Review: NEW Softlips Cubes in Fresh Mint and Vanilla Bean

Purchased by Me 

As many of us lip balm fanatics know, there are several eos-type lip balms on the market these days. I'm sure you've seen or even tried the OraLabs Revo versions, which Revo makes for Walgreens, Chap-Ice, Rite Aid, CVS, etc. Others that come to mind are the Etude House versions, the Balmi versions, etc. My point is, if you like this style of lip balm but you don't care for the eos formula, you have other options. And one of those new options is this brand new version from Softlips.

I found the new Softlips Cubes at Walgreens over the weekend, and while I have NOT given this my normal two weeks of testing (aside from nail polish, I test everything here on Nouveau Cheap for a minimum of two weeks--four weeks+ for skincare), I wanted to give you a preliminary review after using these for a few days now. I know a lot of you are excited about this new lip balm line and I do have a very strong opinion of it after just a few days of use, but if anything changes as I continue to use these, I will of course let you know.

NEW Softlips Cubes SPF15 in Fresh Mint and Vanilla Bean

(retail: $3.49 each at Walgreens, 0.23 oz)

NOTE: This lip balm cones in one additional flavor--Blueberry Pomegranate--which my Walgreens did not have in stock at the time of this post.

Vanilla Bean and Fresh Mint

These balms have a "5-in-1" formula that claims to hydrate, replenish, smooth, protect and add shine. The contains SPF15.

Screw-top "ice cube" lids

Since I own some eos and Revo Chap Ice balms, I thought I would do a size comparison, for perspective:

eos (0.25), Softlips Cube (0.23 oz), Revo Chap-Ice (0.25 oz)

Price/weight comparison:

eos (0.25 oz, $3.49 at Ulta)

Softlips Cube (0.23 oz, $3.49 at Walgreens)

Revo Chap-Ice (0.25 oz, $2.99 at Walgreens)

I know that you can get eos lip balms for $2.99 at Target, but I've seen them run all the way up to $3.99 at other retailers, so I went with $3.49. As you can see, you do get a little less product in the Softlips Cube, and the packaging is not as big. I know that some of you love the eos packaging, but if you think it's bulky, the Softlips packaging is a lot more compact.

My thoughts about the Softlips Cubes:

This lip balm has a smoother glide than some of my eos lip balms. I find that some eos lip balms have a drier feel to them and they need to warm up to your body temperature before they glide on the lips (the exception, for me, is the eos Medicated Tangerine formula, which glides very smoothly due to the extra shea butter, I believe).  You barely need to apply any pressure at all with the Softlip Cubes, and you can swipe once on each lip and find that a sufficient amount of product has been deposited.

Unlike some of the traditional Softlips stick lip balms, which can be a bit waxy, I find the Softlips Cube texture to be quite creamy. It's not as thin as the Revo version, while also not as thick as the eos version. Considering how creamy the Softlips Cube feels on my lips, I was impressed with the staying power. I can easily get about four hours of wear from this product before I need to reapply.

The biggest surprise for me so far has been how it actually seems to have improved the texture of my lips. After about eight hours of wear (applying twice in that time period), the little patches of dry skin on my lips were gone. I thought it was as fluke, but the dry patches were still gone the next morning. I'm not trying to say this is a miracle product or anything like that, but so far I'm extremely impressed with the results (I will definitely keep you posted if anything changes).

Scent/flavor of Fresh Mint: This balm reminds of Wrigley Extra Spearmint chewing gum. It has a sweet, minty flavor and fragrance, and I can definitely feel a tingle on my lips when I'm wearing it. It's not a harsh or medicinal mint flavor/fragrance--it definitely has a sweetness to it.

Scent/flavor of Vanilla Bean: This is a stronger vanilla than the regular Softlips stick lip balm (which is very subtle to me). The scent is a nice vanilla, but the flavor, due to the menthol, is like a vanilla-mint candy. It also leaves a tingle on the lips after application.

Packaging: I love it, but then again I love anything that resembles ice cubes! The lids are screw-top and they lock shut with a "click" (once you hear the "click" you won't be able to continue twisting them). After the lid is locked into place, it would be nearly impossible for them to open up in your purse, pocket, etc. I tried to pull one open after it was locked and it would not budge. Overall, the construction of the packaging is quite sturdy and impressive--the plastic is not thin or flimsy.

One more thing: I am not saying that this product is better than eos lip balms. I actually love both and am a longtime user of both brands. I just want to make you aware of the differences between the two, and hopefully that can help you determine if this product might be a good fit for you.

FINAL VERDICT: I'm absolutely loving these so far. I adore the creamy, slick texture (which is different from the regular Softlips stick lip balms), and I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this lip balm has healed my chapped lips and eliminated little dry patches in the few days I've been using it. Again, this is more of a preliminary review since I've only been using these for a few days now, but so far I'm seriously impressed (I will certainly update you if anything changes). I can't wait to try the Blueberry Pomegranate version when I find it. And the cute packaging is a fun bonus. It's not big or bulky--it's very well-constructed with thick plastic and the lids lock firmly into place.

Have you tried the new Softlips Cubes yet? Thoughts?

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.