Pritha O.

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Balm Lip Treatment

TL;DR a pricey, but delectable, complement to sweater weather

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Balm Lip Treatment in 
Pumpkin Spice Latte

Quick Scores

  • Effectiveness: 4.75 (out of 5)
  • Texture: 4.75
  • Taste/Smell: 5
  • Packaging: 5
  • Value: 4

Price: $26

Available At: Thrive (but only seasonally)

A Deeper Look

It was Fall 2021 when my sister-in-law decided that I needed more lip balm (will never understand what prompted her to feel this way) and sent this treat-in-a-tube my way. What followed was me promptly scarfing down a large chunk of the product (post-consumption status not pictured), realizing I had used too much to photograph it properly for the blog, and then proceeding to postpone reviewing it out of shame.

That ends today.

First, a little about the brand in question: Thrive Causemetics. The punny name is not an accident; Thrive prides themselves on being a skincare & makeup brand that is “bigger than beauty.” This mission shows up in their revenue line (donating to women’s causes for every product purchased), in their product formulation (vegan, cruelty-free) and in their packaging (progressive and sustainable). Basically, it was love from the jump.

Now, a little about the lip treatment. Packaged like a gloss (wand and all), the formula is powered by their trademarked “lip filler technology,” a cocktail that plumps and smoothes lips to help them appear fuller. It also includes plant actives (sesame seed extract and vitamin E) to keep lips safe from environmental stressors all day.

It’s also super tasty — even if you’re not lucky enough to get the seasonal flavor I am still delighting in, their evergreen product contains a blend of citrus essential oils sure to please your olfactory senses.

And how do I feel? I absolutely love it. Shiny like a gloss, hydrating like a balm, and tastes like back-to-school shopping. In brief, almost a perfect 10/10.

Where does it fall short of being a Pritha’s Pick? Frankly, the price point. The only balm that I would stomach coughing up $25+ for is my beloved Shiseido and that has a whole host of (mostly superficial) features that put it over the top.

Bottom line: great as a gift, but not likely to be a self-purchase anytime soon.

Important: Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, Fragrance-Free, Mission-Driven Brand