Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm

The Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm came out towards the later half of 2013. Somehow or another it got lost in the legions of new lip products that came onto the market. I figured I'll give it some time in the limelight in this review. I have two colors from opposite ends of the spectrum: Pink Pout and Just Plum.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.


Formulation on these is a little on the sticky end of the spectrum when on the lips for a long period of time. When first applied I don't really notice much stickiness, and it glides on the lips nicely. I feel that it is slightly moisturizing, but not as much as a regular balm would be. It has a sweet, vanilla-type smell that's nice. In terms of color, both are very sheer and doesn't impart much color. It fulfills the "care" portion of the name more than the "color." It has a doe-foot applicator for ease of application, and the size of the tube is not too big, making it easier to carry around in your pocket.



Just Plum is the more pigmented of the two shades I have, but that's not saying much. It gives the barest hint of a plummy red sheen to the lips. If you're looking for a slightest hint of a purple-ish hue to the lips, pick this shade.













Pink Pout despite it looking like a bright blue-based pink in the tube, is very sheer once on the lips. It has slight silver shimmer particles in it that gives an extra sparkle factor to the lips. Very little color is imparted on the lips. Essentially it acts more like a near-clear gloss that enhances the natural color of my lips. It's an easy gloss to carry around, especially for touch ups through out the day if you don't have easy access to mirrors. In general both colors work better as an extra layer on top rather than a stand alone product.

Swatches

Hand swatch of Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Just Plum on the left, and Pink Pout on the right. On actual bare skin, you can see more of a color payoff that what appears on the lips.

Lip swatch of Pink Pout gives a shimmery hint of pink to the lips. It adds a tiny bit of color.

Lip swatch of Just Plum gives a darker red-pink color to the lips.

Bottom Line: If you want a slightly moisturizing balm with a hint of color that becomes slightly sticky over time, then this may be for you. You need to look elsewhere if you want a large color payoff, or if you absolutely hate stickiness. I have use for this during work, but most people probably wouldn't enjoy this.