A good everyday balm but don't expect miracles! (Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Care SPF 20)

Member Name: bamamo

Product:	Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Care SPF 20
Date:	22/07/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Keeps lips in good condition if they already are, doesn't feel greasy, contains SPF

Disadvantages: Doesn't heal or soothe cracked lips, weird taste transfers onto bottles etc

God alone knows how many lip balm reviews I've written by now, but as with many girls they are a bit of an impulse purchase and I tend to end up with at least one in every bag. Because of that, I rarely stick with one long enough to finish it up before it gets lost. But would you believe it there's only a nubbin left of my Neutrogena balm so I guess that must mean it's something special. Right? Um, well actually, not so much...

See here's the thing. This is a great everyday balm, but it's really boring. Call me a big kid but I'm all about yummy flavours, fun packaging, something that I will be happy to use rather than acknowledge the fact that my lips are a bit sore and have to turn to. Not only is the tube particularly dull, so is the flavour, more on that later.

But in order to write a fair review I will hold my hands up and admit that lip balm is not intended to be a novelty item, and while I can have all the fun I want with my root beer float-flavoured balm, or the yellow tube with a Spongebob face on it, it has a job to do. And this actually does a decent enough job.

Firstly, I love that it has SPF20. If any of you have had sunburned lips before, as I'm particularly prone to, you will know how painful and quite frankly gross-looking they are. Nobody wants a flaky trout pout on their holiday pics thankyouverymuch! If I'm going to carry around a balm all day, I may as well be protecting my lips from the sun at the same time.

This "Norwegian Formula" claims to lock in moisture and guard against chapping. This is a reasonable statement, because when used regularly it works like a charm. I tend to apply this every night along with my moisturiser and my lips stay soft and supple so that I don't necessarily feel the need to apply during the day. Its formula is waxy and smooth rather than greasy so feels comfortable.

However, if my lips ARE cracked and sore, this balm will do nothing. I originally bought it because my lips were desperately sore and really bothering me when I was out without any lip balm on me. I had to reapply constantly to make my lips feel any kind of soothing, which was probably all psychological, and had no relief to note until I bought a pot of Blistex.

I said I would come back to the flavour. It doesn't really have one as such, at least not one you can name, but the waxiness does rub off if you are drinking from a bottle, for instance, and tastes pretty weird when you come to drink again.

Priced at around £2 from most chemists or supermarkets (I bought mine at Waitrose), this has lasted me about six months for pretty much everyday use, and I'd say I have around three weeks left despite it looking so sorry-looking. If you can remember to use it daily BEFORE your lips get sore, then it works really well, but look for a drying ingredient such as menthol or camphor (those which cause that tingle) if you need repair work.

Will I repurchase? Depends. I have so many balms kicking around that in the interests of saving money I will most likely try to use some up first. However, if my lips become sore this winter during my outdoor job, I will definitely repair and use this again.

Summary: Fine for everyday moisturising, but not for repair work.