I hunted this one down for ages, and finally picked it up at Shopper’s this past weekend. (This is probably the quickest I’ve ever reviewed a product, now that I think about it.) There were only two left, and this one was the scent I’d been looking for, so I figured it was fate!
What it is: the eos smooth sphere! It comes in three scents; this one is honeysuckle honeydew, whose packaging is a light pastel green. (The others are sweet mint, which is a darker mint green, and summer fruit, a pinky red)
The great stuff, AKA what could be a marketing spiel: well, it’s cute as hell. Then there’s the fact that it smells amazing; there are tons of products that claim to smell like flowers or fruit and end up smelling cloying, plastic, and gross. Not this one! It really does make me think of honeydew, with touches of something else (the honeysuckle, I suppose!) and though it’s strong enough to smell, the smell is light — not to mention, fresh, juicy, and delightful! It’s very noticeable in the near vicinity of the balm itself, but fades on your lips after 5-10 minutes as to not be annoying.
The great stuff, AKA what could be a marketing spiel: well, it’s cute as hell. Then there’s the fact that it smells amazing; there are tons of products that claim to smell like flowers or fruit and end up smelling cloying, plastic, and gross. Not this one! It really does make me think of honeydew, with touches of something else (the honeysuckle, I suppose!) and though it’s strong enough to smell, the smell is light — not to mention, fresh, juicy, and delightful! It’s very noticeable in the near vicinity of the balm itself, but fades on your lips after 5-10 minutes as to not be annoying.Or make you want to eat. Fruit.
Nom nom nom.
The lid can be a hassle to get on (it’s hard to get used to!) but clicks nicely into place when it is shut – I love that feeling, the “clunk” at the end of the threads that lets you know it’s secure. Great packaging with attention to details? I think so.
Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Beeswax (cire d’abeille)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol. (Starred items -> organic)
I think it’s awesome that they’ve gone paraben-free, and I like that they tried something different — a coconut/olive base, and then some beeswax and jojoba, rather than plain ‘ol petroleum. It gives a nice balmy feel, and lets the sphere of balm stay stiff and non-melty. (Dude, check out the photo above the ingredients list. You can see flecks of somethingorother in there! And the flecks are CUTE!)
Moisture?: Here’s where it loses points. Though it smells great, isn’t tested on animals, and the packaging kicks ass, it’s not the most moisturising balm. I think it would be fine for the regular girl, but with my super-dry lips, I have to layer this.
The verdict? It’s not cheap at $5 a pop for only 0.25oz, considering that ChapStick is like, $2. What you’re really paying for is the packaging and scent (both of which I love!) So, while this isn’t the best choice for the girl on a really tight budget, it is a great choice for a girl on a moderate budget (or not on a budget at all, if you’re lucky.)
The verdict? It’s not cheap at $5 a pop for only 0.25oz, considering that ChapStick is like, $2. What you’re really paying for is the packaging and scent (both of which I love!) So, while this isn’t the best choice for the girl on a really tight budget, it is a great choice for a girl on a moderate budget (or not on a budget at all, if you’re lucky.)
I actually enjoy using it every time I pull it out, which is more than I can say for a stick of Labello. It’s an unexpected little luxury that I think most of us can afford. Retail therapy for five bucks? Sign me right up!
