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Monday, January 21, 2013

Review: New Nivea Lip Butters

So remember a few weeks ago when I was freaking out about these new Nivea Lip Butters? If you missed my original post, these adorable little tins have been available in the UK for a while now, but they just debuted in the US this year. What's great is that Nivea didn't change the flavors of these butters for the US, and the tins are identical to the UK version as well.

I found these at Rite Aid a few weeks ago, and I know they're also at CVS (not sure about Walgreens yet). There are four flavors in this range (Smooth Kiss, which is the unscented version, didn't come home with me because I was really only interested in the flavored butters).

 Nivea Lip Butters in Raspberry Rosé Kiss, Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss, Caramel Cream Kiss
(retail: $3.99 each, 0.59 oz)

 

 Keep reading for my full review...


I had heard that the UK version of these lip butters does not contain petrolatum, however that is sort of untrue. If you look at the ingredients in the UK version, you'll see that the first ingredient is Cera Microcrystallina (more commonly known as Crystalline Wax). Crystalline Wax is a type of byproduct of petrolatum (see full definition here). If you really want to get technical, Microcrystalline Wax is created during the process of de-oiling petrolatum, which is done when petroleum is refined (see more here).

Moving on!

 

The tins are a good size--not huge but definitely not tiny. I feel that the price is justified for the amount of product you get.

Raspberry Rosé Kiss

To my nose, Raspberry Rosé Kiss smells almost exactly like raspberry frozen yogurt. It's got that tartness of the rasberry, but it's also very creamy. I love, love love the fragrance. As for the flavor, it's nice too, but a bit subtle and not as tart as I was hoping it would be. The texture of this lip butter is the softest of all three that I'm reviewing today. If you're not careful and you press down too hard with your finger, q-tip, or whatever you're using for application, you can accidentally leave a huge dent in the product (actually more like a hole--it's very, very soft and almost lotion-like in texture).

 
Caramel Cream Kiss

I find that caramel-scented products are kind of hit or miss. Sometimes that can take on almost a musty quality, while other times they can be so syrupy-sweet that they induce a headache. I'm delighted to report that the fragrance of this lip butter is on the mild side, but it doe have a bit of a "caramel popcorn" note to it. I was hoping it would be more of a creamy caramel, but I definitely get some popcorn in this one. Also, the flavor is oddly fruity. I don't know exactly what type of fruit, but I detect a slight fruit note going on with this one. The texture isn't as soft as Raspberry Rosé Kiss, but it is a softer lip butter, so again, don't press down too hard.

 
Vanilla & Macadamia Nut Kiss 

I'm not sure what happened to the surface on this one, but the product itself was fine once I started using it, and it's just as smooth as the others (no gritty bits). Anyway, THIS is my favorite of the three. The fragrance and flavor are so delicious I can hardly put it into words. You get the creaminess of the vanilla (a true vanilla--more like vanilla bean and not artificial-smelling) and then you have the nuttiness of the macadamia. Together they create what might just be my favorite lip balm fragrance of all time. I cannot stop sniffing this one--it reminds me of a fresh-baked white chocolate macadamia nut cookie! The flavor is also quite nice but, as with the other two, it's pretty subtle.

The one thing I didn't expect with these lip butters is that they leave a subtle milky white color on the lips:


It's not full-on white, but it's definitely milky, which may or may not be your thing (could be cute to use to tone down a bright lipstick). Some swatches:


It was really hard to capture this in a photo, but Raspberry Rosé Kiss has a very slight pink tint to it, while the other two are essentially white.

The texture of these balms is creamy and they go on quite smoothly. They don't feel as greasy as pure petroleum jelly, but they are more slick than a lip balm that doesn't contain any petroleum. There is no stickiness to these lip butters, and the staying power was pretty good overall (about four hours on my lips). After they wear down, I do feel like my lips are a little bit more hydrated than before I applied them, but I don't feel any extreme hydration with these, and they're not something I would reach for if my lips were cracked or needed something really heavy-duty.

My one word of caution is that the texture of these balms is quite soft and if you press too hard, you can leave a big dent/hole in the surface. The raspberry flavor in particular has almost a thick lotion-like consistency so you'll need to be extra careful if you get that one. I know that some people like to put their lip balm tins straight up to their lips and apply it that way, and you can definitely do that with these lip butters since the tins are large enough to accomodate both lips. But just be careful you don't press too hard or you'll have a minor mess on your hands.

Due to their soft texture, I'm curious how these will be in the summertime when even lip balms that are pretty firm in nature can melt in extreme heat (I'll try to remember to update this post if anything crazy happens during the summer). Oh, and one more thing: the lids don't seem to fit very securely on the tins. I haven't had a problem with one falling off in my purse (yet) but they do lift off without having to use much force, so I would definitely store these inside a smaller bag or the inside zipper pouch of your purse, etc. if you're going to travel with them. Just to be safe...

