Matte lip balm by Not Soap Radio - review by Coralbell

Like all lip balms, Not Soap, Radio's Matte Lip Balm is designed to moisturize the lips. It's great for those who prefer a subtle, natural look because it doesn't create a shiny finish, and does not add colour to the lips. It also pairs well with matte lipsticks, since it adds moisture and keeps lips comfortable, without making them glossy and drastically changing the look.

The balm is made with natural ingredients, and does not contain any preservatives, such as parabens. It contains nut oils, which could cause a reaction for those allergic to nuts.

Ingredients: Amygdalus Dulcis (Almond) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Beeswax, Persea Gratissima (Avacado Oil), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Flavor, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E)

The balm is fairly hard in the jar. You can't scoop out a large amount, but it's easy to get enough to cover the lips by rubbing a finger across the surface. The balm has a smooth, satiny texture on the skin. It is not at all greasy, sticky, or gritty. It doesn't feel thick and heavy, but also isn't thin and light. It doesn't make the lips slippery, but allows them to slide smoothly together. It is nice and moisturizing, and feels like it creates a protective coating over the lips. It stays in place, and doesn't absorb and disappear, or migrate to other areas.

The balm has a grape scent. It smells like grape candy, and is sweet with a hint of sourness. It isn't an overly fake smell, and there are no unpleasant chemical undertones. The smell is pretty strong, but not overwhelming. It's obvious during application, and remains somehwat noticeable as the balm is worn.

The flavour is lighter than the scent. When I lick my lips, I get a hint of sweet, grape flavour.

My balm is a pinkish purple colour, but it's very sheer, and won't alter the colour of lips. It is less shiny than most balms, but isn't truely matte. It adds a slight sheen to the skin; what I would describe as a satin finish. I think it looks nice on my lips, and don't actually mind that it isn't matte. I just don't like the fact that the name isn't an accurate description of what you get.



The balm is quite moisturizing, and works well on my very dry, chapping-prone lips. It find it doesn't have the most moisturizing initial feel immediately after application, but that my lips continue to feel more moisturized over the next few minutes. It lasts longer than most lip balms I have tried. It doesn't absorb, and stays on the lips for several hours, locking the moisture in.

I like wearing this by itself, but my favourite use for it is over my matte lipsticks or longwear lipcolours (the kind that come in a tube with liquid lipcolour on one side, and a moisturizing balm on the other.) I like the way matte lipsticks look, but they tend to be a bit drying by themselves. This balm still adds a little sheen, but it doesn't make my lips shiny and makes them feel much more comfortable. I especially like using it over my red longwear. It's really uncomfortable to wear by itself, but the included balm adds too much shine. I really hate glossy red lips; I think they look tacky, and matte red is so much classier to me. This balm is the perfect solution, since I can add lots of moisture to my lips without making them shiny.

After applying, I rub the excess on my finger into my hands. If you want to remove this completely from your skin, you'll have to wash it off. Wiping the lips with a tissue leaves a very slight residue behind.

My only slight issue with this product is the jar. It looks a bit cheap, since it's just a plastic container with a sticker on top. The label is printed in shades of green, orange and purple that don't work well together. Unlike the Shiny Lip Balm by the same company, there was no label on the bottom of the container with the ingredient list. The jar is about 1 1/2" wide and 1" high and contains 1/3 oz of balm. I like to carry lip balms in my pockets, but it's a bit too bulky for that. It will fit easily into a purse. The cap screws on and off easily, and provides a secure seal. The container is recycleable. It does not come in any outer packaging.