Function Meets Fashion (Labello Strawberry)

Member Name: zoe_page_1

Product:	Labello Strawberry
Date:	31/05/09 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Moistsurising and and looks good, cheap, good packaging

Disadvantages: None

A wise person once said that putting gloss on chapped lips is like putting spandex over cellulite: not a good look. I am not much of a cosmetics person. I like moisturiser (is that a cosmetic?) and something like a lip gloss, but nothing more. But, recently although I escaped the flu, I somehow had chapped lips. Vaseline here is weird (it comes with "the smooth aroma of a baby" rather than the nice plain stuff) and is only available in big pots, not suitable for a handbag. Thus, when I saw this at my local Superama, coming with a free box of TicTacs, it quickly found its way into the basket.

Labello Strawberry is a lip balm with a fruity scent and a touch of colour. It comes in a small tube which is bright red in colour so you won't confuse it with the other similar products in the range. It is normally packaged in a plastic blister pack with a cardboard back, though the pack I got had said TicTacs stuck in there too. I like the size of it, but I also like the plastic design as it is very well made and the lid clicks in place securely when you're not using it. I had recently tried local, Mexican attempts at lip balms, and they were terrible because the lids just fell off. I tend to carry them in my pencil case (as although I frequently change bags, I always have that with me) but they left my board markers a big sticky mess, and quickly got ditched.

I often go for (normal) Vaseline or unscented/unflavoured lip balms when I want protection for my lips, so I wasn't bothered that this was strawberry scented. That said, the smell is very nice and smells of freshly picked fruit, and not synthetic as I was expecting. The lip balm itself is a bright, clown red and I was apprehensive about slicking this on as I prefer subtle to outrageous in all things cosmetic. I needn't have worried, because the colour that comes out is sheer with just a hint of red, and you don't look like you've been making out with Krusty all afternoon. I tried it on my hand and got a shiny streak but no real colour. On lips, however, it builds on the pink already there to enhance this with a shine and a smidge of red, without looking like you've got any product on. This is perfect for me, so it gets two thumbs up in this area. It also seems to plump lips slightly, though this may just be from them having a bit of extra colour on them. I had previously used the Labello/Nivea Rose stick, a similar version that is pink rather than red, but I now think I prefer the strawberry as it looks more natural on me, with the pink a little too obvious since it's a stronger, matt colour.

I was buying this product as I had chapped lips that I wanted to soften, because if I leave them too long I have a downright hideous habit of chewing on the bits of dry skin, inevitably making them worse. I wasn't sure this product would do too well, not because of its healing properties but because I also tend to lick off anything with a flavour. I was presently surprised, therefore, when my will power kicked in, the licking stopped, and I gave it time to work. The result was immediately softer lips that stayed that way for a few hours. I tend to reapply Vaseline or similar between classes, and so did the same with this. The result was my lips never felt dry during the day, and, after a few days of using it, began to feel softer at night too, when I wasn't reapplying.

I paid £1 for my Labello, but I think the UK standard is about £1.50. Available in the usual pharmacies and supermarkets. Recommended even if you normally go for clear stuff - I do, but I found this one a nice change, and at that price, a good, cheap fix too.


Did you know...?

There is an insane number of versions of Labello available throughout the world, from the sensible (the yellow SPF version for the beach) to a new Dragon Fruits ones. See the website for more details:

www.labello.com/international/home.html

but the opening music is dreadfully annoying, so you'll want to hit mute immediately.

Summary: Well worth the price