What it is: ColourPop Lip and Cheek Balms are multi-use cream products that can be used as blushes or tinted lip balms. 

Price/Quantity: $12 for 4.75 g / 0.17 oz

Availability: ColourPop exclusive

Shade Range: 3 shades, can be purchased as a set for a small discount or individually.

Packaging: Plastic heart shaped compact with a mirror inside and a snap closure. It has a notch at the very bottom of the heart point where I can use both of my thumbs to pry the lid apart from the base to open it. I feel it is easy to open and stays shut securely. I don’t think the pan is removable from the compact.

Smell/Fragrance: It smells like nothing to me. The very bottom of the ingredients lists some different fruit oils, but they don’t seem to add any kind of scent to the product.

Expiration/Shelf Life: I don’t see an indication of expiration on the product itself or the box it came in.

Ingredients:

PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, TRIISOSTEARIN, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, POLYETHYLENE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, POLYBUTENE, SYNTHETIC BEESWAX, STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE, ZINC STEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIETHYLHEXYL SYRINGYLIDENEMALONATE, THEOBROMA GRANDIFLORUM SEED BUTTER, TOCOPHEROL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, FRAGARIA VESCA (STRAWBERRY) SEED OIL, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNEL OIL, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) SEED OIL, SAMBUCUS NIGRA SEED OIL, ALUMINA, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77499), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140).

ColourPop.com

Performance

I picked up Heart’s Content, which is the lightest shade. It’s a neutral, maybe even leaning warm light-medium pink with no shimmer or sparkle. Color payoff is buildable easily going from sheer to very noticeable on me if I layer it up. It’s not very dewy and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tacky/sticky. Just looks like a natural skin finish. My hair doesn’t really stick to it unless I try hard to make it happen.  I have lighter and cooler pinks and I feel the depth and warmth of this is just right for my skin tone. 

It feels somewhat firm in the pan but is creamy enough to pick up easily with a quick swipe of the finger. I can apply it to the cheeks with my fingers but the firmness of the product requires a bit of effort to blend it out. Using a brush is much faster and easier. The product has a lot of wax in it and as a blush, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling overly balmy, greasy, or sticky. As a lip balm, personally, I think it feels a little too waxy and not necessarily hydrating or protective. It applies easily to the lips, stays on decently well and doesn’t have much of a shine.

I’ve tested it for wear time twice (8-10 hours) and I can tell it fades by the very end of the day but doesn’t disappear completely. For most of the day, I notice no fading at all. It’s only by the very end that I see noticeably less color on my cheeks. As long as I apply it a bit heavily early in the day, it holds on well enough.

Comparisons

Swatched from left to right, I have:

• ColourPop Lip and Cheek Balm in Heart’s Content
• Elf Liquid Blushes in Pinky Promise and Dusty Rosé
• Saie Dew Blushes in Baby and Chilly
• Too Faced Cloud Crush Blurring Blushes in Candy Clouds and Velvet Crush

Elf Liquid Blushes are way more pigmented but leave a similar finish on the skin (not overly dewy and not dry/matte).

Saie Dew Blushes are dewier, stickier and are more geared toward drier skin types. If you have oilier skin, you’d probably like the ColourPop or Elf blushes better.

Too Faced Blushes are just here for color reference!

What they are: Elf Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pens are sheer balmy lip products that lie somewhere between a lip balm and a lip gloss. None of them have any shimmer or glitter and they have a lightly minty tingle. They are supposed to plump but I don’t get much of a plumping effect. They are hydrating and I feel that helps to give the lips a smoother appearance.

Price/Quantity: $8 for 0.07 oz / 2.0 grams

Availability: Elf, Walmart

Shade Range: 8 shades

Packaging: Slim, plastic click up pen. It has a button on the bottom of the pen in a color matching the shade inside. I have to press the button 3 or 4 times to push the product up enough to swipe over the lips.  Once I push product up, it cannot be retracted back into the pen like with a twist-up style lip product. The lip product itself is very soft and melts easily so this kind of packaging works well. The lid snaps off and on with a good amount of tension. It doesn’t feel like it will fall off easily but isn’t too difficult to remove either. The names of each shade are on the pens on the bottom of the button but the lettering is so tiny and so thin, it’s nearly impossible to see without the help of a magnifying glass. The white label I’m showing on the lid below is just how I decided to make my life easier so I know the name of each shade as I grab for them.

