New NIVEA advert for their Lip Care Moments Campaign

So, I'm not one to post adverts on this site (although I once did for Dior Cherie because it was HOT. Sofia Coppola did a kicka** video for it). But I was sent this one and, frankly, I think it's pretty cool. Brands seem to be getting wiser to the idea of having a conversation with their customers. The music's cool, it's a pretty unique perspective (I think it's that of the tube of lip balm but it fails at some points) and I don't feel like I'm selling my soul to post it. Go figure... 

In any event, if you want to watch this advert from NIVEA, by all means do. I have a few times and the music reminds me of Esthero a bit... sort of upbeat and energizing like her Better Life collaboration with Ian Pooley all those years back. This song is Rebekkamaria’s Yours Truly. If you can't be arsed, then you don't have to! The beauty of a video versus a banner, non?

Jet set beauty | Clarisonic Opal and Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm

Whisking yourself away on a last-minute weekend trip somewhere tropical? I know, me neither. But for those of you who are (or still received a bonus), there are a few new jet set products out there that'll give you more room in that carry-on for the cruise collections.

The latest (not yet released) is the Clarisonic Opal, a miniature, flattened version of the Clarisonic that uses the same sonic technology but this time coupled with serum already loaded into the plastic pellet. The brush is smaller as it's meant to be used around the eyes. In the video, they demonstrate the way the sonic movements are better at pushing the product (in the case of Clarisonic Opal, already loaded into the device) into the cap of a mushroom than your fingers are at patting it on. I'm not entirely sure that our skin works in the same way as a mushroom so a bit baffled by that but any advances made in the field of exfoliation have my fullest attention. Price TBA.

The second bit of jet set beauty news is the launch of Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm, which hit shelves at the end of last year. Lost in the flurry of festive madness, it's now surfacing a bit in the press and is stocked at such fine stores at Beauty Cube in Spain and Barney's in New York. The famous floral scent from the elixir now comes in the form of an all-natural, sheer, blush-coloured balm. Ingredients include jasmine, orange flower oil, shea butter, beeswax, and castor seed oil all within a very cool lucite square compact (of the Belmacz packaging family. Love it). In London, Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm is stocked at Notting Hill's Beautyworkswest.com for £18 ($28).

Alternatives for the skinted among us:

Instead of Clarisonic Opal try, well, your hands. They're not moving at a sonic speed, but simple massage (done correctly can help). Emma Hardie and Sarah Chapman both champion a sort of dry traction massage that seems to work wonders in the short run (same sort of thing that's promised with the Opal).

Instead of Rodin Olio Lusso lip balm try Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm. It melts right onto your lips, stays put for ages and truly does moisturise them (it's brought my lips back from the brink of completely chapping many times). I find things like Vaseline just exacerbate or mask the problem. This afforable product (half the price) works. Available at Spacenk.com and many chemists for £9.00 (in all the chemists in France).

New and good: Korres Guava lip butter

Brand new from Korres, the Guava Lip Butter (£6) is already a firm favourite (we've been testing them since mid-December). They're enriched with shea butter and rice wax and free from nasties like mineral oil and ethanolamine. It’s a healthier option for keeping lips in tip-top condition through harsh, cold outdoor weather and bone-dry heated houses during the winter. And with stars like Charlize Theron and Goldie Hawn counted as fans of the original Guava Body Butter, we’re sure this is going to be a similarly addictive treat. We like the Wild Rose lip butter too (has a very subtle and flattering red tint).