Like my nails, I often feel that my lips are one of the areas I tend to neglect a little bit when it comes to beauty routines. I'm generally pretty good at maintaining my skin and body care rituals, but all too often, my poor lips have to make do with a quick swipe of balm as and when I remember to apply it. In an effort to up my game, I've picked up a couple of new lip care products recently, so I thought I would put a little blog post together about my favourites.

1. e.l.f. Lip Scrub Exfoliator in Sweet Cherry* - I've mentioned this before and I still love it - I'm so pleased that I had the chance to try it after picking it up at the e.l.f. launch event earlier this year. It's essentially a moisturising lip scrub in bullet form, very effective at exfoliating and smoothing the lips without any of the mess involved in having to scoop the product out of a pot. At £4.50 it's very affordable, and it's so easy to apply and to carry around for use as and when you need it. All this and it smells amazing too! This is perfect to use as a first step in any lip care routine, as it gets rid of any pesky dry patches and preps the lips for smoother makeup application.

2. Emile Cordon Lip Pot in No1 Lisa* - I was sent this recently and it really is the most lavish lip balm I have ever owned. Beautifully packaged and scented with rose champagne, tea rose and strawberry leaves, it has a very soft texture and melts into the lips on application, feeling instantly soothing and softening. As beautiful as it is, the price tag of $42 is pretty steep, but on the other hand, it's a lot more than just a lip balm. Containing natural emollients, evening primrose oil and Vitamin E, it also works to plump the lips, soften lip lines and improve circulation in the skin. You can also use it as a cuticle balm, to soothe stubborn areas of dry skin and even as an eyeshadow base to create a dewy eye look, so it's something of a multi-purpose product. Plus, you get the added bonus of how pretty it looks displayed on your dressing table!

3. Glamglow Plumprageous Gloss Lip Treatment - This is my first Glamglow product and all I can say is that I'm really keen to try some more now! For a start, I've been completely seduced by the packaging - it's very slick and glamorous and I love the way the applicator pops up from inside the tube. The product itself is a mint scented plumping gloss. It's the first such product I've tried, so I can't compare it to any others, but I've heard of plumping treatments irritating the lips and making them red, which I haven't experienced with this one. There's a definite tingling sensation which lasts quite a while, but I don't find it too uncomfortable. It leaves the lips noticeably (and temporarily) fuller, but nothing too extreme - no danger of "trout pout" with this! - and it adds a lovely sheen too. You can wear it alone or over lipstick, making it a really nice product for an evening out or any time you want to add that little extra finishing touch to your lips.

4. Collection Lip Colours SPF 15 in Berry Blush - It had never really occurred to me to look for a lipstick with SPF before, but I love the idea of it, especially for days when you're spending a lot of time out in the sunshine. (Not much chance of that in the UK this summer, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared!) This range from Collection is cheap as chips and comes in a few colours, but I was particularly drawn to this pretty, wearable berry shade. It's a gorgeous formula - creamy and moisturising to apply and very comfortable to wear, with a glossy finish. These would be the perfect lipsticks to take away on holiday with you - not only do you get that sun protection from them but the packaging is nice and lightweight as well.

What are some of your favourite lip care products?

Kate x

*Gifted product. Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.