Smell/Fragrance: These have a light scent that reminds me of coconut oil (which is not listed in the ingredients) and a very faint sweetness. It doesn’t seem to me that these were made to smell intentionally fragranced as the scent I do pick up on is barely there. They do have a cooling minty sensation that is a bit more noticeable than the mintiness that was in the Elf Glow Reviver Lip Oils (review). There is no minty scent though. 

Expiration/Shelf Life: 12 months after opening.

Ingredients:

These are the ingredients for the shade In The Clear. The other shades have very similar ingredients listed and the “MAY CONTAIN” section varies a bit for each shade.

Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol; MAY CONTAIN: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

elfcosmetics.com

Performance

Shade Selection: None of the shades contain any shimmer or glitter and I LOVE that there is a completely clear option in a formula like this. I often apply a lip balm or lip mask when I start doing my makeup so that if I feel like wearing a lipstick at the end, my lips are all prepped. The clear one is perfect for this. 

The shades are all different enough from each other to tell them apart once they are on the lips. Just Peachy and Pinky Out look too similar when swatched but Just Peachy is noticeably much lighter on the lips. Bust A Mauve and Wicked Cherry are pretty close but Wicked Cherry is more red.

Application: These apply about as one would expect — just swipe across the lips like a lipstick. A couple of passes very easily transfers product and color. For some of the deeper shades, I found it helpful to have a lip brush nearby to smooth out the edges of my lips. Because the product is so melty it’s not hard to lose precision. That meltiness also makes me feel like I’m using a lot product each time I apply one of the shades, and could quickly run through an entire pen. 

Texture/Consistency/Finish: These melt easily when they come in contact with the skin. They feel like a cross between very thick lip gloss and a very melty lip balm. Pressing my lips together, the product doesn’t feel like it is too thick or heavy and it is not sticky or goopy at all. They feel soothing and protective like a nice lip balm. Swatching these wasn’t the easiest thing because a lot of product would come off in patches as I moved it over my skin, leaving a thick uneven looking swatch. I smoothed over pretty much every swatch with a brush but here is how it swatches without me messing with them and how the product looks in the tube afterward.

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: I can get sheer but noticeable color from these. They can be applied a bit more lightly for a pretty natural look or I can layer them up to get the color to pop more. I feel like I have a good amount of wiggle room for layering these before they start to look too thick or uneven on the lips, but they do have a limit. The midtone and deeper shades are easier to apply more heavily but the lighter shades like Just Peachy and Pinky Out start to look goopy on me if I apply too much.

Longevity: These are thick enough and stay on for a few hours if not touched. They don’t absorb or evaporate or seem to disappear on their own. If I eat or drink they do easily transfer but even then, they still hold on pretty well. I wore one to work and drank water throughout my shift. After a couple of hours, I could tell the product had worn away from the center of my lips but was still holding on around the edges of my lips. Where it was still holding on, it maintained its comfortable balmy feel.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• The clear one is nice as a lip balm alternative or lip treatment before makeup.
• Minty feel.
• No shimmer.
• Feels really comfortable and smooth. More moisturizing and soothing than a waxy lip balm and thicker than a lip gloss or lip oil.
• Good price.

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• It seems like I could use them up quickly.
• The lighter shades don’t build up as well as the deeper ones and can easily look goopy.
• I don’t really see plumping from these. They help fight dryness and keep my lips moisturized which helps them to look a little more smooth.

Do I Recommend Them?

I definitely recommend the clear one for anyone as an alternative to a lip balm. For the ones with color, maybe go for shades that are a bit deeper than your natural lip color (just based on how the lighter ones applied on me). If you actually want them for plumping though, you’ll probably not get what you’re hoping for.

