Clarins Lip Oil Balm Review and Swatches

Will Clarins lip oil balm be as good as their lip oils? My answer is: it’s even better. Armed with real reviews, swatches, ingredients and more, let’s discover the formula, shades and why I think the lip oil balm deserves a spot in your makeup bag.

• Our First Impressions
• The Formula
• The Finish
• The Shades
• The Packaging
• More From Clarins

As soon as I saw the bright, colourful packaging, I thought. Which shade is for me? I also wondered how ‘oil-like’ they were, and why did I need it over a lip oil? When I started swatching and trying it on, it all made sense. Almond and Lychee were the shades for me (the more neutral ones). The formula isn’t as sticky or as thick as the lip oils, which I didn’t realise was as important to me until I tried them on my lips; the ratio of colour and moisture was perfect for every day. I like to feel the nourishment of a balm.

The colours were much more sheer than I expected, but I found the colour built up gradually when I tried layering them. I was so shocked by how impressed I was that I invited the team to try them. You can see our honest first impression and their reactions below.

Yes, the texture is between a lip balm and a lip oil; it takes the nourishing feel of both to create a softening hybrid that is nowhere near as heavy as Vaseline but feels just as soft as Vaseline on the lips. When comparing it to other high-end lip balms, Clarins is 100% the most nourishing option; when taking a closer look at the ingredients, it’s packed with antioxidants to protect the lips and peptides and nourishing seed oils to plump them up.

Noteworthy elements about the formula:

• 99% natural.
• provides 24-hour hydration, 12-hour nutrition and 10-hour repair
• Peptide-rich for a plumped, nourished effect.

Full ingredient list:
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Corylus Avellana (Hazelnut) Seed Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tribehenin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ci 19140/Yellow 5 Lake, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ci 15850/Red 7 Lake, Lactic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1,

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Clarins call it a ‘baby lips’ effect; what that actually means is healthy, soft-looking lips. The finish of these balms isn’t shimmery or glittery; they are dewy and have a sheer tint.

As you can see from my arm swatch, the colours are very delicate. I only swatched the bullet once so you can clearly see the difference in tone. Below I have broken out each shade with a lip swatch to show you what they look like on different skin tones.

Pale pink gives a clear gloss finish with a hint of baby pink. It’s a great shade for someone looking for something to make their lips glow. I find the undertone quite cool.

Pitaya is the brightest pink in the collection; due to its sheer colour, it can appear almost like a coral pink at first, but I find it appears more fuschia, again with a cooler tone when on the lips.

Lychee is my favourite out of all of the shades, it’s a natural pink-toned nude that looks barely there. I would call it the ‘your lips, but better shade.’ The undertone seems pretty neutral.

Almond is a warm-toned sheer nude. It’s my second favourite colour as I love to layer it over a brown lip liner.

Cherry is a soft, pink-toned red that makes teeth appear whiter. It’s the perfect read for anyone who likes the idea of red but doesn’t want to try anything too bold.

Finally, Fig is a cool-toned berry that brightens the complexion. The boldest in pigment, this purple-pink mauve creates a deeper cherry tone.

I think the packaging is pretty and practical. Each balm is lightweight and blazer-pocket friendly, I carry mine everywhere with me.

Let’s talk about the design, each lip oil balm comes boxed, and then when you open up the box, you’ll see the colourful lids match the shades inside. The coloured lid is slightly transparent and you can see the rounded bullet inside, along with the Clarins logo imprinted on the the bullet.

As you open the lip balm, you’ll hear it click, which adds to the luxury. The bottom of the lid also has the Clarins logo around the base of the lid for an extra special touch.

Where you’ll find the shade name is on the outside bottom of the bullet, and top of the box, which is helpful when you want to replace.

What do you think of thee balms? Is there a shade you most want to try? Comment your thoughts here as we’d love to get your opinion.