TL;DR versatile and refreshing but still falls short

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A Deeper Look

At some point in 2021, I had told myself that I was no longer allowed to indulge in my runaway habit of purchasing lip balms that were new and hip and seemed like something I would enjoy.

I definitely broke that rule the moment I caught this baby on Instagram.

It wasn’t necessarily the fact that it was both a gloss and a balm, without requiring the use of one of those wands that I hate so much (I’m not sorry; they’re horrible and sticky and juvenile). It wasn’t the fact that it advertised itself as being multipurpose – a veritable shine dispenser for any part of our face (or hands) that may need a little extra pizzazz or hydration.

It wasn’t even the fact that it came in fully recyclable packaging (aluminum tube; please remove cap and clean out the insides thoroughly before disposal), a phrase that invokes in my brain an image of angels singing in front of the gates of heaven (but the angel is this guy and the gates of heaven is actually this place).

It was the fact that the brand was founded by an Indian woman for women of all shades “in between” to address hyperpigmentation, a specific but rampant concern in skincare. How often does that happen, especially in the West?

That, plus some photos of some extremely happy models wearing the heck out of the gloss all over their visages, totally sold it for me. I had to have it, despite the (momentary) shame of adding to my already-abundant backlog.

What’s to love about this “balm gloss?” Besides the inherent environmental consciousness of its aluminum encasing, I rather enjoy (gasp) having a formula like this one housed in a tube, rather than a stick (my preference) or a tin/tub (the worst thing to happen to lip care since roll-ons). With its gel-like consistency, and the intention that it be applied with discretion, the Unity Balm Gloss belongs in a tube.

(Despite this, would I prefer it were designed with a smaller opening, so that it could be applied tube-to-mouth rather than finger-to-mouth? Yep.)

I love the flirty shine it gives my lips. It says that I know how to have fun, but also that I mean business (because I do). I love the silkiness of the texture; it’s thick, but light, and definitely not goopy.

What I don’t love is the lip balm’s limited strength as an actual balm for my lips. It sits on top of my lips, rather than penetrate the skin and moisturize from within. It rubs off as soon as I take a drink of water or eat anything, forcing reapplication. And using it to add some high shine to other parts of your face is simply an inefficient use of your 15mL.

Did I enjoy this? Yes. Do I love the backstory? Absolutely. Would I re-buy my beloved Glossier 10x over before giving this another go? Without a doubt.

Important: Clean, Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Fragrance-Free, Recyclable Packaging