FINAL VERDICT: Nice creamy formula, decent hydration and yummy fragrances and flavors (especially Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss and Raspberry Rosé Kiss). If your number one criteria for lip balm purchases is yummy fragrance/flavor, then I don't think you'll be let down by these (especially if you prefer gourmand fragrances). They're slicker in texture than non-petroleum-based lip products, so just be aware that they might feel greasy if you're used to non-petroluem products (although I don't think they're anywhere near as greasy as pure petroleum jelly). I'm glad these are now in the US and I'm glad I bought them. They're a fun choice when I just want to wear something yummy on my lips. I say wait for a sale (Nivea always goes on sale at the drugstores so you won't have to wait long) and give 'em a whirl.

Have you tried any of the Nivea Lip Butters yet? Thoughts?
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45 comments

  1. I have the raspberry one and it's really lovely! It's hydrating, but I find myself switching between it and an itty bitty pot of cocoa butter vaseline. i also find the white cast it leaves to wash me out, but that's just me. It's a good little lip butter for cold weather though!

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    1. Isn't the scent of that one divine?? I cannot stop sniffing it every time I use it!

      I'm sorry that the white cast these leave behind is washing you out--I hate it when that happens. Maybe they'd be better as a balm to wear underneath a darker/brighter lip color, to help tone it down? Just an idea! :)

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    2. Yeah! I've been using a little before applying any matte lipsticks & that seems to be working!

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  2. The scents seem amazing, but the slick, greasy texture and the milky color puts me off. I'll stick to my Rosebud Salve.

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    1. I actually think these are less slick/greasy than Rosebud Salve! :) But I can totally see how the white cast might be off-putting. It's not super noticeable on me, but if you have lightly-pigmented lips it could definitely be funky. lol!

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    2. I have to agree that Rosebud Salve is much greasier than these!

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    3. Thirded!

      (And I'm a huge Smiths salve fan! Esp. Rosebud)

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  3. I'm glad I waited for your review before picking these up. I was really interested in the caramel one because I absolutely love dulce de leche, but I dislike caramel corn. I actually like lip balms on the slick side, especially for putting on before bed. Next time they're on sale, I'm gonna get the Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss for sure! You had me at white chocolate macadamia cookie! I really love the ones from Subway lol.

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  4. I have the vanilla & the raspberry ones and, like you, love the scents. The scents are outstanding, but other than that I find these average.

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  5. What lip butter are you wearing on your lips in that picture?

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  6. I grabbed the raspberry and the vanilla as soon as they went on sale that week at CVS! I'm picky about the texture of my lip balms, and for me, these are Holy Grail balms. They feel very moisturizing, all the scents/flavors are pleasant (I quickly went back for the caramel and plain!), and the texture is thick, creamy, and smooth, without being sticky or feeling like it's running off my lips, as well as being long-lasting. I have one on my nightstand, one in my purse, and two as backups with my makeup. ;)

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  7. I got the caramel one and love it! I use it before bed. The smell is divine. I want to pick up the other two as well.

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  8. What do you recommend for severely dry lips? I blame genetics lol. My lips are ALWAYS dry. I can't even wear lipstick :/

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    1. I've been using Herbacin Kamille. It's 12 degrees here (farenheit), zero humidity, and my lips are just as moisturized as they are in the warmer months.

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    2. Here's a few of my favs I reach for when I need a lil more oomph...-Dr. Bronner's Magic lip balm in Naked (no scent), -Badger Creamy Cocoa lip balm, -Lip Smacker 100% Natural (any flavour, doesn't matter they are all super faint, barely smell the dif between all), -Pur Lisse lip conditioner (in a tube, no scent). Yes To Carrots lip balm (I have Melon, but again hardly noticable) is very nourishing doesn't just sit on the lip. All of the above seem to sink in very nicely helping when you're lips are extra dry.

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  9. i have all of them except the vanilla... i must get that one now! im not a huge fan of them only because of the milky color. i find that when lip balms leave a white/almost lotion like look on my lips that i get that gross white ring on the inside of my lips after a few hours. however, the smooth one doesnt look white on me and is my fav thus far.

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  10. i have all of them except the vanilla... i must get that one now! im not a huge fan of them only because of the milky color. i find that when lip balms leave a white/almost lotion like look on my lips that i get that gross white ring on the inside of my lips after a few hours. however, the smooth one doesnt look white on me and is my fav thus far.

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  11. I bought Raspberry Rose and just love it. I did notice the slight pale pale pink color when I applied. However I just love the way it feels on my lips and may end up getting the whole set. G I bet you are right about melting issues in the summer but I just won't stash it in my purse. I really like the scent and I was so happy I bought it! It smelled just as I hoped it would! Good job Nivea!

