Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus

Tinted lip balm, where have you been all my life? In my quest to build a perfect 5-minute makeup kit, I may have overlooked getting a tinted lip balm in favor of lipstick. It never really crossed my mind as the ones I’ve tried before didn’t do much in terms of color payoff. How lucky am I to have gotten Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus (PHP 650)? It’s changed my mind.

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm

Quick Specs: 4.25 g; made in the USA ; no animal testing; available in Beauty Bar

Ingredients: cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, olus (vegetable oil, huile vegetale), cera alba (beeswax, cire d’abeille), olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, candelilla cera (euphorbia cerifera wax, cire de candelilla), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, aroma (flavor)*, lanolin, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, cananga odorata flower wax, jasminum officinale (jasmine) flower wax, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil (huile de colza). May contain: alumina, CI 77891 (titanium dioxide), CI 75470 (carmine), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (iron oxides). *natural flavor

Around two swipes

Pros:

• When talking about texture and all-around lip-feel, this is every bit the classic definition of a lip balm. Meaning, it doesn’t feel any thicker or heavier than the average lip balm.
• No problem with moisturizing power. Say hello to velvety lips.
• The color payoff is wonderful. A single swipe produces a lively touch of color, while two or three swipes gives color that isn’t so far away from a really sheer lipstick. Hibiscus, the shade I tested for this review, provides a natural yet noticeable tint. I’d describe it as the tinted lip balm version of sandalwood lipstick, injected with a hint of peach. (Sandalwood… so 90’s!)

Cons:

• PHP 650 makes it quite an expensive lip balm, even though it’s tinted. Add PHP 300 more and you can get yourself a MAC lipstick. (Just sayin’.) However, Burt’s Bees argument that it has natural ingredients still stands. If you favor natural ingredients that much, then I guess it’s a good reason to pick this lip balm over that MAC lipstick. I could make a case for locally-made, all-natural tinted lip balms, but I have yet to find one that could match the Burt’s Bees texture and color payoff.

I have naturally pigmented lips, and two swipes already looked like lipstick on this photo

Recommendation: If you prefer tinted lip balm over lipstick and you have the budget, try it out. Don’t expect it to be as opaque as lipstick. Look at it for what it is, a tinted lip balm, and you’ll be pleased with the results… Also, I just remembered my time as a kitchen intern: This would make a great “cheat” for certain establishments who ban makeup on their cooks while on duty.

Update 11/19/16: Want to get your Burt’s Bees fix online? Their products are now available on Sephora Philippines. Yup, that includes lippies, skincare, and value sets, tinted lip balms included!

*Disclosure: I received this lip balm for attending a Burt’s Bees event. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own.