Lip Haul 1

Ever since I was a young girl I have been a bit lip balm user, starting with Bonnie Bell’s Lip Lix and Lip Sheers as well as my favorite Lip Smacker flavors Cookies ‘n Cream, 2000 Cookies, Sugar Plum (I would hope for a set with it every Christmas!) and Dr. Pepper.  

I have had countless types over the years and have also tried many lipsticks or lip glosses, but I always end up happier using a lip balm. It just works better for me in terms of all around usage from morning until evening. I recently picked up a few new lip balms at Ulta Beauty. I had never tried any of these before and wanted to share what I thought of them. 

Palladio Herbal Tinted Lip Balm in Sangria

I was looking for a red tint for my lips, but was not interested in a really bold or dark lipstick. I saw this tinted balm and thought it was a reasonable price to give it a try. It is called an “herbal” balm, which had me intrigued, but there wasn’t any information on the tube that said anything about the ingredients. The balm is made in Canada, which was something I had never seen on a makeup product I had purchased.

Price: $3.99

Tube: The tube is a typical lip balm tube. The design is overall quite plain, with a black tube and a label that depicts the color of the balm.

Scent: No scent.

Texture: The lip balm went on quite smooth. It is shimmery, but not gritty at all. 

Color: The red is a a more maroon/brownish red than bright red. When applied straight to the lips, and built up a bit, the color is actually quite impressively rich and bold. I also tried applying a clear balm first and then putting it on top. It creates a softer red color, but is still quite pretty. A gloss would work well on top as well.

Overall: I was initially quite pleased with this balm. It gave me the reddish color I wanted, but provided more moisture than a lipstick would. The more I wore it though, I found it a little frustrating. The color is much more rich than I expected from a balm like this, but I do think it requires a mirror to apply perfectly. It sometimes needed more work to build up to a nice smooth color depending on how my lips were and it also seemed a bit streaky at times if I looked up close. Instead of just quickly whipping it out and applying, it takes a bit more time to get perfectly applied. I would definitely try another color in this though.

Ulta Tinted Lip Balm in Pink Velvet

I have found Ulta’s products to be pretty hit or miss. I think they are a bit expensive for the quality, and I probably would not have ever tried this if my mom had not shared with me a $5 off $10 Ulta makeup coupon. The color selection wasn’t quite up my alley, but this shade looked good for a basic color. I was quite surprised to see that the balm was made in Italy though.

Price: $8.00

Tube: The tube on this balm is skinny, which makes it look a little fancier than a regular lip balm. The design is simple, with a dark grey body and a strip of color near the bottom to match the tint of the balm. The turn at the bottom of the tube that pushes the balm forward takes up a large part of the tube, which might make it easy to accidentally move it if you have it in your pocket or bag. I also thought that the turn felt a little loose, but so far have had no issues when moving it.

Scent: No scent, but has bit of a waxy/crayon smell when really sniffed.

Texture: The texture was very smooth, and was more moist than I had anticipated. This shade was also shimmery, but there was no grittiness to it.

Color: The color is a nice soft shimmery pink. I am often interested in wearing pinks, but never feel like I can’t pull it off. This pink seemed almost sheer though, matching the color of my lips, so it really just gave them a nice pop of shine and sparkle instead of bright color. 

Overall: I liked this more than I thought I was. I found the skinny tube to be a little worrisome though and the shape also means you don’t get as much product as a regular balm tube. I think this balm did stay on the longest of the three though, which is a great benefit. I liked the color a lot more than I expected and lately this balm has been the one I choose when I leave the house to go somewhere. I would not buy this at full price, but at a discount I found it to be a good purchase overall.

Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm in Key Lime

I had never seen this brand before and was instantly intrigued by the bright colors and fruity flavors that were offered.

Price: $3.99

Tube: The tube is a regular lip balm tube, but brightly colored to match the flavor. This one was a bright yellow-green. There is a monkey in the logo, which is shown on the front and also placed on the top of the cap.

Scent: Oh man, this thing smells delicious. It reminded me of a Skittles candy. All of the flavors that were available interested me, so it was a tough decision. The key lime felt more unique though, and really summery, so I felt like it would be a good choice. Anyone very sensitive to smells though may find this too scented.

Texture: It is incredibly smooth and buttery. It doesn’t not feel heavy at all, but is very moist. Maybe a little TOO Moist. It has a nice shine when first applied.

Color: No color. 

Overall: This has such an addictive scent and smoothness when applied. I really just wanted to lick it off! The smooth glossiness doesn’t stay on for too long though, so I have found myself reapplying quite a bit. The more used it, the reapplying started to bother me. It just seems like it sucks right into my lips after a few minutes. If you ever have tried Maybelline’s Baby Lips balms, I found it similar to those, which I haven’t had much success with on my lips. It is just so moist and intensely scented though, that every time I do apply, I feel like it is a treat. The packaging really caught my eye on this and the sunscreen aspect is also a big plus. Some of the other flavors were banana, coconut, pink grapefruit, and pomegranate. All sound perfect for summer, but I think I will hesitate before I buy another.