little white truths

I received this eight-pack of Sierra Bees lip balms as a GWP along with an iHerb order last year, and this pack is the reason why my lip balm collection has been looking rather large when I've done my makeup inventories!

I've been trying to get through some older products via Project Pan and it was only around a month ago that I finally tucked into this set, and I'm pleased to report that the products are nice and I'll definitely be keeping them. 

Thankfully I'm someone who gets through lip balms quickly so I don't expect the pack to last out this year: my lips are dry so I'm always applying something to them, but on top of that, uncoloured balms like these double nicely as foot balms and I'll be using a few that way because I don't have any dedicated foot products these days.

In the set you receive all eight of Sierra Bees' organic lip balm flavours: honey, cocoa butter, creme brulee, unflavoured, pomegranate, mint burst, shea butter & argan oil, and tamanu & tea tree.

Each balm is 4.25g in size and contains nothing but organic extra virgin olive oil, organic beeswax, organic sunflower seed oil and non-GMO vitamin e - plus a natural ingredient to give each flavour its different scent.

I like the flavour options available and so far pomegranate is my favourite, although I've only been through two others aside from that (creme brulee and unflavoured) so I may yet discover another I really enjoy.

I also like the simple, colourful packaging, and the bullets are your standard lip balm tubes that twist up and down with ease.

Sierra Bees claims/product details:

• Our sustainable, USDA-certified organic beeswax is sourced from established bee farmers who meet our stringent social, environmental and economic requirements
• Cruelty free
• Gluten free
• RRP $4 AUD approx for the eight-pack (see eg iHerb)

Best of all, these things cost around $0.50 each if you buy the eight-pack. My golly! I'm so glad I stumbled across them.

Verdict

These aren't fancy products but I'm enjoying using them and I can see myself getting through the whole pack rather quickly.

It's been a while since I've used stock-standard lip balms on a regular basis, in large part because I've been too busy panning items like lipsticks via Project Pan, and I must say it's refreshing to use balms that hydrate and nothing else - I've missed simple products like this and I'm glad to finally return to them again.

Each balm feels the same in formula and it's only the scents that vary. The balm glides onto the lips with ease and it's the kind of formula that I don't notice once it's on - just the kind I like.

The last few lip balms I've tried have been from Burt's Bees, and I really don't like the Burt's Bees formula - it feels super waxy to me and I'm always aware of it on my lips. This one's light as air so I'd reach for one of these over a Burt's Bees balm any day.

Best of all, these things cost a measly fifty cents a pop. That's nothing! And it's especially nothing in Australian dollars, since we're used to paying exorbitant prices for beauty products and very few good budget buys are available in our market.

One last thing to note is that, while I do find these balms hydrating and comfortable, they do transfer easily so you'll need to reapply them after eating and drinking. That's pretty standard for a balm but it's worth mentioning all the same - plus I don't feel that the hydration these give has any lasting impact, so my lips are still perpetually dry even though I've been using the products consistently for over a month. It's only when I have one on that my lips feel ok.

Good products for a great price.