Swatches

In The Clear

In The Clear is a totally clear, shimmer and sparkle free shade with shine nearly like that of a lip gloss. It doesn’t have the same wet, glassy effect of a gloss, but has more reflect than a lip balm.

Just Peachy

Just Peachy is a super pale peach. This one is surprisingly too light for me. The arm swatch is heavier than the lip swatch. I can see this one settling into my lip lines and it become more obvious the more I build it up. Out of all the shades, I enjoyed this one the least.

Pinky Out

Pinky Out is a light warm pink. This one is a bit better for me than Just Peachy for a natural/neutral looking color but can also look heavy/goopy if I apply it too heavily on the lips. I don’t notice it settling into my lip lines as much probably because it’s just deep enough of a color.

Toasted

Toasted is a light peachy caramel. It’s not too orange and not too brown and not too light lol. If you’re into brownish shades, this is an interesting one. On my lips, it pulls a bit more pink because of the shade is sheer and my natural lip color kind of skews the overall effect. I can go a little more heavy handed with application starting with this shade as well as the rest below without it looking bad on the lips.

Bust A Mauve

Bust A Mauve is a medium coolish mauve. This one is a little deeper and cooler toned than I usually think of mauve being.

Wicked Cherry

Wicked Cherry is a medium-deep brownish red. It’s is somewhat similar to Bust A Mauve but more red and warmer.

Red My Mind

Red My Mind is a medium-deep pinky red.

Plum On Over

Plum On Over is a deeper reddish berry.

What they are: NYX Fat Oil Slick Click Lip Balms are tinted glossy lip balms that come in a click-up stick format. They are solid like a lipstick in the packaging but melt quickly upon application. One or two swipes across the lip leave a generously thick but even coating of color and juicy shine. They come in 12 shades in a wide variety depths and colors. Some of them have shimmer and sparkle but most have a cream finish. They have a moderately strong fruity/sugary scent but don’t have much of a taste. It is most noticeable upon application and it lingers for a short while after but it seems to fade in intensity very quickly. These are $11 each and can be purchased from NYX and Ulta.

Packaging: These come in slim plastic housings with a click button on the bottom. The product sits inside in a stick format like a lipstick and is pushed upward each time you click the button on the bottom of the packaging. I need to click several times just to move the product up a little bit but it moves fast enough that I don’t find it frustrating. The cap stays on securely and pulls off relatively easily with a tiny bit of effort. I purchased these directly from NYX and they came with a small perforated sticker that held the cap and body of the product closed.

Smell/Fragrance: The fragrance is more noticeable as a scent however I cannot actually taste it. It’s a generic, sweet fruit-juicy scent that doesn’t bring to mind any particular fruit or note.  It is not sharp, but more warm and rounded. The scent is moderate and noticeable without having to go and actively hunt for it. Without trying, just opening up the product to use it, I notice there is a fragrance. Personally I don’t find it offensively strong and after application it fades quickly enough that I soon forget about it entirely.

Expiration: 18 months after opening.

Ingredients:

BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2 • POLYISOBUTENE • TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE • DIISOSTEARYL MALATE • PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE • SYNTHETIC WAX • POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE • PERSEA GRATISSIMA OIL / AVOCADO OIL • RUBUS CHAMAEMORUS SEED OIL • RUBUS IDAEUS SEED OIL / RASPBERRY SEED OIL • TIN OXIDE • AROMA / FLAVOR • SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • PHENOXYETHANOL • CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE • CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77492 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE • CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE • BENZYL ALCOHOL (F.I.L. N70034292/1).

nyxcosmetics.com

Performance

Shade Selection: There is a good range of depth in all of the 12 shades. They go from nearly colorless to somewhat deep, and a few are more colorful/bright. 3 of them have shimmer and/or sparkle that is actually noticeable on the lips against the base color. The larger sparkle in a some of the shades adheres to the lips pretty strongly if I try to remove it soon after application so that only using a tissue isn’t quite enough to remove all the sparkle. A makeup remover helps to dislodge the sparkle. Personally, I feel comfortable in all of the shades that are offered and feel they are flattering or at least don’t clash with my skin tone. Some shades are similar to each other but none are so close that there are dupes within the shade range. I feel they differ enough from each other that I can tell them apart. Some groupings of similar shades are