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  12. I want to try these mainly for the scents. I don't love the milkiness though. I have a korres lip butter that gives me that look and it's one i only use when i'm at home.

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  13. These were so tempting when I saw your original post. I was sad when I saw then in store, read the ingredients, and saw they have shea butter in them. Shea butter makes my lips crack. :-( I'm less sad now that I see it leaves a white cast to the lips. My skin is so pale that milky colors make me look dead.

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    Replies
    1. That might account for the bumpy appearance that G described in this post...the shea butter that is.

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    2. The shea butter might account for the gritty bumpy texture that G mentioned in this post.

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  14. I picked up the caramel and macadamia ones when CVS had them 2/$5. I *really* like these, so I'm happy I picked them up. The scents are amazing, and the only downside is the milkiness that you mentioned, but I find that goes away if I just rub it a tad more. I also agree these might be best for winter...I can't imagine them in the Texas summer heat!

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  15. I have the vanilla macadamia and I am in love! You are right the smell is amazing ! I haven't used my mini Vaseline jar since I bought this I put it on under lipstick and at night. My lips have never been softer I think .

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  16. Hi everyone. Speaking of sales, these are currently 2 for $5 at CVS. Although I only bought one and it still rung up for the sale price at $2.50.

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  17. The vanilla macadamia sounds awesome, but I don't like using balm out of a pan, and if it would make my pale lips even paler, that's definitely something I wouldn't want!

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  18. I just purchased the Vanilla and Raspberry flavors yesterday. I tried the Vanilla. It smelled good. I cannot see myself using it in the winter because it is not strong enough for cold East Coast weather. I applied it with a lip brush, but I did not look in the mirror (the white film you all described). I was concerned about the feel. I would purchase it again.

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  19. Good news: Canada is getting these in February
    Bad news: We only get "original" (whatever that is) and "Vanilla Macadamia". Arrggghhh we can't win this

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  20. I can't find these, but I did score the Nivea hint of cherry & hint of strawberry stick balms @ dollar tree this weekend.. I love them!

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    1. These make my lips redder than I'd prefer. Because I love Nivea products, I don't always read the packaging thoroughly. I just put it on and went...was a bit embarrassed when I looked in the mirror. I stick to the ones that do not have a hint of color.

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  21. I picked up the blue one and the caramel one. I'm using the blue one and its ok. I just rub it across my lips, but I agree it can go on milky so you have to rub it in.

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  22. I'm not a fan of the milky appearance. But the scents sound delicious!

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  23. I dig these little tins!
    I won the caramel during a Nivea's FB giveaway... Was supposed to get it before their release and felt all special. However it arrived the night before, lol.

    Anywho, my caramel is super super creamy! Hmm.I guess it just depends! Mine is the consistency of a creamy body butter. I really wanna try the vanilla (what I would have picked) and the raspberry once they're on sale!

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  24. I found them at my local CVS on the Nivea lotion shelf. They were for $3.50 each or 2 for $5. I purchased the Raspberry kiss and the Vanilla and Macadamia kiss and I love both of the scents. These are buttery and do leave a milky texture. It looks very nice when I have darker eye make up. The texture is very soft and melts into my lips. They aren't as thick as the Korres lip butters, but do still give some moisturization!

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  25. These are soft, but I have a feeling in the summer they will melt to almost liquid. Right now I love them for the winter and only wear them at home or over a lip stain.

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  26. I picked up the caramel one today and love it. It's perfect for me right now since my lips get so dry. I may have to purchase the rest when there is a sale.

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  27. I can't seem to find these around me (Seattle area; if you've seen them let me know) but I'm really, really not a fan of potted lip balms so it may not be the worst thing in the world. I'm also afraid the white cast would wash me out...but I kinda want to try one anyway.

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    1. Yeah, I've been checking Rite Aid, Walgreens, even a Target and a Kmart and haven't found them yet. I'm in Oregon btw.

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  28. Thanks for this review. I am still waiting till they arrive to the Netherlands :) Hopefully soon!

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  29. Still looking for these *sigh* I suspect if they did make it here they got wipesd out in last week's 2 for 5 sale at CVS. Going to try again today. My poor lips need these!

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  30. It's pretty late, but I finally ended up getting two (Vanilla and Raspberry)! Thanks so much for your review, that's what me convinced to try these out (that and my love of Nivea). I love them both and I think I'll definitely pick up a few more soon.

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  31. I think that the Caramel Cream Kiss smells like Captain Crunch! :)

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  32. Great review! about nivea creme.Thanks for posting this.

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  33. I saw the vanilla-macadamia-nut one at Grocery Outlet for $2 today- I think I will go back and grab it! Mmmm... the name makes me think of the cookie... =)

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