Sephora Color Reveal Lip Balm
I’ve always been intrigued by Dior’s Lip Glow, but unwilling to spend $31 on what is essentially a sheer pink lip balm. While browsing in Sephora the other day, I came across Sephora’s house brand Color Reveal Lip Balm which appears to be a dupe; both are marketed as moisturizing balms, and both self-adjust from clear (when initially applied) to some shade of pink based on the pH of your skin/ lips. I should have swatched both side by side in store but didn’t think to. I have swatched Dior Lip Glow on my hand several times and I know it turns a similar color on my hand as the Sephora brand product.
In the photograph below, the leftmost swatch (which is almost invisible) is a freshly applied stripe of Sephora Color Reveal Balm – it’s clear. The center swatch is a single swipe of the balm, but has been sitting on my arm for a few minutes – about 2-4 minutes I’d say (it only takes a minute or two to adjust to it’s final color). And the third swatch is multiple swipes that have also been on my arm for a couple minutes.
One swipe immediately // one swipe after a few minutes // multiple swipes after a few minutes
Here are my lips with no product at all:
No product
And here are my lips with the Color Reveal balm, which has been on for a few minutes:
Sephora Color Reveal Lip Balm
As you can see, the balm gives my lips a very slight pink tint and a slightly glossy shine. It feels like a balm and not a gloss; I do find it moisturizing, though not as moisturizing as my staple lip balms (these days, I most frequently reach for Jack Black’s lemon or shea formulas during the day and Nuxe Reve de Miel at night).
Overall, is it worth $12? I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s worth $12 just because now I know that Dior’s version definitely isn’t worth $31. And, on days my lips are in good condition and don’t need a heavy-duty healing lip balm, it’s a nice option to add a hint of color and some shine. If you’ve been wanting Dior Lip Glow but are on a budget, I’d definitely check this one out instead — but if you’re really trying to save, this is definitely skippable.
Do, however, note that it is listed as limited edition on Sephora.com; so if it is something you want to get, you may want to purchase it soon rather than later.
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