The product: L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Tinted Lip Balm SPF 25 in Rose Nude
Launching this June at L’Occitane is the Pivoine Sublime skincare range, which features a Perfecting Cream, Skin Perfector Serum, CC Cream, Perfecting Mist, and four peony-scented lip balms: Transparent (housed in a gorgeous silver tube), Rose Nude, Rose Amber, and Rose Plum.
The scent: L’Occitane has actually come out with a number of peony-scented collections over the years, and I’m happy to say that this is my favourite one. It’s much a much softer, fuller floral than the scent used in the Pivoine Délicate makeup collection, and has a rose-touched scent profile.
Pivoine Sublime is also a little fruitier than the bath/body Pivoine Flora, which I find has a soapier feel to it — a differentiation that I think makes the two perfectly suited for makeup & body products, respectfully.
The formula (& the elephant in the room): When I saw this lip balm tube for the first time, my mind went to the same place that I’m sure all of yours did: Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments ($26 CAD).
Well, the packaging is near-identical for these (which is to say: super luxe, metal, and twist-on), but the formulas are very, very different! While the Fresh balms are lemon-scented and smooshy-soft with a beeswax/castor seed oil base, these L’Occitane balms are peony-scented and smooth but solid.
Plus, while the Fresh balms are rather heavily tinted and have an SPF of 15, the L’Occitane balms are sheer, with SPF 25.
Swatched L-R: Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Balm in Cherry & Rosé; L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime in Rose Nude
But do they moisturize? Honestly… not really. I can wear Nude Rose for about a day without any problems, but it’s not as hydrating as the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments. If you have normal-dry lips, I don’t think it’ll be an issue, but I do have to pile on the Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15 in the evening if I’ve spent the day wearing a Pivoine Sublime lip balm.
The verdict?
While the L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Lip Balms may fall short of delivering intense hydration, they can’t be beat for a luxury tinted lip balm under $20. They’re gorgeously packaged, smell amazing, and (unlike the cult-followed Fresh lip balms) have the texture of a proper lip balm rather than a soft puddle of butter.
I say skip these if you need a lot of hydration (I do), but definitely indulge if all you’re looking for is something exquisite, hygienic, and pretty!
Availability: $20 CAD online and at L’Occitane boutiques beginning June 2015.
L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Tinted Lip Balm SPF 25 swatch – Rose Nude
L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime SPF 25 Tinted Lip Balm ingredients:
2.7% Avobenzone, 6.8% Octinoxate
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol Cocoate, C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester, Synthetic Wax, Shea Butter, Pentaerythrityl Tetrabehenate, Beeswax, Paeonia Lactiflora Extract, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Boron Nitride, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citric Acid, Saccharin, Fragrance, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Yellow 5 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Manganese Violet.
