The cheap lip balms from supermarkets were put to the test. That’s what they were like.
I confess: I’m a lip balm addict. There is always a tube of lip balm with me in my bag, another keeps rolling in my coat pocket, the third one sits at my workstation and there are even more in the nightstand drawer.
The brand of the grease doesn’t really matter to me: I might buy a cheap basic stick if the cream is forgotten on the trip. I’m still happy to test different natural cosmetics options and pharmacy products or local special brands bought from vacations.
I appreciate creams, after which the lips feel soft and cared for: ones that don’t sting or tighten. I don’t like fats that taste too strong and I usually prefer non-flavored options.
Iltalehti tested 14 different lip balms found at Market. Pete Anikari
Now, however, I put my lips to the test and tested 14 different affordable lip balms. My purpose was to find out what kind of lip creams under 10 euros are sold in Finnish markets and how caring they are.
The products were purchased from stores in the capital region: K-Citymarket, Prisma, Lidl and Tokmann. I tested each lip balm for one day to find out if they work from morning to night. The test products were randomly selected. Some of them are the stores’ own brands, while some are sold in several chains.
Based on the comparison, a few inexpensive surprises and a domestic super product were found among the products. So you can get effective care for a small amount of money.
Inkuto Shea Butter Lip Balm Coconut
Inkuto’s lip cream, which won the test, is also the most expensive product. Pete Anikari
The Finnish-made lip cream of the domestic natural cosmetics brand feels stiff at first, but melts quickly in the heat of the skin and is well absorbed.
The handmade cream contains shea butter and Finnish beeswax. The smell and taste of coconut are pleasantly mild and natural. The moisturizing feeling lasts a long time. Button purchase!
Price 6.55 e. Place of purchase K-Citymarket Iso Omena. Score 5/5.
Lavera Basis Sensitive Lip Balm
The second test is manufactured by Lavera. Pete Anikari
The cream from the natural cosmetics brand feels pleasant on the lips and moisturizes well. It does not need to be added often. The taste and smell are neutral. A high-quality and functional product.
Price 3.90 e. Place of purchase K-Citymarket Iso Omena. Score 4.5/5.
Blistex Hemp & Shea Hydration
Blistex fat smells and tastes pleasant. Pete Anikari
The lip balm containing hemp oil and shea butter is said to soothe and moisturize the lips. The moisturizing effect is said to last for 24 hours. The vanilla and mint-scented product felt pleasantly light and caring, but it did have to be added throughout the day.
Price 2.99 e. Place of purchase K-Citymarket Iso Omena. Score 4/5.
O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair
You don’t have to keep adding O’Keeffes lip balm. Pete Anikari
The unscented lip balm is advertised on the side of the tube as offering all-day hydration with just one application. On the lips, its texture feels special. At first, the cream leaves a thick and heavy film on their surface, which slowly blends into the skin. The moisturizing is long-lasting, but at least when testing, the cream had to be added once during the day.
Price 5.89 e. Place of purchase Tokmanni Citycenter. Score 4/5.
Crazy Rumors Banana Split
Crazy Rumors’ lip balm smells and tastes strongly of banana. Pete Anikari
The natural cosmetic shea butter-based lip balm feels nourishing. The motherly taste and the excessively strong banana smell to my nose do not really remind me of natural cosmetics. The product does not need to be added much during the day and it keeps the lips feeling soft.
Price 4.80 e. Purchase place Tokmanni Citycenter. Score 3.5/5.
Olivia’s Strawberry Lip Balm
Olivia’s product is great value for money. Pete Anikari
Henno’s strawberry-scented lip cream, sold in a pack of two bottles, was one of the inexpensive surprises of the test. It feels pleasant and moisturizing on the lips, and you don’t need to add cream too often. Good price-quality ratio: the price of one grease stick is less than a euro.
Price 1.95 e (pack of two creams). Place of purchase: Prisma Iso Omena. Score 3.5/5.
Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm
Carmex’s strawberry lip balm has a sun protection factor. Pete Anikari
A product with a moisturizing feel and a flexible spread in a convenient tube form. Mild strawberry aroma and taste. The packaging promised a quick effect and long-lasting results. However, the product had to be added several times throughout the day. Plus the sun protection factor, which is only a moderate 15.
