Delightful Discoveries for Gift Givers with Great Taste
If there is one beauty product that I like to have with me every day, no matter the season or what I’m doing, it’s what I call “no-mirror lip.” That would be a balm-gloss hybrid with a peep of color–but not so much color that you need a mirror to put it on. Instead, you can breezily swipe it on at your desk, at a red light, or while standing in line at the grocery store.
You’d be surprised at how hard that is to find. Or maybe you wouldn’t, knowing the value of such wunderkinds yourself. Many seem promising, but then there’s too much color, or not enough. Or it’s sticky-glossy instead of soft-sheen glossy. Or it leaves your lips feeling drier than they were before.
Once, I thought Goop Beauty Lip Balm would be it. But after pretending I didn’t need a mirror to swipe on the innocuous-looking “Rose,” I finally had to admit I did. Which was a shame, because the tube was so pretty.
But enough about what disappointed, and onto what didn’t.
The first thing that struck me about the cute pink tube was that the right amount comes out when you squeeze it. Just a swipe’s worth. No learning curve to keeping a blob from gushing out. And the shape of the smooth applicator was a good size for covering my (average-size, I guess?) lips in one pass. Obviously, that may not be the case for everyone.
I was looking to the Guava Mango Smoothie Lip Treatment to soothe and moisturize like a balm while also giving me a little color and shine like a lip gloss. But that seems to be setting the bar low, as according to the brand, it will also “visibly improve fine lines, wrinkles, & elasticity in your lips,” as well as “remove dead skin cells” and “support fuller, smoother-looking lips.”
The removing dead skin cells I get, because guava and mango extract, two of the ingredients, is known as natural exfoliators. The rest…honestly I can’t say. Interesting that it’s purported to help fine lines in your lips, not around them. My actual lips are about the only place I haven’t yet started fretting over lines and wrinkles. It never occurred to me, but now–thanks, ESW!–I know I have that on the way. And what does “supporting” in the context of fuller lips mean, anyway? No matter. Normally this type of vague language irks me, but in this case, I wasn’t looking for wrinkle smoothing or Angelina’s lips, so whatever.
Also on the ingredient list is shea butter, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, all of which were on the mark for what I was looking for: soft, smooth, un-chapped lips with a bit of shine.
The tint of the Guava Mango Smoothie is a nice clear, true pink. It looks brighter on the applicator that it did on my lips, which was perfect. It’s worth noting that the Smoothies also come in Vanilla Almond Butter, a toffee shade, and White Pitaya Coconut, which is clear. If you happen to like all three, you might consider picking up the set and saving $9.
Aside from the just-right color, sheen, and moisturizing properties of the Smoothies, the tubes are made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
About all I can point to is staying power, which seems somewhat below average when comparing it to a lip gloss (and admittedly, lip glosses are not known for staying power in the first place). I do find myself reapplying often.
It’s a luxurious lip treat with just the right pop of pink, and it’s a flash to apply no matter where you happen to be. It would be perfect if it lasted a little longer, but regardless, it’s definitely a repeat buy for me.
