TL; DR passable, lush lipwear — at a luxury price tag

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A Deeper Look

You may be thinking to yourself: Estée Lauder? THE Estée Lauder?

Beloved cosmetics brand of pearl-clutching grandmas all over the world Estée Lauder? Skincare conglomerate Estée Lauder? Originator of cherished retail staple “gift with purchase” Estée Lauder?

Why would she (or her successors, more likely) care about something as pedestrian as lip balm?

If you’re asking yourself this question, then all I can do is lament that you must have missed one of my most important lessons. Go read it and come back. I’ll wait.

So how does a lip balm render itself worthy of a name brand association as prized as this one? Is it the hefty price tag? That’s a start (though to mixed results, I must admit). Is it with stunning packaging? That certainly doesn’t hurt. Is it with an intriguing (or lazy) gimmick, such as a personalized tint “sure” to flatter all wearers? Now we’re getting somewhere.

Let’s work our way backwards through that list. How is the tint? If you’ve seen the try-on on my Instagram, you’ll know that a “hint of tint” could not be more accurate. It is quite subtle, which, for some, is just right. For me? I need a little more color to stand out against my darker skin.

What about the packaging? If you refer back to the Quick Scores section (above), you’ll perhaps notice that this lip balm scored a full 3 points higher than the supposed “max” score (which is, itself, nonsensical, but hyperbole is an acceptable form of rhetoric so let’s go with it). Not only does Ms. Lauder make strong use of my favorite packaging color (rose gold, natch), not only is the case thick and heavy (like a black card), but the tube is so heavily magnetized that it makes a delicious click when you snap the two pieces shut. Game, set, match.

Lastly, let’s unpack the whopping $32 this balm supposedly commands in a free market. Is this product effective? Sure. Does it deliver on its promises to hydrate, condition and color my lips? For the most part. But could other balms do all of the above, for much less? Certainly.

And a final note: did I purchase this lip balm because Karlie Kloss endorsed it? Yes — and I’m not ashamed to admit it. (I did, however, wait until it went on sale so that I didn’t pay the equivalent of six frappuccinos for a single lip balm. Does that count for something?)

[And a really brief addendum to follow the final note: my husband would like me for to explain the Taste and Smell scores. “N/A” means the balm does not taste like anything. The “4” awarded to its fragrance indicates that it imparts some, though limited, aromatic joy — akin to a Glade plugin on its last legs.]

Important: Contains Castor Seed Oil, Contains Candelilla Wax