Price 2.30 e, place of purchase Prisma Iso Omena. Score 3/5.
Dermosil Medi panthenol lip cream
Dermosil cream fits well under lipstick. Pete Anikari
The cream, packed in a tube of a domestic brand, is easy and neat to apply to the lips. The unscented cream absorbs quickly, and it fits best under lipstick among the tested products. However, the moisturizing power was not the top of the test.
Price 3.95 e. Place of purchase Prisma Iso Omena. Score 3/5.
Labello Hydro Care
Labello’s lip balm not only moisturizes, but also protects from the sun. Pete Anikari
The classic brand’s lip cream contains shea butter, vegetable oils and vitamins. The cream with sun protection factor 15 feels pleasantly light on the lips, but it can also be reapplied often.
Price 2.85 e. Place of purchase: Prisma Iso Omena. Score: 3/5.
Pirkka lip cream caring
Pirka’s skin care cream smells gently of honey. Pete Anikari
Pirka’s lip balm has a gentle honey scent, and as its name suggests, it contains caring ingredients such as provitamin B5 and coconut oil. Spreads well and keeps the lips pleasantly soft.
Price 1.55 e. Place of purchase K-Citymarket Iso Omena. Score 3/5.
Ronald Lip Balm Pomegranate
Tested Ronald’s lip cream is part of a three-fat set. Other flavors are watermelon and pineapple. Pete Anikari
From the multipack of three fruity lip creams, the pomegranate-flavored option ended up in the test. Henno’s pink cream does not leave a distinctive shade on the skin. The scent and aroma are mild, and the moisturizing power is reasonable. The stylish looking multi-pack is suitable as a Christmas gift, for example, and the price of one cream tube is around 1.50 euros.
Price 4.49 e (pack of three creams). Place of purchase: Tokmanni Citycenter. Score 3/5.
Cien Caring Lip Balm Classic Care
The cheapest option in the test can be found in Lidl’s selection. Pete Anikari
The inexpensive product spreads well and feels protective, the smell and taste are neutral. The product had to be added a few times a day. The cheapest in the test: three lip balms came in the same inexpensive package, so the price of one cream is 67 cents.
Price 1.99 (pack of three creams), place of purchase Lidl Citycenter, Helsinki. Score 2.5/5.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Queen Bee
Vaseline cream is packed in a jar. Pete Anikari
The sales package of this lip cream claims that the product guarantees honey-like softness for up to 72 hours. The argument does not convince. The product packaged in a jar has to be applied with a finger, which feels unhygienic compared to other forms of packaging. The mildly honey-scented product leaves a heavy film on the lips that feels unpleasant and needs to be reapplied throughout the day.
Price 2.99 e. Place of purchase: Prisma Iso Omena. Score 2/5.
Essence Juicy Bomb Glossy Butter Lip Balm
Essence’s lip cream appeals best to young users. Pete Anikari
The berry scent and aroma of Essence’s tinted lip cream are overwhelmingly strong. The flexible product spreads well on the lips, but unfortunately also beyond their borders. The shade is so strong that this is also visible.
This product appeals to young people, but due to its poor moisturizing effect, it is not the best option for adults who need a more caring cream.
Price 3.29 e. Place of purchase Prisma Iso Omena. Score 1/5.
THE FACTS
Creams in point order
- Inkuto Shea Butter Lip Balm Coconut, 5 p
- Lavera Basis Sensitive Lip Balm, 4.5 p
- Blistex Hemp & Shea Hydration and O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair, 4p
- Crazy Rumors Banana Split and Olivia’s Strawberry Lip Balm, 3.5p
- Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm, Dermosil Medi panthenol lip balm, Labello Hydro Care, Ronald Lip Balm Pomegranate and Pirkka lip balm caring, 3 p
- Cien Caring Lip Balm Classic Care, 2.5 p
- Vaseline Lip Therapy Queen Bee, 2 p
- Essence Juicy Bomb Glossy Butter Lip Balm, 1 p
Under ten, you can get a lip balm that works well. Pete Anikari