening, leaving on overnight and wiping off or cleansing in the morning.

I got the mini size original lip mask as part of the Goodnight with Laneige kit that included the Water Sleeping Mask. I had gone camping last week and forgot my Quench lip balm, and my lips got quite dry, had some flakiness on the bottom lip and a couple cracks, so took this opportunity to try the lip mask.

It has a slight berry scent and taste. It applies smoothly with a bit of a sticky, heavy feeling on the lips. I applied with my fingertip and when rinsing with just water, there was a thick oily layer left on my finger, so needed soap to wash it off. It had taken me about an hour to fall asleep and by then, the mask had absorbed into the lips by about 50%. It has good staying power and I still felt it on my lips in the morning.

In the morning my lips felt a bit sticky and not as moisturized as I would have liked. They look okay in the “morning” photo. After cleansing with my regular cleanser, it looks like the mask helped with some surface hydration, but there is still a visible dry layer.

Above, I took a photo 20 minutes after cleansing as my lips felt drier and the three cracks on the bottom lip are more visible.

In the photo above, for a closer comparison, the surface hydration is better; the lips feel dry, however, and I still feel the flakiness on the bottom lip.

I also tried a small amount of the lip mask during the day and it made my lips drier and flakier than they were to begin with. To use up my mini jar, I might try it over lipstick to give a bit of shine, but wouldn’t put directly on the lips again.

The above photos were both taken the morning after their respective evening routines. I wanted to see how my regular evening lip care routine compared to the lip mask, so the next night after cleansing, I misted my lips with water, added a drop of The Ordinary’s Marine Hyaluronics, followed by my long-time favorite, Quench Lip Treatment Balm by Your Best Face Skincare, and Biossance 100% Squalane Oil. My normal routine performed much better than the Lip Sleeping Mask. In the morning, my lips felt moisturized and soft and the three cracks on the bottom lip were nearly gone. There appeared to be fewer fine lines (likely due to so much moisture and softness) and I felt no flakiness on the bottom lip.

While the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask improved surface hydration, my lips still felt dry and flaky. I would not repurchase.

Thank you for reading.

Abnomaly Petrowhat Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 1 Comment

Abnomaly Petrowhat is Deciem’s recently launched lip and skin ointment that can be applied to lips and dry areas of the skin and claims to hydrate, protect and repair dry skin from the first use. This is not a lip gloss.

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Ingredients: Squalane, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Stearate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Arginine, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, PCA, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, Isochrysis Galbana Extract, Tocopherol, Aroma (Natural Flavour).

The first ingredient is squalane, an emollient oil that hydrates and prevents hydration loss. Sucrose laurate and sucrose stearate are also emollients. This lip treatment contains amino acids which can hydrate, repair and act as antioxidants. Adansonia digitata seed oil is another name for baobab oil, containing fatty acids and vitamins which moisturizes and has a silky feeling.

I bought the coconut milk flavor that reminds me of the beach. It has a mild coconut scent and flavor and is not sweet tasting. The scent is stronger than the taste. The ointment comes in a metal tube, which is problematic; once the seal is pierced, a lot of product rushes out of the tube.

I’ve used this balm for a couple weeks now, about three times a day. On initial application to the lips it has an initial wet silky feeling, not particularly oily, and somewhat shiny. This silky feeling and shine lasted a few minutes as it absorbed into the skin. Once absorbed, about 15 or 20 minutes later, the lips had quite a dry feeling with almost peeling skin.  This product actually made my lips dry. A lip treatment I like much more is Quench.

I get dry patches of skin on my hands every couple months, almost eczema-like with peeling. I tried Petrowhat on these dry patches as well. On initial application I had immediate relief of the soreness that comes with very dry skin. The ointment absorbed rather quickly, as my hands were quite dry and then left a kind of dry protective layer on my skin that lasted quite a while. So, while this protective layer was nice for my hands, it made my lips really dry. I’m not sure that these dry patches healed faster than with a good hand lotion or something like jojoba oil, but Petrowhat did offer a protective layer on my hands and would likely work well over a lotion or other oil.

Before
5 minutes after application
30 minutes after application

I won’t use this on my lips anymore, but will continue to use my tube when I have dry spots on my skin. I will not repurchase.

Esho Sculpt Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ 1 Comment

Esho Sculpt is a lip treatment created in collaboration with Deciem and Dr. Tijion Esho, cosmetic doctor. Sculpt is a treatment with actives and peptides sold as an alternative to invasive lip fillers. This product claims to encourage lip volume in minutes and over the long term, as well as enhance shape and tone. Sculpt can be used in conjunction with another Esho product, Drench, to encourage hydration, which I have also used.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Tripeptide-29, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Methyl Nicotinate, Stevioside, Isosorbide Disunflowerseedate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polyglycerides, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Aroma (Flavour), Hexapeptide-3, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Hibiscus sabdariffa Flower Extract, Commiphora mukul resin extract, Swertia Chirata Extract, Ornithine, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Aspartic Acid, Phenylalanine, PCA, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Trehalose, Urea, Allantoin, Levulinic Acid, p-Anisic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycolipids, Phospholipids, Lecithin, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium metabisulfite, Sodium sulfite, Sodium Chloride, Ethoxydiglycol, Triethanolamine, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol. 

Methyl nicotinate produces redness and inflammation of the lips for a short time by causing capillary dilation and an increase in blood circulation. Stevioside is a sweetener from the stevia plant. This product has amino acids and sugars.

This is very sweet-tasting, fruit-flavored (guava I believe) that I think would have been better in mint or at least less sweet, and I don’t particularly want glucose and fructose by my teeth.

Esho sculpt
Top photo – before; bottom photo –  3 minutes after application. The photo doesn’t do it justice, but all around the lip got red up to the nose and there was a slight increase in volume.

I’ve been using this for 4 months, morning and evening. On my first use, I put too much on and then made the mistake of touching my tongue to my lips which then went a bit numb. My lips got quite red all along the lip line and up to my nose and my lips felt wind-burned. On subsequent uses I applied less, but the redness still occurred up to my nose and my lips felt wind-burned, albeit less so, and over time my skin got used to it. It was nothing I couldn’t handle and not a deal-breaker. The initial maximum redness, slight volume increase and wind-burned feeling lasted about 5 minutes and the lips went back to normal after about 15 minutes.

Sculpt absorbs quite quickly and then leaves a dryness. Deciem recommends using Drench over Sculpt for “additional hydration,” to me implying that Sculpt would be a bit hydrating, which I didn’t find to be the case.

Top photo – before; bottom photo – results after 4 months

I was actually very surprised by the after photo, as I saw no results in the mirror, but after 4 months there is increased volume, uniform color and nice shape. My results are more subtle than other before and afters that I’ve seen.

It seems the partnership between Deciem and Dr. Esho has ended, and the Esho products will not be continued through Deciem; perhaps Dr. Esho will continue the formula and sell the lip treatments. If so, I would purchase Sculpt again.