Pritha O.

Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30

TL;DR sticky sweet with moderate effectiveness

Cay Skin Isle Lip Balm SPF 30

Quick Scores

  • Effectiveness: 4 (out of 5)
  • Texture: 3
  • Taste/Smell: 5
  • Packaging: 3.5
  • Value: 4

Price: $14.00

Available At: Sephora or Cay Skin

A Deeper Look

Okay, starting this post with a caveat. Did I ruin this balm by keeping it in my car for on-the-road use last summer? 100%. Did that impact how I feel about the packaging (which subsequently became distended in a way that turned the tiny hole at the top of applicator into a mini-volcano)? Unfortunately, yes. Is that fair? Likely not.

Despite this user error, I shall attempt to review Winnie Harlow’s first (but not last) foray into lip hydration fairly.

First of all, it tastes delicious. It is brown sugar goodness that makes you want to lick your lips (but don’t – that definitely doesn’t assist the limited longevity). It also smells great, and the applicator (in its non-deformed state) is perfect for the liquid formula.

Secondly, and something I think should now be a baseline requirement in liquid balms, it gives your lips a beautiful glossy sheen. Even when you’re just trying to protect your lips from sun damage, it gives your whole face a touch of put-togetherness that a Sun Bum or a Burt’s Bees (pause to vomit) certainly does not. (And yes, I know the fresh beauty Sugar Lip Treatments have SPF 15 – don’t come for me.)

Unfortunately, I Just didn’t find it to work great as a source of long-lasting hydration for my lips. It doesn’t quite penetrate the way I want it to, and (the death knell for liquid balms) it is seriously sticky. No matter what Winnie Harlow says, it does not improve upon the faults that almost all liquid formulas fall prey to.

Bottom line: Please don’t keep your liquid formula lip balm in the car during the New Jersey summer.

Important: Vegan, Sun Protection, Water-Resistant, Has Vitamin E, Silicone-Free, Cruelty-Free