If you enjoy the Beauty Brains blog, you’ll also enjoy sharing your thoughts with others in the Beauty Brains Forum. There are thousands of comments from over 400 members on all kinds of beauty issues.
As a special reward to the more prolific Forum members, we provide them with new beauty products to review. In today’s post, forum member “Karen” shares her thoughts on Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner.
Addicted to lip balm
I love using lip balm and you may, too. Evidently, 64% of women use lip conditioning products. I have tubes of it everywhere and can’t stand how my lips feel when it’s not on. I might even go so far as to say I’m addicted to it but experts say there’s no need to worry about that. There simply isn’t an ingredient in any of them that could cause a true chemical dependency.
Okay then: I might not have a chemical dependency for it but I must have a psychological one because I sure feel relief once I slather it on and my lips feel a whole lot better, too.
My products of choice
First, I reach for Blistex to repair, soothe, and moisturize. It’s an absolute must for me to protect my lips from the elements once the cold weather hits. Second, a fellow Beauty Brainiac in the Forum recently turned me on to Caudalie Lip Conditioner, a wonderful but pricey creation that takes lip balm to a whole new level with its antioxidant ingredients. It’s now my go-to product that I apply before bed to repair free-radical damage. I’ve also found that it makes an excellent base under lipstick, a function my beloved but slippery Blistex can’t do. Additionally, it contains a sunscreen so I wear it on my light makeup, lipstick-free days.
Essentially Aveeno
When I had the opportunity to try another lip balm, Aveeno’s Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15, it seemed like the perfect assignment to send my way. Aveeno claims their lip balm is unique in the following ways:
- It’s enriched with natural oatmeal, an ingredient known to soothe skin
- It contains a blend of natural conditioners including jojoba oil and shea butter
- It leaves lips feeling moisturized long after applying
- It shields lips from harmful UVA an UVB rays
- It’s hypoallergenic
Aveeno explains it was also developed to address frustration over the constant need to reapply lip balm, a common complaint from women using other products on the market.
Soft and smooth, not heavy and waxy
I used it for a week, giving up both Blistex and Caudalie Lip Conditioner. How did Aveeno’s lip balm compare to what I personally liked and used? I didn’t think it was as good at repairing chapped lips nor keeping them as moist as Blistex but it did a reasonable job of making them feel soft and smooth when it was on.
I liked the fact that it didn’t feel overly waxy or heavy but I did feel the need to apply it at least as frequently as my other two products of choice. It’s also effective as a lipstick base but doesn’t contain the antioxidant ingredients that Caudalie lip conditioner does to soften fine lines and keep lips plump at the same time. “Fragrance” was not listed as an ingredient but it had a mild pleasant vanilla scent due to the addition of Vanillin.
Petrolatum is best
I did a little research on lip balms. I learned that petrolatum-based lip balms are always a smart choice for chapped lips. One dermatologist called this key ingredient “the gold standard” for lip balms and claimed it was the very best thing that you could possibly put on your lips. Does Aveeno’s lip balm contain it? The answer is yes.
A good value
Its price is very good: $3.49 or less per tube and it’s available at most drug stores. It comes in both stick and pot form. Overall, it’s a good value for the money if you’re looking for a lip balm to maintain soft healthier looking lips. If you’re looking for a product to prevent or repair chapped, cracked lips or a lip conditioner that offers anti-aging benefits, you might want to have something else on hand. What you use will depend on your likes and needs.
There you have it, Brainiacs! Now I’m off for my must-have lip conditioner “fix!”
What do YOU think about Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner? Leave a comment and let us know. Or, you can start a thread and talk to Karen directly in the Beauty Brains Forum. And if you’re interested in getting free goodies of your own, join the Forum now and show us you’ve got what it takes to be a Beauty Brainiac!
