Does this £3 lip balm from Boots rival the £17 lip treatment from Ole Henriksen?
As we head into the cold-weather months, a good lip balm is a must-have to prevent dry, chapped lips. Aquaphor is an old favourite, but the latest launches do more than just protect your pout; they’re tinted lip balms formulated with butters, oils, peptides and ceramides to plump, hydrate and lock in moisture.
Instagram account @databutmakeitfashion analysed hundreds of online posts to determine the internet’s lip product of choice – the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm took the top spot, followed by Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment and Dior’s Lip Glow Oil. But my go-to is the Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment in the shade (or flavour) Crème Brûlée.
While I don’t love the scent – it smells more like vanilla than my favourite Italian dessert – the formula is incredibly nourishing. I’m also a big fan of the long-lasting, glossy finish, and the soft nude tint that gives my lips just the right wash of colour. However, at £17 a tube it’s definitely one of those little luxuries I wouldn’t mind finding an alternative for.
So when I scrolled past a video on TikTok that suggested the £2.50 Glossy Lip Balm from Boots was a ‘dupe’, I just about ran to my nearest branch. It’s available in three scents – Mint, Cherry and Coconut – and comes in pastel packaging that is very on par with the squeeze tubes of the aforementioned lip treatments.
Sadly, for me, that’s where the resemblance ends. While I knew these Boots lip balms weren’t tinted when I picked up the Coconut tube in-store, I was hoping the formula would impress me. it didn’t. The finish isn't glossy and the consistency is Vaseline-like, which makes sense as one of its main ingredients is petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly.
Now, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from working alongside YOU’s deputy beauty editor Alice Robertson, it’s that thick occlusives like Vaseline don’t hydrate the skin, but form a barrier on top that stops water loss. To soothe dry lips, I’d have to go in with hyaluronic acid, peptides or ceramides first, before locking in the moisture with this lip balm from Boots.
Bearing this in mind, I won’t be swapping my Ole Henriksen lip tint for this drugstore find. However, it is on my bedside table to grab and apply before bed, as the final step in my evening skincare routine. (After I’ve moisturised my lips, of course.)
