Reviewing Fresh’s Hydrating Lip Balm for Dry Pouts

Main Image – Live That Glow

Ok so I admit it, I have something of a lip balm problem. And not in the I-wish-I-could-find-a-lip-balm-I-like way, more in a good-grief-someone-stop-me-from-buying-them-all way.

Because from apart from the lure of a softer, glossier pout, and the child-like excitement I feel at the infinite combinations of scent, colour and taste, it’s the fact that, as lip balm is often among the cheapest items in a skincare range, they offer a small taste of a luxury line that I might not otherwise try out.

And so finally my enthusiasm (ahem, addiction) for balms (it also extends to lip scrubs, by the way) brought me to Fresh Beauty’s Sugar Peach Hydrating Lip Balm. 

 

The Brand

Founded in 1991 by Russian migrants Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg after they moved to Boston, America, Fresh started life as a local skincare brand with a preference for natural ingredients and luxury vibes.

Over the past few years though- and having been picked up by international stores like Cult Beauty and Space NK– Fresh has become something of a cool girl must-have, with some of the brand’s classics like its Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner (real rose petals!) taking on something of a cult status (and earning them near to a million Instagram followers in the process).

Rather than just hype though, I can honestly say the brand’s fairly gentle, and often pretty effective formulas have become some of my favourites over the last couple of years (particularly their Soy Face Cleanser and Rose Face Mask).

And since one of Fresh’s most famous products is their line of seven mouth-wateringly titled Hydrating Lip Balms (Sugar Caramel… Sugar Watermelon), I thought I’d give my own Sugar Peach Hydrating Lip Balm right here.

 

Fresh Beauty Sugar Peach Hydrating Lip Balm

Containing microcrystalline wax (an emollient and a common alternative to paraffin), apricot kernel oil (highly moisturising), blackcurrant seed and grape seed oils (for antioxidant protection), as well as sugar (a humectant which helps bind water from the air to skin), this balm goes heavy on moisturising ingredients.

Having said that, while the child in me loves the scent here, the real-life adult with quite dry lips could do without the addition of perfume in this (especially in the drier winter months when my lips are more sensitive).

On the other hand, I do like the use of mineral pigments rather than artificial colorants.

 

The Full List of Ingredients

Isononyl Isononanoate, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Polybutene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Parfum (Fragrance), Silica Silylate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), BHT, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Aqua (Water), CI 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 7), Propyl Gallate, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool

 

On the Skin

As a general fan of Fresh’s nature-inspired and often very gentle products, I expected pretty much the same from this balm- and for the most part I wasn’t disappointed.

Almost (but not quite) as nourishing as my other go-to balms by Frank Body and Drunk Elephant, this one also adds a little healthy shine and has an uplifting peachy smell which gives me happy flashbacks to the Lipsmacker style balms that first kicked off my obsession.

Its packaging (really wide in diameter but thin in depth) also makes this really easy to get into a pocket or handbag without bulking it up, which means this balm comes with me most places. 

On the downside, possibly because of the fragrance here I don’t find this isn’t quite as moisturising as it could be and I tend to need to reapply this more often than my other balms.  I think very dry, sensitive or eczema could possibly find the same issue and would possibly prefer something unscented like the Frank Body Lip Balm (which is also happily half the price of Fresh’s balms).

For more on how to care for your lips, take a look at our guide to how long lip filler bruising lasts.

 

The Takeaway

Overall I find this genuinely lovely to use and lightly hydrating, plus I like the healthy sheen and the yummy scent.

I do find that the moisturising results here don’t last quite as long as some of my other favourite balms, however. And I think this is probably down to the artificial fragrance (which can be drying)- so for seriously dry lips I stick to something fragrance-free.

Great for: Fans of a slightly glossy balm and anyone who doesn’t mind some artificial fragrance in their products.

Not-so-great for: Really dry, sensitive lips, since I don’t find this quite as moisturising as it could be.  

Fresh’s Sugar Peach Hydrating Lip Balm is £15 for 6 g, Cult Beauty UK and $18 for 0.21 oz/ 6 g, Sephora US