Pretty Head – UK Make Up Reviews

This Boots own brand tinted lip salve costs just 98p and is displayed next to the Nivea lip salves that are the same size and shape but cost a pound more. It comes wrapped in a very thin film of plastic, which you peel off before use. Unlike Nivea’s lip balms, it is not attached to cardboard, meaning that it is slightly more environmentally friendly and this is probably where Boots and in turn you, save a bit of money. The outer packaging is plastic, baby pink and displays the Boots logo and white writing that states that this product will “enhance your natural lip colour and protect and moisturise your lips”. The actual lip salve itself is a slightly darker pink than the packaging and in some lights it looks slightly lilac. If you look closely it almost looks a little metallic and I am still trying to work out whether it smells or not; it either has a very subtle sweet smell or it doesnt smell at all and it’s just in my head!

I put this lip slave on my normal to slightly dry lips, applying more than I normally would and there wasn’t a noticeable difference in the colour. However my lips felt very moisturised, more than they do when using Vaseline, a little tin of which is basically the same price as this lip balm. When compared to the tins of Vaseline that a lot of women now days like to use, this lip balm can be applied with no mess what so ever, to use you simply remove the cap and twist the bottom of the stick, where Vaseline needs to be applied with a finger leaving a lot of mess. There wasn’t much of a shine on my lips, however they did look a bit healthier and the chapped bits felt and looked much better after just one application. After about 30 minutes the effect seemed to have worn off and my lips were left feeling quite dry, however bits that were dry and nasty looking before the first application looked better.

I would recommend this product for people who normally buy the Nivea lip balms as the effect is pretty much the same and both have the same staying power and quantity however you save a pound! It would also be good for someone looking for good wedding make up or aiming for a natural make up effect as it makes you look healthy without being over the top and adding an unnatural colour to your lips. I have been using this lip balm every day for the past few months and I still haven’t run out, so it really is good value for money. I would say that this is definitely a hand bag essential and will from now on replace my little tin of vasaline, especially in the winter months when lips are more likely to get chapped and dry.

I tried to get some pics of this lip salve on my lips, but even with my good camera I couldn’t get a picture that accurately showed the effect that this has and I wouldn’t want to put anyone off buying it. Normally I would recommend buying a product cheaply off of ebay (links on page) if it is your first try of it, however for 98p you haven’t lost much if you don’t like it.

Pros: Cheap, easy to use, very moisturising, lasts as long as the leading brand, gives a nice natural effect, handbag sized and has a noticeable improvement on chapped dry bits.

Cons: No smell/taste, (it will never compete with carmex lip balm on that front!), it doesn’t add much colour to the lips, so could not be used as a lipstick and it only last about 30mins, less if you’re eating or drinking, but this is the same as its main competitor Nivea.