I, like everyone who has set foot in a Sephora or Shoppers Drug Mart in the last calendar year, have bought into the balm craze. No, I’m not talking about your run-of-the-mill Burt’s Bees sticks, though I love those, and currently have two sitting on my desk; I’m talking about the elevated, luxurious balms from brands like Summer Fridays, Tower 28, Glossier, and Laneige. And while there’s nothing wrong with them — I’ve tried them all, and all of them definitely have their benefits — I don’t love dishing out $20 to $30 every time I need a new tube, and I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who does.
When e.l.f. dropped the Glow Reviver Melting Balmsearlier this month, I was more than a little excited. $12? Finally, a price I can get behind! That’s less than a Chipotle burrito, and, frankly, unheard of in this economy.
Now, let’s get into the details. The key ingredients are shea butter, mango butter, and cocoa butter, with a touch of hyaluronic acid for added hydration. While some of the more expensive options on the market have skin-loving boosters like polypeptides and ceramides, this gets the job done and leaves your lips feeling fantastic.
When it comes to texture, this nourishing tri-butter formula is super silky, as expected. It doesn’t sink in immediately, but also doesn’t leave a sticky or tacky finish, which I love. As with all e.l.f. products, it’s free of chemical nasties (we’re talking phthalates, parabens, and ethoxylates), Fair Trade Certified, and 100% vegan.
The packaging is on par with its luxury counterparts, too. It comes in a squeeze tube, with a soft gel tip that’s tapered for easy application. The tube matches the colour of the balm inside, so you’ll know exactly what you’re grabbing out of your makeup drawer if you invest in multiples (Spoiler Alert: you probably will).
There are six shades in the range, each providing a sheer, buildable tint and a scent that mirrors its flavour-inspired name. If you're curious, here’s what we’re working with:
Strawberry Shortcake | Soft Pink
Vanilla Toffee | Light Beige
Blackberry Sorbet | Black Cherry
Yummy Gummy | Plum
Java Chip | Dark Brown
Wild Cherry | Red
The scents are quite heavy, so if you prefer a fragrance-free balm, these probably won’t be for you. I find the Strawberry Shortcake scent a bit too artificially sweet for my liking, but I love the colour. Wild Cherry, Vanilla Toffee, and Java Chip reign supreme, at least in my opinion. Wild Cherry is similar to the classic Cherry Chapstick scent, and the latter two speak to my love for gourmand fragrances. They all have the same slightly sweet flavour, not that you should be eating your lip balm.
Colour payoff is definitely light. I have very fair skin and was worried that some of the darker shades wouldn’t work on no-makeup days, but that’s not the case. One layer adds a nice subtle touch of colour, but you can build it up or layer over lipstick if you want something bolder.In the future, I’d love to see a translucent option added to the shade range for more versatility.
All in all, these are a great option if you want something more elevated than a balm stick but less costly than a luxury option. They have a similar texture and colour payoff, and won’t make you question your life decisions at checkout.
What reviewers are saying about the e.l.f. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm:
Reviewers are big fans of the e.l.f. Glow Reviver Melting Balm. They love the buttery, lightweight texture, sweet taste, and range of colours and flavours. One reviewer even praises it for having the best pigment and texture of any drugstore oil or balm on the market, and I agree.
