Ah yes, the last-minute impulse purchase. I’m still not immune to it, especially at Sephora: when I’m waiting on the inevitable line to pay, I can’t help browsing through the items that the beauty superstore has so thoughtfully placed in bins leading up to its cash register. Hershey’s Almond Lip Balm was my most recent such purchase.
I don’t know anything about the manufacturers of this balm and the others in its line, other than that they’re called On10, they’re located in midtown Manhattan, and they create “fun novelty lip balm…using authentic flavors from some of America's favorite confection and beverage brands.” I might have bypassed this particular impulse purchase if I hadn’t sniffed the Hershey’s Almond tester. This lip balm has an unexpectedly deep and wonderful scent: a rich, pure almond fragrance. It’s not buttery and it’s not paired with a candy-like cherry; it’s just a straight, mouthwatering almond. It would appeal to the nose of someone who loves Korres Bitter Almond body products or fragrances like Serge Lutens Louve.
Furthermore, unlike other “novelty lip balms,” this one isn’t just a serving of petrolatum. It includes sunscreen in a base of olive oil, beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and other naturally soothing ingredients, so that it protects and moisturizes at the same time. This product could also be used as a good-smelling cuticle balm, or a salve for dry elbows and so on; the container is generously sized and should last for a long time.
On10’s website promotes its “sophisticated retro-inspired packaging that you'll remember from your childhood,” which puzzles me a bit; they must have been unintentionally aiming for a more mature demographic than the average Sephora shopper, because most of the designs seem to date back to the pre-World War II era. In any case, the Hershey’s Almond packaging is adorable: a tin pot with old-timey lettering over an illustration of a chrysanthemum. (The lid is occasionally difficult to remove; a screw-top cap would have been more convenient.) All in all, this new balm was a serendipitous result of my idle line-waiting browsing.
Hershey’s Almond Lip Balm sells for $9 for .7 oz. (19.8 g) at Sephora and Amazon.
I'll have to check this out! For some reason, I'm on an almond kick lately, looking for the *right* non sweet almond products. This sounds great; thanks for the review.
Hi Rosarita, Thanks! If you're in an almond mood, you should definitely give this a sniff. Plus, the tin is large and lasts for ages!
Cool. I can keep this by my computer where I always seem to notice my lips are dry. I suppose you could also use it, why not? around your lips- must keep those wrinkles at bay! I'm tired of using up all my lip gloss.
It sounds yummy. I hope they'll come up with Almond Joy or Bit O Honey-must keep my sweet tooth at bay!
Did you say there were other things you could buy on the site? So I can feel better about the shipping and handling?
Thanks Jessica for all the cool product info.
Almond Joy,
Becca
…duh, Sephora. On line though?
Oh my gosh, I used *at bay* twice, and wrote something that isn't even a sentence. Good thing this isn't a writing site!
Hi Becca, Fear not: we do not judge comments on grammar and usage.
Since the ingredients all seem pretty safe, I don't see why you couldn't use this balm around your mouth, on dry elbows or fingers, etc. (I'd avoid the eye area, of course.)
And yes, Sephora has other items from this line! They've added many more since I bought this lip balm.
I was shocked, when working at Sephora, at the price of these things. Not big seller, but my goodness, they have an amazing fragrance. There was a Dr. Pepper balm that had my mouth watering all the time.
They're not cheap, but I suppose we're paying for the quality and the clever packaging!
I liked some of the scents more than others when I explored the line a bit further. The “cigarette case” compacts for some of the balms are very stylish, too!
Don't go buying them all up, now (at least until I buy one). The Sephora site has put almost all of the on10 stuff on sale, including this lip balm. I assume that means they are dropping it from the store, since sephora sales are the kiss of death.
You're right! Sephora can be so fickle… Well, folks, get them while you can.