• Going Viral (more pink) and Link In My Bio (more nude)
• DM Me (lighter) and #Thriving (deeper, brighter)

Application: I apply these just like any other lipstick, directly from the tube. The main difference is the need to click the bottom of the packaging to continually push more product up. In the few times I’ve used each shade, I had to click more lip balm up with each use. Immediately upon swiping the product, a generous amount of it melts onto the lips, giving me the impression I could probably very quickly run through an entire lip balm if I used it daily. Two passes across the lips is about enough to get a noticeable amount of color and shine from these. I don’t feel they apply too heavily though and the product stays pretty much where I apply it. It doesn’t move around super easily on the lips or gather in patches if I press my lips together.

Texture/Consistency/Finish: I love love love the texture of these. They are thick but melt easily with warmth. They are not waxy like cheap lip balms are and they are not sticky if I press my lips together. Right away, they have a shine that looks almost like a gloss but they do not slip around like a gloss. As I wear them for a while, the shine dissipates into a glow more true to the finish of a balm. The product feels soothing, moisturizing and substantial on the lips but not heavy and they don’t seem to trap heat in a way that feels like you’ve got butter on your lips. 

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: These range from clear to semi-opaque depending on the shade. A couple of the deeper/brighter shades like #Thriving and Double Tap are the most pigmented and border on the color payoff of a semi-sheer lipstick. In general the color shows up well in a satisfying way without having to layer the product on too heavily to get it there. They give me more color payoff than a gloss but less than a lipstick. I feel every shade here shows up well against my skin tone and even the deepest shades still feel comfortable/appropriate for everyday wear. They are good for those that like the idea of wearing more color but might be kind of afraid to go too far.

Longevity: Still trying these out for longevity. The only thing I know at this point is that they wear off easily if you’re drinking something, let alone eating.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• Texture is amazing. Comfortable, hydrating, soothing, cushiony, smooth.
• “Wearable” shades with good color payoff for a balm formula.
• Sparkle in the sparkly shades actually shows up, without looking like glitter.
• Color applies evenly and doesn’t gather in patches or move around on the lips.
• Not sticky or goopy feeling.
• Price is reasonable.

Drawbacks to consider:

• I’m guessing these could be used up quickly with daily consistent use.
• There aren’t any totally clear shades but this has a formula that I think would be amazing for just a clear lip butter / lip balm just for use as prep / treatment.
• Fragrance / scent may bother those that are sensitive. 
• Sparkles adhere strongly and require some extra effort to remove from the lips.

Do I Recommend Them?

Yes. If you like tinted lip balms or hydrating lip products that add a hint of color, I absolutely recommend giving these a try. These are one of the more enjoyable and surprisingly high-quality-for-the-price products I’ve tried in a while.

Swatches

Main Character

Main Character has a colorless, clear, glossy base with a good amount of large purple sparkle. It gives me the look of a clear gloss with an added bit of purply-pinky dazzle. Although the particles are fairly large, almost the size of glitter, I can barely feel them at all if I press my lips together. When I go to remove this shade the sparkle really clings on to the lips and I find it very helpful to use a makeup remover wipe (as opposed to just a tissue) to get them to unstick.

Clout

Clout is a very pale cool toned pink. I don’t usually like these kinds of shades on me but being a sheerer color makes it much easier to pull off. There is enough saturation in the pink color and it’s just dark enough to not wash out my complexion.

No Filter Needed

No Filter Needed is a subtly cool-toned, medium pinky mauve with fine shimmer and just a little bit of larger gold sparkle. The shimmer in this shade is not like the sparkle in Main Character. It’s much more subtle and is far easier to remove. This is the type of shade I could see myself reaching for often.

