A Red Apple lipstick a day…keeps dull lips away “Lovebird” and Exfoliate stick reviews!

It is no secret that I love lipsticks, I have no problem running out of eyeshadows, foundations, blushes etc…but when it comes to lipsticks, that’s a whole different story haha. I was fortunate enough to be able to review two Red Apple lipstick products*. You may have seen them a lot in the green blogosphere lately and I understand why. They are particularly popular because they offer a wide range of gluten, paraben, nut/tree nut, fragrance, soy and toxin – free products. Promising, isn’t it?

I could have gone for two lipsticks – believe me, the temptation was strong – but instead, I opted for the shade called ” Lovebird IC1″ and the “Exfoliate stick”. This lip exfoliator piqued my curiosity because I had never tried any exfoliators in a stick form before. I usually make my own lip scrubs.

Sleek black packaging!

The exfoliate stick:
Once the exfoliate stick applied, I just let it stay there for a minute, then I wipe it off
with a dry cloth. I follow then with any lipbalm I have within arm’s reach, to get my lips feel really soft and ready for some lipstick action. The application of this exfoliator is hassle-free and surely less messier than my lip scrubs.
Regarding the ingredient list, most terms were familiar to me with the exception of “propylene carbonate”; after a few researches, I saw that it has a score of 1 on EWG and that it could be classified an irritant (but so far evidences were only shown for eye products.) Personally, I haven’t experienced any irritations or redness. Since using it, my lips are less chapped than usual. Not to mention that I can use it anytime, because of its practical packaging.
Ingredients: Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, kaolin, jojoba seed, cera alba, candelilla wax, stearlkoniuim hectorite, propylene carbonate

The lipstick: 
Lovebird IC1 is part of their “Lipstick instant color” series and while it looks like a peachy-coral shade, it rather translates as a soft bubble gum pink on my lips. The
formula is soft and creamy, bringing a right amount of moisture to the lips. The finish is satin, with a nice coverage. Depending on your natural lip color, the shade might appear a bit differently. It’s easily builable, to add more intensity, but right now I’m enjoying applying one or two coats for an easy breezy look. In terms of lasting, it also performs well : the color wore strong for good six-seven hours. Again, after checking the ingredient list, I was not really familiar with “synthetic beeswax”, so I did some researches, and saw that it has a score of 1 on EWG. On Cosmetics Info , it’s stated that synthetic beeswax is “a blend of fatty esters, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and high molecular weight hydrocarbons. The properties of synthetic beeswax resemble beeswax.”
Synthetic beeswax is very similar in consistency and viscosity to natural beeswax, but it has no colour or fragrance. So far no health concern regarding its use has been raised, some studies are still conducted regarding its impact on the environment, but for now, studies are not conclusive enough. For people who are allergic to bee propolis or any natural bee derivated products, this is actually very convenient. Again, Red Apple Lipsticks were specifically created to avoid most known allergens, making them accessible to more people.
Ingredients: Helianthus Annus – 100% pure organic cold pressed, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii, Synthetic Beeswax, All Natural Gluten Free – Soy Free – Corn Free Vitamin E Tocopheryl Acetate, May Contain: Titanium Dioxide ,Manganese Violet, Mica, Iron Oxide

Swatch time! On the right, one coat (after using exfoliate stick + lip balm, in natural daylight)