A while ago, when I was down in Singapore and browsing the Sephora sale, I came upon the Burt’s Bees display. I have tried the odd bit and bob from the brand in terms of skincare, but if I’m to be honest, it never quite stood out for me. Asked to describe it, I’d say it’s “Meh!” at best. Yes, “meh” is a description LOL!
But at the back of my head, I remembered reading somewhere about the newly launched Burt’s Bees Lipsticks and how nice they were. So I got curious, and eventually picked one up for the sake of experimentation.
The Burt’s Bees lipstick comes in a long rectangle tube, with the colour band denoting the colour of the lipstick. After a few moment swatching at the counter, I decided to stay away from my usual bright colours, and go instead, for a warm everyday shade. I eventually settled for Sunset Cruise.
The colour, when swatched on the back of my hand, as you’ll see below, fit what I was looking for. A light coral, a colour I could wear daily and one that was not too obtrusive. Little did I realise that while the colour disappointed me a little, I really enjoyed using this. With one big caveat.
Here’s the swatch of the Burt’s Bees Lipstick in Sunset Cruise on the back of my hand.
Doesn’t it look like a nice, neutral shade? A lovely shade of coral without too much pink nor too much orange. It was just right.
However, what I found was that this colour did not translate onto my lips. Sigh… On my lips, it sort of blends in with my natural lip colour, adding just that touch of warmth to an otherwise neutral lip. After I got over my initial disappointment, I soon grew to enjoy using this, for my lazy days (which seem to now outnumber the hardworking days LOL 😛 ) It gives me just enough colour to help make me look alive, without loading on so much colour that I look too made up.
See what I mean? It just looks like my lips but better. Not a bad thing, just unexpected, as I was hoping for a more coral colour, as seen in the swatch.
This then, will disappoint some people, because the balmy, sheer lipstick texture may not sit well with some people, who may prefer a lipstick to apply like a lipstick i.e. with bold colour. This one is a cross between a lipbalm and a lipstick, being more tinted than a tinted balm, but a little sheer for a lipstick. I like it, as these sorts of textures work for me. But it doesn’t work for everyone.
For me, I find that it isn’t drying, and it does keep lips feeling moisturised, without a heavy, thick, slick feeling of balm on the lips. It is comfortable to wear, and lasts long enough. Do take note however, that due to the balmy texture, it isn’t a long-lasting lipstick. It will mark your coffee cups, and it will eventually disappear after a few hours. I don’t mind that for daily wear, but this is not a lipstick I’d pick out for a special occasion.
As much as I like the Burt’s Bees Lipstick then, there are a few things about it that bug me (and bug me enough to influence my recommendation of this product). First, the packaging. For some reason, they made the lipstick packaging long and thin, but kept to a traditional fat lipstick bullet. This makes the whole plastic contraption rather flimsy. When I twist up the lipstick, it wobbles, and as I use it, the rim will mark the sides. Also, it does not retract fully into the tube, so if you aren’t careful, you will nick the top with the cover. The cover is made rather narrow, and because it’s square, you have to fit it a certain way to be sure that it closes properly. Aesthetically, it may be appealing. Practically, I feel the whole design to be flawed.
Second, the price. I paid S$26 for this lipstick. It retails at RM85 in Malaysia and I just found out that it’s just US$9 in the USA. What the actual flying…. fillibuster?!?!
Even allowing for a generous exchange rate of RM5 : US$1 (which I pray never happens) it would only bring it to RM45. Even if I add in the additional taxes and crap, it doesn’t come up to RM85. We are expected to pay more than DOUBLE what it retails for elsewhere?! I don’t know who came up with the pricing, but this is just pure bollocks.
For this reason, I will not recommend this lipstick for purchase unless you can get it for a price that isn’t so stupidly inflated as to be ridiculous.
IN A NUTSHELL
The Burt’s Bees Lipstick is supposed to offer full coverage, vibrant colour with natural moisturising ingredients. It moisturises, but it does not offer full coverage, offering at best, medium coverage, and colour too is not as vibrant as I expected it to be. I peg this to be a sheer, balmy lipstick, that is nice for daily wear and good for those who want something natural, and who aren’t into bright, opaque lip colours, because my experience with this is that it isn’t. However, the plastic packaging and its shape makes it awkward and flimsy, and the inflated price outside of the USA makes this an expensive purchase that is not worth the price. Buy this if you can get it in the USA, don’t if you live outside and find the price inflated, because there are better options out there.
