Lips like sugar... sugar kisses

A review of Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment and Twist & Pout Lip Balm
By Jessica M

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment was destined to be a best-seller. Everyone is already familiar with the original Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, so who wouldn’t love a new version with “your lips but better” color, not to mention a pale dusty-pink tube?

I purchased a Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment on a recent visit to a Fresh boutique, and at first I was happy with it; it does moisturize nicely, it provides a smoothing base for lipstick, and it has a light citrus-rose scent. On the other hand, it didn’t hold up well at all. The lettering wore off the tube within a couple of weeks, just from being kept in my handbag; I know that the packaging is secondary to the product itself, but this really disappointed me somehow. Worse yet: when warmer weather arrived, the Lip Treatment turned soft and started to wobble in place, so I had to be careful about using it. This is a high-end product; shouldn’t it be more durable? Lastly, the rosy color was all but invisible when applied.

On the other hand, I’m very satisfied with a funny-looking product called Twist & Pout Lip Balm that I picked up on an impulse in some little gift shop. It seems gimmicky at first: the balm is housed in an orb-shaped case that unscrews to open. Twist & Pout offers a range of colorful designs; I chose a leopard-spot pattern, just because I love animal prints. Then I realized that the ball shape actually makes Twist & Pout easy to find at the bottom of a handbag, and the version with an attached clip can be hooked to a key chain or anything else, for quick access when you want to touch up.

The balm inside Twist & Pout’s playful containers is actually high quality and very effective. Just like Fresh’s Lip Treatments, it contains octinoxate and oxybenzone for sunscreen (it has an SPF of 20); grapeseed oil, beeswax, castor oil, and sugar for softening; and naturally derived forms of vitamins A, C, and E. It applies easily with the touch of a fingertip, it feels creamy, and it has a long-lasting honey-citrus scent and flavor. Best of all, it sells for one-third the price of Fresh’s lip products, for the same amount of balm.

I’m really trying to be conscious of my sun protection this year, and I know which of these products I’ll be repurchasing when I run out mid-summer.

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment is available for $22.50 at Sephora and Fresh (website and stores). Twist & Pout Lip Balm is available for $7 (basic) or $9 (with clip) at Amazon.com; also see http://www.twist-and-pout.com for more information.

Review title is from a song by Echo & the Bunnymen.
Disclaimer: Both products were purchased by the reviewer.