Going Viral

Going Viral is a light nude pink with no shimmer or sparkle. It is similar in depth and color to Link In My Bio but this one is just a little pinker while that one is more neutral.

Link In My Bio

Link In My Bio is a light nude beige with no shimmer or sparkle.

Hits Different

Hits Different has a very sheer caramel base (almost looks clear) with lots of large gold and pink sparkle. The sparkle in this is a lot like the shade Main Character in that it adds a noticeable glimmer to the glossy finish, I cannot really feel it on the my lips, and it can be difficult to remove without a makeup remover wipe.

DM Me

DM Me is a lighter version of a cool-toned bubblegum pink without any shimmer or sparkle.

#Thriving

#Thriving is a medium cool toned pink without any shimmer or sparkle. It is similar to DM Me, but slightly deeper.

That’s Major

That’s Major is a medium orchid purple without any shimmer or sparkle.

Double Tap

Double Tap is a semi-sheer pinky red with the slightest bit of sparkle. The sparkle is only visible in the product itself and not on the lips. I don’t see any when I go to remove the product either.

In A Mood

In A Mood is a deeper mauve without any shimmer or sparkle. I can apply this fairly heavily and still have it look even on the lips and I don’t see much of it settling into my lip lines. If I press my lips together the color stays put and doesn’t gather weirdly in certain spots.

Trending Topic

Trending Topic is a sheer deep berry with a good amount of large bronze and purple sparkle. The sparkle is somewhat noticeable but not crazy obvious. It clings to the lips during removal just like the sparkle in Main Character and Hits Different.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Nars Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm is a hydrating, glossy balm with a very subtle pink tint and barely-there golden shimmer. It contains 0.1 oz / 3 g product, retails for $28, and can be purchased from Nars, Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom.

This is more of a luxury lip balm for me. The last high end balm I purchased was Fresh Sugar Lip Balm. Normally, I use Blistex medicated lip balm. This is all-around a beautiful product, though, if you feel like treating yourself to something special. It feels lightweight – not thick, sticky, or waxy at all. It also just makes my lips feel ultra soothed and comforted, more than my usual drugstore balm does. It also imparts a hint of color than helps wake up my face. The shimmer that you can see in the bullet really doesn’t translate much to the lips. It’s there, but the shimmer particles are so tiny than you can barely see them. I don’t feel them at all when I press my lips together.

This doesn’t last very long. Maybe an hour before I feel the need to reapply. It is very soothing and I can tell that after I wear it for a while my lips feel more hydrated and smoother.

Revlon Lacquer Balms are supposed to offer the comfort and moisture of a lip balm and the high shine finish of a gloss. They are formulated with shea, coconut, and mango butters and comes in 10 shades. They cost about $9 each and can be found just about anywhere Revlon is sold.

Performance/Experience

Provocatuer is a pinkish red shade with a tiny bit of silver glitter. Once I swatch or apply this, I cannot see or feel any of the glitter in it. When applied heavily it can look closer to a true red but sheering it out will give it a pinker appearance. It has great color payoff considering how lightweight it feels. It has a thinner, gel-like feel with a slight minty tingle and melts evenly onto lips with ease. It actually did feel hydrating and soothing like a lip balm which is my favorite type of lipstick formula. I can get away with not using a lip brush if I am just applying this for everyday wear but for the photos, I had to use a brush to get crisp lines. It didn’t emphasize any dry spots or chapping at all. After 4 hours the color was still looking pretty vibrant but it did fade in the center of my lips. It also lost its shine finish and no longer felt moisturizing but didn’t look dry at all. The only quirk I found with this shade was that it did bleed slightly but not enough that I think other people would notice it.

Coquette is a bubble gum pink with silver sparkles. If you apply this heavily the silver glitter isn’t very noticeable except if you are looking up close. When you apply it lightly the sparkles become more noticeable. I don’t really feel the glitter in it when I press my lips together but I have heard others say that they can feel it. This shade also had great color payoff but it was a tiny bit less creamy and less hydrating than Provocateur but it applied easily and evenly. This one lasted about 4 hours before it started looking dry, patchy, and faded enough to need a reapplication.

