I've long been on a search for my perfect nude lipstick. (I thought I found the shade in Nyx's Tea Rose, but that formula can't cut it in the Philippine heat.) Along the way, I found that I prefer balmy finishes to silky/matte lipsticks, my lips being eternally dry. The glossier finishes of balms help diffuse light and hide the gross flakiness.

My first day in New York I picked up Clinique's latest offering, the Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Curviest Caramel. I've been using it everyday!

I chose 01 Curviest Caramel, and while it's not the perfect nude shade I was looking for, it's a great MLBB color.

I've lost the box but the ingredients are listed as follows:

Castor Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vegetable Oil, Candelilla Wax, Beeswax, Ozokerite, Shea Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter Extract, Mango Seed Butter, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Tocopherol, +/- Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Mica, Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Carmine (Ci 75470), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Blue 1 Lake  (Ci 42090), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985)

Like their predecessor Chubby Sticks, these come in a twist-up pencil. So as not to lose the tapered tip, I swipe on color using the sides of the pencil and use the tip only for lining. It's great for chucking into my purse while on the go. The cover is secure enough that I don't worry about it accidentally slipping off.

Described as a "beige plum," this has hints of coral on my yellow-toned skin. Pigmentation is great, with nearly opaque coverage. The creamy formula applies evenly and has good wear time, a fair 4-5 hours on me. It's actually moisturizing, enough so that I only need use one layer of light lip balm prior to applying this Chubby Stick Intense.

In daylight it gives me a rosy sort of color but at night (and with flash), it's more mauve-y and nude.

I'm impressed with the formula and absolutely love this shade. I'm not a lipstick sort of gal so I probably won't be purchasing the other shades, but there is an extensive swatch post at theNotice.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm retails for $16 / 0.10 oz at all Clinique kiosks and boutiques. In the Philippines I believe it's PhP 920.