Bare Escentuals Buxom Balms Swatches and Review

I've always wanted to try Buxom glosses from Bare Escentuals, and now they've launched a new variant of the lip plumping, tinted glosses.  This time, they're in pots, called Buxom Balms.  They combine the look and plumping power of the Buxom lip glosses with moisturizing and conditioning benefits of balms.  It contains antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E, rice bran wax, sweet almond oil and shea butter.

My Take:  I was able to try these and the first thing I noticed was the Tootsie Roll taste and smell.  These smell so good.  The texture was a little on the hard side, but the product warms to the finger.  Copacabana is a nude glowing gloss, while Portofino is a very pretty plum wine.  They are encased in these uber cute pots with plastic see-through lids that have pretty patterned designs underneath. What I also like about this product is that the Buxom Balms are preservative-free, so I can be assured that they're not as chemically-laden as other lip balms in the market.


Copacabana


Portofino


The tingling sensation is supposed to indicate that the plumping properties are working. The plumping peptide supposedly helps stimulate collagen, thus improving moisturization and creating the look of fuller lips. I honestly did not see any difference, but I kinda like the sensation. It tingles but it doesn't sting, unlike some other plumping lip products I've tried. I like both colors, but I am partial to Portofino, because it gives a pretty plum stain to the lips which I like. The hue is quite natural and I can just slap this on the lips for quick application without the need for a separate lipstick or gloss. I guess the downside would be the pot packaging: I would like my lip products to be in a tube for sanitary purposes, and I don't like to use dip my fingers in these pots, but I can always use a brush to apply the product, which admittedly is another step.

All in all, though, I like the concept: a moisturing, plumping, preservative-free lip balm in five different shades:

Bora Bora - red cherry
Copacabana - nude glow
Portofino - plum wine
St. Barth - lilac sheen
Waikiki- Bright pink berry

SRP: $15

The Shades Of U Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

They are available starting January 2010 exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com.

Note: Media samples were provided by a representative of the company. For more information on the matter, please refer to the Disclosure page.