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It’s no wonder the writer is addicted to lip balms, I would suspect that as soon the balm wears off, she has that dry uncomfortable feeling on her lips. The reason for this is because petrolatum IS NOT best for your lips. It is in fact one of the worse things for both your skin and lips. Petrolatum stays only on the top layer of your skin blocking off oxygen and moisture from penetrating beneath the layers. Because of the heavy, thick, gooey feeling of petrolatum you are just getting a “false sense of security” that it is giving you beneficial moisture and protection, when in fact, it is actually pulling moisture from the skin and that’s possibly why a person can believe to be addicted because as soon as it wears off you will get a gross, dry, naked feeling on your lips causing you to keep reaching for more lip balm, thus causing a vicious cycle of lips always feeling dry and tight. A better choice would be products with more natural ingredients that do not contain petrolatum.
Jentana: Thanks for your comment but I would like to clarify something. Petrolatum does NOT draw moisture out of your lips. In fact, just the opposite. It forms a protective barrier that reduces transepidermal water loss. If you want to learn more, read our previous post about lip balm addiction. Whether or not it’s “natural” has nothing to do with it.
Nice job Karen! I guess we won’t need to check into lip balm anonymous!
Part of my everyday beauty ritual is to put lip balm before I go to bed. Sometimes i use petroleum jelly and it gives me a soft and kissable lips in the morning. I might try using Aveeno after I’m done with my current lipbalm.
Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15
I know that this product was recently reviewed by another BB member, but since they sent it to me to try, I figured I’d give everyone a few quick thoughts on it (especially since I LOVE it).
Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner with SPF 15 is actually a CEW Beauty Award Finalist and I noticed it has quite a few good reviews on drugstore.com. Being “addicted,” like Karen, to lip balms, I was very happy to receive this in the mail.
According to Aveeno: “This unique lip treatment provides essential long-lasting moisturization to help condition and protect dry, chapped lips. With an exclusive combination of natural oatmeal and natural skin conditioners, including jojoba oil and shea butter, it restores moisture and locks it in long after applying. It contains UVA/UVB sunscreens to protect lips from the sun and is good for daily use.”
I usually use Chapstick’s Moisturizing Lip Balm and have been content with it for some time now. It’s nothing special, but it’s sufficient. I think I’ve given up expecting anything more from my lip balms… until the Aveeno balm showed up at my doorstop (did I mention I love this stuff?).
It’s not too waxy, nor is it too thin, and it lasts just as long as my tried and true Chapstick. It feels silky smooth and has a lovely vanilla taste/scent to it. It also comes with SPF 15 and jojoba oil and shea butter! What more could I ask for from a lip balm?
Now I just need to find a way to use up the stockpile of Chapstick I have!
I’m confused – you are touting the “antioxidants” in the Caudalie product, yet in most other posts you say that ‘antioxidants” are basically marketing BS and meaningless. so aren’t you contradicting yourself in this product evaluation?
@Lyndsay,
If you read the post, it is written by a Beauty Brains forum member not by one of the Beauty Brains staff. So that can explain the difference.
I absolutely love the Made from Earth Peppermint conditioner. So far its my favorite one from all the organic lines I have tried. Made from Earth is completely natural – unlike other brands who may claim to be natural and/or organic (but somehow still manage to sneak the icky chemicals in) – so that alone makes this an awesome product for someone who’s concerned about what their beauty products are made from.
After a few days of consistent use, my hair is softer and silkier than with any other product I’ve tried. The smell is a little strong, but fades to a nice subdued floral scent after the hair dries. I’ve gotten many compliments on my hair since I’ve gone back to using the Made from Earth conditioner. I’ve spent a few years trying out all the “natural” brands to find the perfect line for my hip length hair…again, of all those supposedly natural brands – Made from Earth seems to be the only one that really is purely natural, and on top of that, has been the best for my hair.
Guys i want to know if aveeno test on animals? someone knows?
I tried all the organic lip balms and then decided to shell out an extra 50 cents to try the Made from Earth lip balms – first I tried the citrus one. It has a cool, refreshing kick that cools your lips and moisturizes. I will never go back or even bother tying any other kinds of lip balm now. This is indeed the best!
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