Lanolips Banana Balm 3-in-1 and Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour SPF 15 in Rose review+swatches

Lanolips lip products constantly receive good reviews from bloggers and youtubers (Sali Hughes, Sharon Farrell, Pixiwoo). I was lusting after the banana-scented lip ointment – I love bananas –and the coloured version since I have a lot of plain lip balms that I'm happy with at the moment. Recently there was an offer on boots.com, where you received the rose coloured product as a gift with every purchase of the banana lip ointment, so I had the opportunity to try both.

The Lanolips Banana Balm 3-in-1 is supposed to moisturise, create a lustrous finish and act as a protective barrier on the lips. To be honest, I don't think that this is a revolutionary claim. A good lip balm should offer long-lasting moisture as well as immediate relief, so I don't see the need for separate claims. The Banana Balm is essentially a very good lip balm with shimmer. Yes, it soothes and comforts the lips immediately, it has a long-lasting effect and the noticable - when swatched - glitter particles provide a flattering lustrous finish. However, naming this formula 3-in-1 is just a marketing choice. That aside, I do believe that this is an excellent lip moisturiser especially for the winter months due to its impressive lasting power. I suspect that I will particularly enjoy it during the festive season because of the sparkle in it. I can't wait to try it on top of any lipstick to create a more glamorous and Christmas-appropriate look.

The Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour SPF 15 in 'Rose', is an equally effective lip moisturiser with a mauvy pink-nude colour and no sparkle. I find the formula of this product to be the same as the one described above. Again, this is a great outdoorsy lip balm not only due to its protective properties, but also due to the added sun protection factor. 

Lanolips Banana Balm on the left and Lip Ointment with Colour 'Rose' on the right. The second looks great paired with a smokey eye – as you probably have guessed!

It is worth mentioning that both products get quite thick in cold weather and therefore it is difficult to squeeze the product out. I try to  do it from the end towards the tip because I had an accident with a similar product exploding out of the tube in the past. It's nothing to worry about though; lip products with naturally-derived ingredients tend to get harder during the colder months.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Cream Review + a Dupe

Bare Minerals promises to bring 'the best of a BB, a CC, and a tinted moisturiser...with a 215% increase in skin hydration after just one week*' with Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Cream. The product is essentially a tinted moisturiser with SPF30, suitable for normal to dry skin. It is also ideal for sensitive skin, as it contains no fragrance. (For more information on the ingredients, check Beautypedia's review of the product.)

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel-Cream in the colour 03-Buttercream

I do not think that Complexion Rescue can replace heavy foundation, as the company claims, because it is neither a foundation nor has it sufficient coverage to act as one. The coverage is rather sheer, good enough to even out skin tone but not to cover up proper redness. If you are looking for a new foundation, you might want to skip this product. If you have dry(-ish) skin that doesn't respond well to BB/CC creams, you will love it.

When I first squeezed some product out of the tube, I was surprised. The gel-cream texture was not new to me. It reminded me of a product I owned long ago, the Korres Ginger and Vitamins Foundation. Unfortunately, it appears to be discontinued, but you can still find it online, especially if you live in Greece. As far as I can remember, I wore the colour LF3, which was very similar to Compexion Rescue Buttercream, albeit a tad more olive. The finish of both products is dewy in a natural, non-shimmery, way. With Complexion Rescue, I find that if I powder my oilier spots, my skin stays reasonably oil-free for 4-5 hours. The lasting power isn't impressive, but it is not disappointing either for a mineral product.

All in all, I am happy with this product. It applies seamlessly and feels comfortable on my dehydrated skin, looks natural and offers a good amount of sun protection. I also like that I can build it up to ensure that I get the full SPF30 protection.

I find that it is much like your perfect pair of jeans - it can make you look great while you're still comfortable, but it will not give you the super polished  look that a well-tailored suit will.


Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue retails for 26,00£ but it is often discounted on Feelunique and Escentual.

I use Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply.