Nivea Lip Balm in Star Fruit Cherry - a review

Image via Wikipedia

The search for the tinted lip balm is over!!

Some of you who follow this blog regularly may be familiar with my Epic scale hunt for a tinted lip balm that actually would be tinted on the lips and not just in the tin. You will find that international markets retail lip balms in a wide variety of tints (red, pinks, browns et al). Major brands include Bobby brown, Neutrogena

Most colored lip balms in available in India do not transfer any color to the lip including the very inviting looking and so on.VOV lip balms in pots. They appear colorless when applied despite being red colored in the packaging. & I hate colorless lip balms. They look waxy, heavy, unglossy, inspiring and make your face look very dull. Lips loose their sheen and that is not a very good look on pigmented lips that we Indians have.

I heard about this lip balm from my friend who was raving about the beautiful color it gave to her lips. I resisted initially, I thought another one of those fake tinted balms. Until I saw it on my friend one day, I was very intrigued at what she had used on her lips that made them look so fab but so natural. Answer: Nivea lip balm in Cherry

Next time I was in the market I bought it. It is a thick fat tube, designed like a lipstick actually. Very bright red in color.

Ingredients:

• Almond Oil
• Shea butter (very good for the lips - highly nourishing)
• Hydramine (the company claims that it is naturally found compound in the lip skin, I have been googling this for quite some time & all that I could find is that Hydramine is a brand name for the drug diphenhydramine. This medicine is an antihistamine, and can be used for the prevention of motion sickness, parkinsonism, and allergic reactions. Side effects of Hydramine include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, constipation, blurred vision, and dry mouth can occur. So I have no idea what Nivea is talking about - Maybe someone from the company if they are reading this can shed some light. As of now as per my information, since this seems to have nasty side-effects I suggest you do a patch test on arm before use. I have been using it for 2 weeks and have not experienced any of the above)
• Grape Seed Extract

Pros:

1. Tinted!! a beautiful fuchsia color that has staying power. Even after the balm is absorbed the color stays on your lips.

2. Very natural color - the color of your lips but better.

3. Quite hydrating.

4. Absorbs quickly. Non-sticky. Non-greasy. Does not sit on the lips.

5. Good large thick stick. I like the quantity for the price of Rs. 119/-

6. The packaging is very good - no danger of misplacing tiny caps

7. Is a very good blush in emergency situations

8. Does not seem to contain petroleum wax - I am allergic to that and my lips dry out into flakes when using it. The ingredient list is not complete so I have no idea what their base wax is (beeswax? petroleum jelly? something else? - I am as clueless as you)

Cons:

1. I have no idea what this hydramine is. If it is NMF (natural moisturising factor) I have not heard of it.

2. Very few colors & flavours - only strawberry (which I think is lighter than cherry) other than cherry is available

3. People who like the feel of slickness between their lips will not enjoy this as it absorbs within 30 mins so there is no slippery slickness to the feel - making it seem like lips are dry.

4. Full ingredient listing not provided on label.

5. The pack says UV Protection but there is no mention of either the SPF or the ingredient that is responsible for UV protection

6. The pack also claims 8 hour moisturising. It actually translates into about 4 - 5 hours in practice.

Just a tid-bit: These lip balms are sold across Europe & Germany under the brand name "Labello" which means beautiful lips. Apparently from what I read online the ones sold abroad are available in a huge range of colors(passion fruit, dragon fruit, cherry, strawberry) & are much better in quality. Wonder when Nivea will bring more of those here.