I came across this lip balm at Target and I thought it would
be an affordable dupe of the Sugar by Fresh lip balm (which is AMAZING), but
sadly that wasn’t the case.
Positives:
Packaging: First
of all, the box is adorable. I know that is totally pointless in regards to the
actual product, but the silver grapes and leaves on the side of the box are very
pretty and the grape on the top is a nice touch. What can I say, I appreciate
good packaging. The metal tube has a nice weight to it and the lid clicks on securely,
definitely not going to come off in your purse which is always a bonus!
Scent: Light
pleasant Vanilla scent
Taste: Little to
none
Color: Clear
Doesn’t test on animals. YAY.
Claims to be paraben free and SLS Free.
Now on to the
negatives….
Negatives:
Texture: Very
slick and thin, slightly oily. I was expecting it to be a much thicker and
hydrating formula, especially for the price. The product formula feels kind of
cheap.
Appearance: The
product itself is clear with a brown/taupe core (this is the grape seed
extract, I presume). Honestly the color in the core is a bit unappealing; I was
pretty surprised when I first opened it because I wasn’t expecting it. It
doesn’t offer any tint to the lips. This isn’t a HUGE drawback, but just
personal preference.
Wear time: very
short, half an hour at the most. And when it wears away my lips don’t feel
particularly moisturized. I definitely wouldn’t say this is intensely
moisturizing or to use as a treatment before bed.
Price: $10. I was
expecting so much more from this lip balm and it really just didn’t live up to
the price tag, in my opinion. I think you can find much cheaper and more hydrating
versions of balms.
Ingredients: The
product description on the packaging prides itself on being “restorative and
rejuvenating”. Also that the grape seed protects from aging. I find that
strange because one of the ingredients is mineral oil. As you may know mineral
oil is a touchy ingredient in the beauty world. It is often used in many beauty
products as a filler ingredient and IS NOT NATURAL, unlike the name
suggests. According to Naturally Organic
Skincare “Mineral oil may make dry skin look better temporarily, but it doesn’t
treat anything. As soon as you stop using it, the skin will go back to the way
it looked before. Even worse, since mineral oil increases aging, sun damage
and dehydration”. IT INCREASES AGING. While I can’t say my lips look
particularly older, this is a bit of a turnoff. Also the use of
trigger words like mineral and organic makes me question if the product
really is, if they are going to put mineral oil in it instead of a natural oil.
All in all I was very disappointed in this product. It’s OK.
I feel like it’s being marketed as something that it really isn’t, and that
doesn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t recommend this product on those grounds
and that I think you can find something better and cheaper or something that is of better quality and worth
the splurge.
Recommendations:
- Fresh http://www.fresh.com/US/lip-treatment/sugar-lip-treatment-sunscreen-spf-15
- Yu-Be http://www.sephora.com/moisturizing-skin-cream
- Smith's Rosebud Salve http://www.sephora.com/rosebud-salve-in-a-tube
More information on Mineral Oil:
http://www.naturallyorganicskincare.com/mineral-oil-side-effects/
