Forewarning: The beginning of this post will be a little bit heavy, but I promise it will get better.
This year, 2020 has been anything but normal. As adaptive creatures we are trying to cope and cultivate a better understanding of what our ‘new normal’ looks like — some of us doing much better than others in dealing with these new changes.
The fact of the matter is that some people would rather have their so-called ‘freedom’ over the safety of someone else’s well-being is absolutely beyond me. It is proven that utilizing face masks, face shields and gloves properly will enable adequate protection for not just other people, but even yourself — so what’s the problem?
Sighs, okay rant over.
Most Common Issue: Chapped lips
The dryness that I experience generally settles in after wearing a face mask for 3-4 hours. The chapped-ness doesn’t necessarily hurt, but you can feel the pruning dryness along the surface of your lip. In comparison, it is a completely different sensation than that of a brutal 20 degree New York City winter evening, but nonetheless still uncomfortable. As these days of our ‘new normal’ carry on, I will continue to try-out new lip balms to combat this excessive dryness and keep you guys updated!
So Let’s Begin: Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm $18
Drunk Elephant is able to keep their packaging very clean and slim line looking, yet also very mood lifting. All of their items are color-coded, but they all feature very pretty and spiritually freeing colors.
Their Lippe Balm is no exception, featuring a traditional twist-up mechanism, a wider based packaging and a light sunflower yellow cap. The bright colored cap makes it very easy to find especially in a black lined bag. These minor details were definitely not overlooked.
Now, let’s see what the packaging claims that this item is capable of achieving on my poor dry lips.
It reads: “An anti-aging and protective treatment balm that moisturizes, volumizes, nourishes, and rejuvenates the lips for a noticeably more youthful pout”
Suggested Usage: “Apply throughout the day and before bedtime. Can be used alone as a sheer, moisturizing lip balm or under any lipstick.”
Let’s also take a peek at other things that get featured on the outer packaging as well, such as the three featured ingredients, net weight of product and other claims.
Ingredients List:
1. Mongongo Nut Oil
2. Avocado Seed Oil
3. Peptides
Claims List:
1. Product has a 24 month shelf life from the moment the opened product is exposed to oxygen
2. Packaging is Recyclable
3. Donations are made to International Elephant Foundation
4. Cruelty-free
| Class | Ingredient | Alternative Name | Purpose of the Ingredient |
| Fatty Acid | Cocos Nucifera Oil | Coconut Oil | Hydrates |
| Fatty Acid | Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil | Marula Oil | Hydrates |
| Occlusive | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | Shea Butter | Plant lipid that hydrates and smooths |
| Occlusive | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Coconut Oil/Glycerin | Hydrates, smooths, antioxidant |
| Antioxidant | Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 | Bisabolol | Protects and soothes |
| Occlusive | Cera Alba/Cire d’abeille | Beeswax | Protects and thickener |
| Enhancer | Ozokerite | Mineral Wax | Texture Enhancer |
| Enhancer | Polyisobutene | Polymer of the hydrocarbon isobutylene | Texture Enhancer |
| Occlusive | Glycine Soja Oil | Soybean Oil | Plant oil to hydrate |
| Enhancer | Copernicia Cerifera Wax | Carnauba Wax | Texture Enhancer |
| Enhancer | Euphorbia Cerifera Wax | Candelilla Wax | Texture Enhancer |
| Antioxidant | Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract | Green Tea Leaf Extract | Prevents free radical damage |
| Antioxidant | Dictyopteris Membranacea Extract | Brown Algae Extract | Anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and prevents free radical damage |
| Antioxidant | Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract | Birch Bark Extract | Prevents free radical damage |
| Fatty Acid | Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil | Safflower Seed Oil | Hydrates |
| Fatty Acid | Persea Gratissima Oil | Avocado Oil | Contains Omega 3, 6 and prevents water loss |
| Occlusive | Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil | Mongongo Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil) | Plant Oil that moisturizes, smooths and an antioxidant |
| Antioxidant | Vaccinium Macrocarpon Seed Oil | Cranberry Seed Oil | Source of Polyphenol, antioxidant and skin healer |
| Antioxidant | Tocopheryl Acetate | Vitamin E | |
| Anti-inflammatory | Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate | Isolated bit of Licorice Extract | Anti-Inflammatory Agent |
| Occlusive | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 | Palmitoyl Oligopeptide | Supports and Repairs skin |
| Active | Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate | Vitamin C | Skin Brightener |
| Occlusive | Ethylhexyl Palmitate | Fatty Alcohol/ Palmitic Acid | Texture Enhancer |
| Occlusive | Dicaprylyl Ether | Skin Conditioning Agent | |
| Occlusive | Tribehenin | Skin Softener | |
| Stabilizer | Sorbitan Isostearate | Thickener | Texture Enhancer |
| Occlusive | Lauryl Alcohol | Fatty Alcohol | Helps with Pentration |
| Fatty Acid | Linoleic Acid | Unsaturated Omega 6 | |
| Emulsifier | Caprylyl Glycol | Humectant | Conditioning Agent |
| Stabilizer | Phenoxyethanol | Preservative |
Let’s Be Honest: Is this product worth $18?
As you can see on the left, I have now resorted to scooping the product out of the bottom of the container since I can no longer twist the product any further up. Every ounce costs money! Just kidding, but not really.
This lip balm is by far one of the most comfortable feeling lip treatments I’ve ever used. Not only is it light-weight and non-greasy — when used at night it results in softer and more plush lips by morning.
As you can see from the ingredient list above, this product contains a ton of antioxidants and fatty acids to help compensate for the fact that this lip balm does not have SPF. These other ingredients will really help to prevent and neutralize any free radical damage (sun damage included) from absorbing into the skin.
It isn’t uncommon for lip balms to leave out sunscreen from their formulations. The reason being is that due to the thinness of the lip skin, a lot of people can actually experience sensitivity towards SPF in lip products. It can cause dryness and long-term peeling which results in more harm than good for the lip area.
Despite how shiny the product may look on my hand as shown above, it is really comfortable on the lips and you can hardly feel it. Drunk Elephant has really achieved the ultimate consistency for a comforting lip balm that doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Additionally, this entire container has lasted me throughout quarantine so far — so roughly already seven months. My frequency of usage is generally only at night since I don’t suffer from dryness too often during the day.
Unique Factor:
Drunk Elephant and their team were able to create a lip balm that is able to moisturize, hold moisture, and protect the lips without the use of silicone, petroleum, and/or urea. Generally a lot of lip balms that are able to hold moisture in the lips for a prolonged period of time will rely heavily on any of those three ingredients — and Drunk Elephant does not use any of them as a barrier in their formula.
Instead they use a lot of high quality waxes to help lock in all the fruit oils that are incorporated into this lip treatment.
Final Verdict:
The Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm is definitely worth $18 and is something that I would re-purchase and also purchase for all of my friends and family in the near future.
To Purchase Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm $18
Disclaimer: Please note that all images unmarked are my own and those marked are credited and not intended for any copyright infringement. If you would like to use my images please just ask for permission. All images and links are affiliated, meaning that with every purchase it will generate a tiny commission for the referral. This post is not sponsored and not paid for, all opinions are my own and always will be.