It's summer in my little corner of the planet, which means chapped and burned lips are on their way without an intervention!

I find it rather difficult to find lip care I really like to wear all day that works well, especially with SPF! Lip balms, masks, and treatments: what are some of your favorites, and why?

Drop your Lip Routine!

I've been having a horrible time with dry and irritated skin lately due to some lifestyle changes and changes in the weather.

 I have a few really great soothing products that I know will eventually get my skin under control, but I'd love to know what some of your favorite soothing products are and why. It might be time for me to update my collection and try some new things! 

So what is your stand-by soothing product for when your skin gets angry? Why do you love it?

Edit: wow this really took off! Thank you everyone for all your amazing recommendations! I'm having so much fun adding things to my list and learning about new brands, and I'm so happy to see so many of you love soothing products as much as I do!

Soothing Holy Grails

I don't use much in the way of cotton rounds since I use toners etc directly by rubbing them through my palms then patting it on, but I still use them for miscellar water. In order to try to be more sustainable, I'm looking into getting some reusable cotton rounds that I can just toss in the wash, but a lot of them are a bit pricey so I want to make sure they're going to do the job well and I'll like them before I make my purchase. 

So who here has switched to the reusable rounds? 
What has your experience been like? 
Are they worth it if you don't use them every day? 
And what brands do you recommend?

For those who haven't made the switch, are you thinking of doing so? If not, why?

A couple of the ones I was recommended were the Paula's Choice (which are actually pretty well priced), and the much more expensive but softer Bambu Face.

Reusable Cotton Rounds

I recently started trying micro current for a spin and got the Foreo Bear, which came with a sample of Serum Serum Serum. However, as much as I love the conductive serum, it is crazy expensive! 

Does anyone have suggestions for other serums or gels that have a lot of slip, no harsh actives like retinol or AHAs etc, and are water based and contain no oils? If it has oils it won't be conductive, and it needs a lot of slip to glide the device smoothly over the skin. I know aloe gel is often recommended, but I find it makes my skin sensitive, and although I could just get conductive gel used for ultrasounds etc but it's actually a bit difficult to get, and if I could find something that does not potentially clog my pores or gives my skin other benefits it would be better. 
I did see on an online forum that some people suggested trying the innisfree green tea seed serum, or the vichy mineral 89 serum. 
Any other suggestions?

Serum Serum Serum is too much Money Money Money

So we all have our holy grail products we adore, and I know a lot of us factor in affordability into whether it's an HG or just something we like. There's also plenty of pretty expensive products that we love so much they still make the HG list. 

But what about those expensive, bougie products that we had the privilege to try and were horribly disappointed in? What's a product by an expensive, bougie brand that you hated? 

My biggest disappointment was getting to try the Le Mer cream. I don't think I've ever hated a product so much. It smells HORRIBLE, like baby powder going bad, and the scent is extremely strong and cloying. It immediately broke out my skin, and it is incredibly difficult to apply! You have to warm it up on your fingers for a long time, and even then it takes so much pulling and rubbing I'm certain it would give me wrinkles with long term use! It also separates super easy if not kept at the perfect temperature, and is so thick it is hard to mix it back together. I can't believe there are people who spend $500 on it!!

Bougie disappointments

I got a smaller sized bottle as part of a kit, and it came in a dropper bottle, which was horrible for this consistency of serum. The pump bottle though looks like it would be perfectly fine.
If you don&#39;t like scented products, the scent of this one is light but it&#39;s definitely still there. 
I honestly have nothing bad to say about this serum.

This serum is packed full of skin soothing, brightening and repairing ingredients! From licorice, white willow and niacinimide, to gotu kola, beta-glucan, and snail mucin, it has everything you need to treat blemishes and strengthen your skin barrier. 

I absolutely love the ingredient list! I was shocked by how much they managed to pack into the formula, and how many of my favorite ingredients were included. Of course, the main stars are the various forms of cica and snail mucin. The serum itself is clear and nearly the consistency of a jelly at first, but it quickly melts into a thin liquid that easily absorbs into the skin. I didn&#39;t find it left any tackiness, which is surprising for a snail product. It has a light scent that is kind of fruity and refreshing. I did find it brightened my skin surprisingly quickly, and has definitely put my skin on the road to recovering from acne scars and all types of damage. I&#39;m excited to see how much more it can do for my skin longer term! 

Cost: $18-25 CAD per 50ml

The texture is oddly matte and it doesn&#39;t spread easily. Pills with some products. Feels very heavy. Left my skin very oily in the morning. Better for dry skinned individuals than oily skinned.

Great ingredients like niacinimide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Very occlusive to lock in your skincare and moisture at night. Not skin sensitizing.

Cost: $25 CAD per 1.7oz

It smells strongly of banana. However, it was not as unpleasant as I feared, and once absorbed the scent quickly disappears. It isn&#39;t a good moisturizer for very dry skin or for dry winter climates, and is best for a day routine paired with other hydrating ingredients. It is pretty expensive, but a little goes a long way so a single jar should last a very long time.

So I&#39;m personally kind of in love with this product. I recieved it as a sample and I was sceptical, but I think I&#39;ll definitely be purchasing it as a special treat in the future. It offers the right amount of hydration for my oily skin in the summer, and it has a beautiful, pudding texture. You need to use extremely little product to cover the whole face, and it absorbs without leaving any kind of film as long as you don&#39;t over-apply it. It probably won&#39;t be enough for most skin in the winter or for dry skin, but can be paired with other products like hyaluronic acid without pilling. It has anti inflammatory ingredients like turmeric and didn&#39;t give me any sensitivity, and even calmed my skin a bit when it was angry. It gives a very dewy and glowy finish.

Cost: $50 CAD per 1.69oz

Takes a lot of rubbing to work into the skin and prevent white cast. Pills with many products. Not very hydrating, so I wouldn&#39;t recommend it as a moisturizer.

Has great active ingredients like niacinimide and ceramides. Contains both mineral and chemical UV blockers. Did not cause skin sensitization. Minimal white cast once worked into the skin.

Cost: $17-26 CAD per 3oz

Nothing. I can&#39;t think of anything bad about it.

This cleanser combines black rice with 4 cleansing and nourishing oils; sunflower, macadamia, olive, and jojoba.

I love this oil! My skin loves the rest of the Haru Haru black rice line, so naturally I had to give this one a try too! 

It is unscented, which makes me very happy because I have sensitive skin and it&#39;s surprisingly hard to find unscented oil cleansers. It&#39;s quite a thick oil, and it removes makeup, sunscreen, pollution off the skin like a dream! I have extremely sensitive eyes and can&#39;t use most makeup cleansers, but this has never bothered my eyes once! It also leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft. It has also definitely helped rid me of a few very stubborn blackheads and oil plugs. The best part though is that when you emulsify the oil with water, it instantly becomes a rich milk that easily washes off. No more worrying about missing a bit around the eyes, nose or hairline! 

It&#39;s an affordable, effective, lovely cleanser and my new HG! 

Cost: $17-21 CAD per 150ml

SesameUnni