A Post on Red Lipstick - Paul & Joe Rouge #304

I was flipping through the November issue of MINA magazine and saw this!

Gorgeous red lips! As my lips are not hat nicely shaped, lipsticks are really a huge no-no. I usually end up looking extremely old (or like a cross-dresser) with conventional lipsticks. The only shade that I could pull off is nude (which I've got one in Dior Addict Lipstick #313) and Etude House's Dear Darling Cheek Tint that is in berry red.

Seeing that the model in the photo has rather thick lips and the Paul and Joe Lipstick looks so natural on her, more like a stain, I decided to make a purchase at ASOS as Paul & Joe has withdrew from the Singapore market this year. The parcel reached within two weeks' time. ASOS is providing good and timely service as usual.

The parcel from ASOS:

 The bubble wrapping that protects the product in the box:

As the lipstick case and the lipstick bullet is sold separately, they come in separate packaging which are shown in the photo below. The cardboard packaging is really pretty!

The lipstick casing is really elegant and feminine. Despite being made of plastic, it looks really classy and is something that you'll be proud to whip out in the wash rooms. While Dior Addict lipstick's packaging is sophisticated and modern; worthy for a career-minded woman, the packaging for Paul & Joe, with its gold rim and embossed floral patterns, is something you'll expect a girl on Paris Street to be holding.

In the magazine, it was written that the colour the model has used is #304 - Silk Stockings. However, after research done on the internet, it seems that #304 is more of a orange-red colour and not a rouge red with pinkish shade as shown on the model. Therefore, I ended up purchasing #304 instead and it is exactly the shade I wanted.

Here's the comparison between Etude's Dear Darling Tint and Paul & Joe lipstick:

Left: Paul & Joe #304 Rouge, Right: Etude House Dear Darling Tint #01 Berry Red.

As you can see, the colour for both is pretty similar. However, Paul & Joe's has this tweeny ween of pink in it and a meagre amount of glitter its formula.

I have read from a Taiwanese website that #304 clings to lips tenaciously and is harder to remove with a make-up remover when compared to other lipstick colours from the same range. Hence, I think this lipstick will serve as a great tint as recommended by the MINA editors. They have suggested to lightly dab the Paul & Joe on lips and spread with finger to achieve the translucent and natural rouge red lips.

As for the ingredients used in the lipstick, I can't say this Paul & Joe lipstick is totally toxin free, considering that parabens and petrochemical are employed in its formulation. However, these ingredients are frequently found in most lipsticks (unless you want to apply Badger tinted balms / Burt Bees, but has less color options), and you will not be able to shun them anyway even if you use other brands. If it will make you feel better, the ingredients are approved by the FDA and are in concentrations too low to result in health problems in humans (I have no idea if they will accumulate in your body, but if you are worrying, it'll be more wise to shun all kinds of lip products other than certified fully organic and natural ones). Here's the ingredients in the lipstick:

In all I am generally satisfied with the shade, the packaging and the wearing power of the lipstick. Its pretty cheap for its price and is definitely one of the lipstick that you may want to consider in buying.

The lipstick case is purchased at 10.90 SGD and the lipstick bullet, at 26.37 SGD on ASOS. However, the 10% or 15% promotion are applicable to Paul & Joe products when there is sales on ASOS. :)

Badger Balms Review- Antibug and Focus (Clear Mind) Balm

Introducing... the Badger Balms!

First came across these balms in NUS Co-op a couple of years ago when I was a student there. However, the balms were a tad costly for a student and considering that I have never heard of it before, I did not buy it.

Recently, I came across these balms again several days ago as I am shopping in NTUC Unity Pharmacy after knocking off from work. There were testers there and I can't really say I fell in love with the balms at the first sniff. They sure don't smell like any solid perfume and neither were they particularly pleasant (I took a whiff at the Sleep Balm, Muscle Rub, Headache Soother and the Stress Soother Balm). However, I was deeply attracted by the really pretty packaging. The badger pictures on the tins are like what you will see on children picture books!

As the balms were, like I say, not really dirt cheap, I went home and did some research on the Badger Balms and was pleasantly surprised that there were very good reviews on them. As they are 100% organic, they can be used on lips, face, skin and some of the users even find the balm handy in greasing their door hinges when they couldn't find a bottle of lubricant in their house!

Upon reading the good reviews on the balm, I went to Metro to grab a small tin of Anti-bug Balm (net weight: 21g, 11.90 SGD) and a large tin of Focus Balm from the Unity Pharmacy (net weight: 28g, 17.90 SGD, previously known as the Clear Mind Balm).

The Anti-bug Balm

I am pretty sure this balm will work as it smells strongly of lemon grass, a traditional scent used to repel insects. Bought this balm as its contained in small tin and can be carried around easily. This will be a great balm for kids as its completely natural and the bulk of the balm is made of olive oil and beewax!

The Focus Balm

Been studying lately and hence, bought this balm hoping that it will make me more refreshed. It smells strongly of ginger, with a hint of lemon and I do feel refreshed after dabbing it on my nose.
From the research I have done online, the scent of lemon, rosemary, peppermint, eucaplytus, ginger, grapefruit are good in aiding concentration and memory, and this balm contains lemon, ginger and rosemary!

The Product Itself...

The balm on the left is the Anti-bug balm and the left, the Focus balm. Both balms were surprisingly light and gets absorbed easily on skin without feeling oily. It feels less greasy than Vicks vapor rub! Heres a picture of my finger dabbed with the balm:

See the light sheen on my finger?

Despite the price paid for the two tins off balm, I am quite satisfied with the product and may purchase the Headache Soother and Stress Soother Balm next, if I am able to find them in small tins. Both contains lavender and they do give off this calmness generating smell. 

Do check these out if you'll like to have a tin of aromatherapy on the go! :)


Badger also produce other products such as the massage oil, lip balms, lip tints, sleep balms etc which are 100% natural. However, not all the products listed in the USA website is available in Singapore. 

Badger Balms can be found in Metro and Unity Pharmacy.
More details about the Badger Balms and their products can be found on the Singapore website: http://badgerbalm.com.sg/home.htm and their main website: http://www.badgerbalm.com/.