I’ve admitted before that I’m a lip balm junkie. For me, the gold standard is a sub-$2 tube of Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. Yes, still. Judge all you like.
But I don’t always want to use it (especially now that the rights to it are changing hands and who knows if it will retain its glory?) – maybe I don’t want the tint. Maybe I want something thicker if my lips are really struggling. My fall-back is good ol’ classic Cherry Chap-Stik, even though it is more of a barrier and less of a moisturizer.
It was time to buy a new tube, and a friend recommended Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter. I used classic Burt’s Bees when I was a teenager and liked it alright, so I figured if this was anything similar it should be a good try.
Alas, Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning is not pleasantly minty like classic Burt’s is, but I’m willing to ignore that. It does need to be flavored, after all; but it does have some sort of flavor. I don’t know if what this balm tastes like is what kokum butter tastes like, but I don’t really want to find out. I don’t find it particularly pleasant; while not gross like Carmex it isn’t something I remotely relish.
Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm goes on very smoothly without melting in the tube (damned Fresh Sugar lip balm treatments…), but it feels thin. That could be nice if you don’t like a heavy balm, but I personally prefer a more substantial feeling. This makes your lips feel slick, almost greasy, and imparts a shine. Colorless, it does nothing to even out lip tone or any of that jazz.
Within a half hour, I can no longer feel Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning balm on my lips – this is without eating, drinking, or licking my lips, only talking. I have to reapply at this point if my lips are feeling dry or chapped that day. If it is an OK lip day, I can go a little longer even though I don’t really feel it…but I am definitely reaching for the tube to refresh the coating on my lips more often than I’d like to be. For a product that claims to offer 4-hours of moisture, I find this unacceptable. Perhaps my lips are a bit sassier/more needy than my friend’s, though, because she seems to be happy with it.
In all, it temporarily moisturizes my lips, but it doesn’t provide a barrier within which that moisture would be sealed at all, let alone for up to four hours. Because of this, Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning lip balm is not for me. I wouldn’t probably not recommend unless I knew you wanted a thin, slick-feeling balm and didn’t mind reapplying often.
I thought the same thing! I was pretty disappointed in it. Back to my standard pomegranate Burt’s Bees for me.
I actually find that the pomegranate is very thin in consistency, but I still prefer it. Of the Burt’s offerings though, the classic peppermint is my favorite.
Aw that sucks, sorry it didn’t work for you!
Personally, I like that it absorbs into my lips because I’m super anal about anything on my cups or straws, etc, and with wearing my hair down most days I don’t want it getting stuck on my mouth. I did notice the greasiness at first but that goes away as it absorbs, and for me my lips feel softer than before.
I don’t wear lipstick, and don’t like a long lasting glossy look either, so if I want a little color I’ll apply this first and then apply my lipstick giving me a nice sheer color that remains after the chap stick absorbs.
:-)
It’s all good, friend – I appreciate the recommendation nonetheless. :D
I didn’t like it either! My reasons were the same as all of the ones you listed. :)