E45 Lipcare - cares for my lips! Simples (E45 Lip Care)

Member Name: poddle911

Product:	E45 Lip Care
Date:	06/11/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice quality lipbalm, stops my lips getting chapped, no yucky aftertaste

Disadvantages: Not cheap, no SPF

It's getting to chapped lips season again, so I grabbed the nearest lip balm while I was standing in the queue at Boots the other day, which happened to be this E45 lipcare. I was probably attracted by the snowy white packaging and familiar blue and peach logo, so I didn't worry too much about the £2.20 price tag - I paid for it with points anyway, and it will make a nice change from the manky tin of Vaseline at the bottom of my handbag...

On first impressions, there is nothing special about this product; there is a normal looking chapstick attached to plain white cardboard backing by a transparent plastic pocket. I really like the simplicity of this packaging (and also the reassuring E45 branding) and the limited wording, which reads:

Dermatological E45 Lipcare (who really knows what dermatological means? But it sounds mild and caring and I'd assume that it is suitable for everyone)

Moisturises, soothes and protects dry and sensitive lips (well, they all say this, don't they?)

Perfume free
Dermatologically tested
Allergy screened

I generally do like perfume free/hypoallergenic products as I have stupid, unpredictable sensitive skin, but I wasn't sure I'd like a perfume free lip balm. I quite like a yummy, fruity flavour or a satin shimmer at the very least!

On the back of the packaging are all the usual things - barcode, blurb, long list of ingredients which I don't tend to look at even though it seems to contain an awful lot of unpleasant and unnatural-sounding things - however, my boyfriend assures me that there can't be anything worse than smothering petroleum jelly all over your mouth. I guess he has a point...

The text did also mention that the formula contains UVA and UVB sunscreens which is useful, although I think it should be standard. It didn't give a star rating or SPF factor, so I wouldn't be happy using it if I was going skiing, for example.

*Putting it to the test*

I pull the lid off the tube and have a little sniff. There is an almost imperceptible, but in no way unpleasant, smell. I twist the bottom to push the lip balm up and slick it across my lips. The twisty mechanism is quite loose so unless you push it out about half an inch then it slips back but that's not really a problem.

I smack my lips together a couple of times and look in the mirror. There are no visible traces of the lip balm, my lips look healthy and smooth and I actually feel like the lip balm may be moisturising my lips(!). Also, I didn't get that synthetic taste in the back of my throat that you sometimes get, especially with flavoured lip gloss (it tends to taste/feel nice for about 10 minutes and then leaves my lips drier than when I started).

It didn't stay on for that long, but I am hoping that it was working its way into my lips. If you're anything like me then you'll obsessively re-apply throughout the day out of habit anyway! I've been using it regularly for the last couple of weeks and haven't fallen victim to chapped lips. Hurrah! It also makes a good base for lipstick as it isn't too slippy.

All in all, I would say that E45 is a quality product from a trusted brand and I will be keeping one in my handbag all winter. I'd be even happier to restock if I could find a cheaper price!

Summary: One of my new favourite winter staples