PROS: Balmy and moisturising on lips, Neutral colours will appeal to most, Sheer colours, Not drying
CONS: Inflated prices outside of the USA, Sheer texture may not appeal to everyone, Packaging feels flimsy, Lipstick bullet will smoosh against the side of the tube and have marks, Not long lasting
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who prefers balmy lipsticks that are not too strong in colour, Anyone who prefers sheer and balmy lipstick textures
PRICE: RM85 | US$9 | S$26
WHERE TO BUY: Sephora, Ulta, Amazon, Adore Beauty
I can’t get over the price outside of the USA. In Canada it’s CA$9.99 which for me, sounds reasonable. But RM85? You have to be mad to ask me to pay that for this lipstick. I’d much rather just top up RM40 and get something from Dior or Chanel, where the lipstick construction is sturdy and luxurious, and the colour is beautiful and vibrant. In fact, I could even save money and buy 2 or maybe 3 lipsticks from Maybelline instead. RM85 is just an effing ridiculous price for something that retails at US$9.
Have you tried this Burt’s Bees lipstick? Did the price shock you?
To be honest, at S$26 it was expensive too. I was at a loose end and had no phone data to do my research. Had I done so, I’d have dropped this like a hot potato! RM85! No, I can’t get over it.
Paris B
Ha…..for such an inflated price.
A friend gifted me their lipbalm with mango. Highly recommended! Lips-smacking yummy.
Ah yes I’d heard their lipbalm is good. But I didn’t believe this crazy inflated price till I checked. How they can justify it, I won’t know!
Tarte’s Amazonian butter lipstick in Tulip seems like it would probably be a good substitute to this…
How interesting! I’d never used the Tarte butter lipsticks. I remember I tried their Lipsurgence crayon things, but wasn’t too impressed.
Sheer and balmy is just not what I’m looking for in a lip product so will pass but the pricing here is astonishing.
I have no idea why Asia is expected to pay more for the same thing. I’m seeing this sort of regional markup across a lot of the brands from abroad. Not happy.
Lovely pics though, Ms.P. The colour looks great on you.
Thank you SG, and you are right. I have no idea why it’s so highly marked up here. I would like to blame taxes, but considering that there are other brands that come from the same place without this sort of mark up, it’s unjustifiable, putting it mildly. I like this, but I can’t say I can support the brand with any more purchases.
Ouchie I FEEL YOU !!
It’s too much! I don’t who to blame, and who to boycott for this LOL! Maybe Sephora (which will be better for my wallet hehe)
the price of everything not from malaysia are always inflated like mad =((((( but the color looks good on you tho 🙂
Thank you Meen. While I tend to agree that we do tend to get prices inflated locally, this one is unforgiveable and ridiculous. I find that for the mid to high end products, we actually tend to end up with better prices – less inflated. But in the lower end of the price scale, it tends to go bonkers. Not sure why.
Friend of mine bought one for me from the USA. I have developed super sensitive lips over the years and most lipsticks will make my lips, crack, peel and even weep. This so far is the only lipstick that my lips can take with zero side effects.
RM85 is crazy for a USD 9 lippie! I saw it at sephora Msia and i almost fainted.
To be fair though, the shade which i got has great colour payoff. Basically i look like i have been poisoned, which is the look i was going for. It is a very deep rich purple which i love. Staying power is not great though.
If you have any other recommendations for super sensitive lips do let me know 🙂 my tube is finishing and i dont really want to pay RM85 for a USD9 lipstick.
Hey there! Yes, RM85 is a ridiculous price and absolutely not worth paying when you know that it’s actually only US$9! I don’t have super sensitive lips so I’m not sure I can help. Can you use any of the regular department store brands? Or do they affect your lips? That said, they are pretty expensive now. If I come across more affordable (and good) lip products I’ll be sure to share 🙂