Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Valentine Review

This is going to be the year of lipsticks for me, I just know it. I find myself looking at lipsticks over tinted lip balms lately which is bizarre for me, but I ain't complaining! Both Catie, from Naturalla Beauty, and Britanie, from BeautybyBritanie, have given rave reviews of the Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Lipsticks which encouraged me to pick one up. Since I absolutely loved Mac's lipsticks in Lovelorn and Creme Cup, I went with Valentine.

Description: You need the protection only a lip balm can provide. But you want the full color coverage of a lipstick. Why compromise? Our lipstick combines lip-quenching botanicals with natural mineral pigments to give you all the benefits of both! Goes on smooth for long-lasting color. PARABEN-FREE!! No mineral oil, no FD&C colors. Only natural beneficial ingredients like coconut oil which penetrates and moisturizes lips, shea butter which protects your lips, sesame seed oil to heal and soften, vitamin E as an antioxidant, and pure botanical extracts which act as a 100% natural preservative. Valentine is catagorized as a medium pink matte.

The Good:

• hydrating!!!
• pigmented
• smooth application
• sleek packaging
• affordable

The Bad:

• settles into lip lines

Verdict: These lipsticks are so damn creamy and wonderful! What I hated most about Mac's lipsticks, besides the ingredients, were that they were drying regardless of formula. This lipstick applies like an opaque balm, so smooth.  I would say this is a light to medium pink with a slight sheen, definitely no frost or shimmer here! I think that's what put me off from natural lipsticks for so long, they all look frosted which I don't like. The pigmentation of this lipstick is great, but it can also be sheered out and layered with other lip products (ex. stain, gloss, etc). I prefer to add a gloss over top of this lipstick because it does settle into my lip lines. Gloss just makes my lips, and this colour, look more fresh and kissable. I like the silver tube because it's sleek and chic, as well as easy to find in my makeup bag. I am definitely interested in picking up a few more shades. Risque (medium berry matte) is calling my name!

Retails for $15 CAN. I purchased mine at Big Carrot but I'm sure there are a bunch of online retailers that carry it.  Check out Honeybee Gardens for more info.

Have you tried any of Honeybee Gardens' lipsticks before? What's your favourite shade?

Ingredients: canola oil, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) fruit, beeswax, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax, tocopherol (vitamin e), origanum vulgare (oregano) leaf extract, thymus vulgaris (thyme) extract, cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) bark extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract, hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) root extract. May Contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides, ultramarine blue, carmine, manganese violet.

Tea Collection + What I'm Drinking Today

There have been several studies that show health benefits of drinking certain teas, such as but not limited to green and white. Some of the health benefits associated with tea include immune boost, lowered cholesterol, weight loss, and cancer fighting antioxidants.  While all of those added benefits are great, I drink tea because I enjoy it and love the different flavours available. I prefer bagged over loose leaf, just personal preference.

Here is my current small collection of teas and my thoughts on each one.

Yogi Green Tea: I really enjoy this green tea for digestion.  When I eat way too much and feel full, I tend to reach for this tea. It tastes and goes down really nicely, it's not an intense green tea flavour which I like. I would repurchase.

Yogi DeTox: I actually just picked this up recently and is my least favourite in terms of taste. It's lemon and ginger with a kick of sugar and something else. I haven't been reaching for this all that much but do find it "cleansing" when I do drink it. I won't be purchasing it again.

Yogi Calming: I bought this tea a few months ago, when I was having trouble sleeping. It has skullcap in it which is a mild sedative (yes, I copied that from the box). There were nights when I drank this and fell asleep quickly and then there were nights when I couldn't fall asleep at all. I do find it very calming and I enjoy the chamomile taste. I likely will not purchase it again.

Pukka Chamomile & Vanilla: I love this tea! I have been drinking this one the most because the chamomile and vanilla blend is delicious and smooth.  I also find it really soothes any upset stomach and calms me entirely. I will definitely pick up another box of this!

The Yogi Green Tea Goji Berry is delicious as well, I went through 3 boxes of it and will be picking up another box soon. I really like the Yogi tea brand of teas but find the selection limited here in Canada.  Sadly, I cannot seem to order them directly from Yogi either.  If anyone knows where I can find them or order them from in Canada, let me know please!


What I'm Drinking Today (or already drank)

PUKKA in my moustache mug, which I love. I woke up with a tummy ache and went for this one. I swear my tummy feels so much better.

Do you have any favourite teas?