Lip service? (E.L.F. Therapeutic Conditioning Balm)

Member Name: kerrypanda

Product:	E.L.F. Therapeutic Conditioning Balm
Date:	13/08/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: soft formulation, very moisturising

Disadvantages: the twisty mechanism breaks

e.l.f is an established American cosmetics brand that was launched in Britain at the end of 2007. The bulk of their products are either £1.50 or £3.50. They say they are able to offer quality products at economy prices by advertising only on the internet, sourcing the best ingredients possible at the most competitive prices, and using basic packaging.

I recently received my first order of fifteen items and have been reviewing them since. Eight down, seven to go!

This review is about the e.l.f. therapeutic lip balm in strawberry. It costs £1.50 from e.l.f.s basic line.

One of the things I had most interest in was e.l.f.s lip balm range. I love lip balms, especially fruit scented ones. I will always buy a new one when I discover it.

After reading the sales blurb on the page I was sold. 'Salvation for parched lips. This innovative balm coats lips with natural nutrients and skin soothers to condition even the most sensitive lips. Infused with Shea Butter and Vitamins A & E for long lasting protection.'

There are four different 'flavours', Strawberry Crème which is pink with a strawberry scent, Vanilla Crème which looks yellow and is scented vanilla, Orange Crème which is orange and smells like orange, and Blackberry Crème which looks purple and apparently is raspberry scented, not blackberry.

The packaging is not worth mentioning really, it's basic and cheap looking, moulded plastic stuck on a yellow piece of card. You wouldn't want to keep it.

The lip balm itself comes in a slim white plastic tube with e.l.f. printed onm the side in silver lettering. It's thinner than a standard lip balm tube but also longer.

It has a very soft formulation, it feels watery and almost slippery on, almost like it melts on contact with my lips. Referring to what e.l.f. say about conditioning even the most sensitive lips, I think if you had painfully chapped lips this would be perfect, you don't need to apply any pressure to coat your lips in this balm.

If you apply the balm lightly it makes your lips look glossy but doesn't add any colour. If you apply lots of it you do get an opaque light pink colouring to your lips.

The therapeutic lip balm is both moisturising and long lasting. Not to any amazing extent but it's definitely good value for the price.

The strawberry scent is lovely, it doesn't smell of real strawberries, it's artificial and sweet but in a good way! However I don't like the taste, it's just waxy and doesn't taste fruity, definitely not one for eating!

The flaw with this lip balm is that it screws up fine, but doesn't go back down after the first couple of times, I have to push it back down with my finger. (Tip- I just screwed it up all the way to the top to confirm how much product you get (there is plenty in the tube) and suddenly I was able to screw it back down again, so maybe try that if yours breaks?)

I wouldn't recommend you fork out for postage just for one of these, but I think if you are ordering from e.l.f. anyway you may as well try one for £1.50. If I place another order I will probably pick up a more boy-friendly colour to treat my son's lips when they inevitably chap again this winter!

Summary: Not the best lip balm I've ever had, but nothing to complain about really either!