Worth Buying?

I am not going to lie – I am biased toward this particular type of formula so for me, these are worth buying, even with their imperfections. Between the two though, Provocateur has a better formula so if you just want to buy one to try it, this would be the one to check out. Coquette is a nice shade of pink but it dries out more quickly and the glitter could be an annoyance to some people so it’s just okay.

[rating=”4″]

Product Description

Official Product Info: Almay.com
Price/Quantity: About $6 USD for 7.1 mL
Availability: Drugstores, Target, Ulta
Color Range: 10 Shades
Color/Finish: Apricot Pucker is a semi-sheer bright coral. It has no sparkle and gives the lips a soft shine rather than the glassy, reflective look of a gloss. This color looks a lot brighter in the tube than it does on the lips.
Packaging: Lipgloss-style tube with a doe-foot applicator. I think that having a balm in this type of tube is more convenient for carrying around in your purse because it will not melt and break in the heat like a traditional lip balm stick would.
Smell/Taste: This shade had a light fruity fragrance that reminded me of starburst candy but it didn’t taste like anything.

Performance

Application: Apply it just like you would a lip gloss.
Texture: It did feel a little heavy on my lips and was ever so slightly sticky to the touch (if you touch it with your fingers or if your hair accidentally catches on it) but it did not feel sticky in the way that a Mac Lipglass does, where your lips almost stick to each other. It was just quite thick. It stayed evenly distributed on my lips and did not slide around or gather in one spot even if I pressed my lips together. These are definitely more moisturizing than a lip gloss but they aren’t nearly as moisturizing as my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment or Jack Black Lip Balm.
Longevity: This lasted about 2 and a half hours before the color and moisture faded.

Overall Opinion

Pros:

• Moisturizing
• Convenient to carry around, even in hot weather where traditional lip balm sticks would melt and break
• Add a sheer tint of color
• Decent color selection
• Smells nice

Cons:

• A tiny bit sticky/heavy feeling

Would I buy this again? This is one of those products that isn’t bad but it doesn’t blow me away either. There are so many lip balms and glosses on the market but I like the convenience of the packaging, the price, and the range of colors so I would buy it again.

Product Description

Price/Quantity: $8.99 for 2.7 grams
Availability: Target
Color Range: 4 Shades

• Hint of Coral
• Hint of Red
• Hint of Pink
• Hint of Berry

Color/Finish: Sheer, bright, glossy wash of color – no shimmer or sparkles. Hint of Coral is mostly orange when swatched and coral-red when worn on lips, Hint of Red and Hint of Berry are fairly close in color once applied, and Hint of Pink is the brightest and most pigmented.
Packaging: The metal tubes have a semi glossy black finish and have a fair amount of weight to them. Each has a color swatch on the end indicating which color is inside. The cap glides off really smoothly and and the lip balm twists up super smoothly as well. The packaging gets an A+ from me. Very luxe, indeed.
Smell/Taste: They don’t taste like anything to me but they do have a strange synthetic smell. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it smells like but it disappears once applied.

Performance

Application: I’d apply these straight from the tube. Although they have good pigmentation for a balm, I feel I could get away with not even using a mirror.
Pigmentation: Sheer but fairly strong in color payoff. They leave a very faint stain on lips.
Texture: Upon application these feel super slick and moisturizing. They have a gloss/gel feel to them – not sticky or oily in the least. The letdown is that they quickly dry down leaving behind just a sheer tint of color on my lips. I don’t feel that they dried my lips out though.
Longevity: After about 1 hour the glossy finish fades and after about 2 hours the stain fades.

Overall Opinion

Pros:

• Luxe look and feel
• Good color payoff
• Nice glossy shine
• Easy way to wear color
• Not sticky or oily

Cons:

• The glossy finish fades quickly
• Didn’t actually moisturize my lips

Would I buy these again? I would buy these again but not for the purpose of using them as lip balm. I would love to keep these in my purse because they feel so fancy without actually being expensive so I wouldn’t worry too much about damaging them.