In Part 4 of my Lip Balms and Treatments series I’m reviewing three stick balms that are in the low-to-mid price range.
1. The Body Shop Lippy Stick Lip Balm in Strawberry (.17 oz for $5.29),
2. EOS Stick Lip Balm in Blueberry Acai (.14 oz for $3.29) &
3. Pixi by Petra Butter Lip Balm in Comfort Clear (.14 oz for $8.00).
Note, this series is dedicated to un-tinted lip balms. The Body Shop Lippy Balm says it’s a tinted balm but I found it had absolutely no color to it, and was actually totally unnoticeable on my lips, having no real gloss to it either. It’s a lot different than the jar version of this product, which I recall gave my lips a glossy look.
As for Pixi Shea Butter balm, I am reviewing the clear version of the balm, but it also comes in a selection of colors.
EOS also comes in different flavors, and is often found in the sphere/ jar shape. I am not of a fan of the sphere though.
My first stop in this review is at the ingredient lists.
Ingredients:
Body Shop Lippy Balm Ingredients:
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil/Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil (Emollient), Octyldodecanol (Emollient), Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate (Skin Conditioning Agent/Emollient), Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil/Meadowfoam (Limnanthes Alba) Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Sorbitan Olivate (Emulsifying Agent), Candelilla Cera/Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Cire de candelilla (Stabiliser), Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire d’abeille (Emulsifier/Emollient), Glycerin (Humectant), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance), Aqua/Water/Eau (Solvent/Diluent), Octocrylene (Sunscreen), Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cire de carnauba (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Synthetic Wax (Binder/Emollient), Homosalate (Sunscreen), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Sunscreen), Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Ammonium Glycyrrhizate (Flavour), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Coleus Forskohlii Root Extract (Humectant), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (Emollient), Olea Europaea Fruit Extract/Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract/Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Sodium Phytate (Chelating Agent), Benzyl Benzoate (Solvent), Sodium Citrate (pH Adjuster), Triethoxycaprylylsilane (Binder), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide (Colour), CI 15850/Red 7 Lake (Colour), CI 19140/Yellow 5 Lake (Colour), CI 77499/Iron Oxides (Colour).
EOS Stick Lip Balm Ingredients:
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire D’abeille)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract*. *Organic. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.
Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm Ingredients:
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polybutene, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol, Beeswax, Trihydroxystearin, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Phenoxyethanol, Vanillin. [+/- Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850)].
I was surprised to see how long the list is for The Body Shop balm, but the ingredients look good. Both EOS and Pixi have ingredients I am familiar with and find acceptable. They contain no petroleum or irritating ingredients.
Smell and Taste:
Pixi smells like a dreamy vanilla. I love it. I don’t find it quite a gourmand vanilla scent. And it’s not a cloying vanilla (if you’re familiar with Soap & Glory A Great Kisser in Vanilla Bean, Pixi does not smell like that). Pixi has more of a candy, delicious, sure to please all, feeling about it. Note that it does not have a taste.
EOS smells like blueberries, as you’d expect. I thought the smell and taste would be a little more subtle, but they’re quite noticeable. It also tastes sweet, as does the Body Shop Lippy Balm.
Born Lippy Balm smells of strawberry. It kind of reminds me of a Mamba candy. It smells nothing like fresh strawberries. I found the smell to be annoying.
Consistency:
In this category I like the consistency of EOS the best. It goes on very smoothly and feels silky.
Pixi is also smooth going on, but the stick tends to become very soft and pliable when too warm, and it can lose its original shape.
The Body Shop balm disappointed me in its consistency as well as in the taste and smell category. I suppose it’s easy to apply, but the balm didn’t have enough slip, substance, or wax to make me feel that I had anything on my lips. I really did not enjoy this Body Shop stick version of Born Lippy.
Packaging and Application:
All three come in plastic swivel up tubes, with long caps that cover down to the base of the stick. I can say that I’ve had several incidents of Pixi’s balm cap coming off in my purse. Luckily the balm didn’t twist up or make a real mess. Since it’s not tinted it probably wouldn’t do much harm anyway.
EOS’s packaging is very pleasing to see and touch. The tube feels lightweight but solid and trust-able. The cap seems to stay well.
The Body Shop balm comes in a cute tube with lips on it. That’s probably most of the appeal it has.
Efficacy:
I was surprised at how much I ended up liking the EOS balm. When I tried the EOS sphere balm in the past, I didn’t think all that much of the actual balm and I haven’t bought it again. But for some reason the stick version works and feels better for me.
I like Pixi by Petra’s balm. I’ve used it myself for a few years, and have repurchased it. I mostly like the simplicity of it, and the slightly glossy look. I adore the smell. And the packaging feels fun and feminine.
As for the The Body Shop balm, I am hugely disappointed. This was my first purchase from the The Body Shop in years, and I’m sorry to say that I have no incentive to buy from that brand again.
As usual, I’d love to get your comments or anything else you’d care to write!
Until later,
-JGG
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