Epically moisturizing lip balms from Epic Blend

Lip balm, we all have it. We all have one or two or six in our purses or our cars. We've all had a few go mysteriously missing, then we shrug and just buy a new one. Unlike the random lip balms I pick up while waiting in checkout, I'd definitely go into a panic if my Epic Blend lip balms went missing!

Produced in Kelowna, British Columbia, Epic Blend lip balms feature a base of fantastic skin-conditioning ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil, as well as Vitamin E and rosemary extract (based on Cosmetics Info, my guess is it is there for antimicrobial or antioxidant purposes). I have the great luck to have both super chronically dry lips and eczema around my mouth--i.e. extremely sensitive!--so I am a bit picky about my lip balms. Previously I was using La Roche Posay Ceralip, but my Ceralip tubes have been left by the wayside since I started trying Epic Blend balms, available in Hemp, More Moisture, and Vegan formulas.

Of the three formulas available, the Hemp balms come in the widest variety of flavours: Coconut, Mint, Citrus Kick, Vanilla, Banana (limited edition), and Chocolate Rum (limited edition). Epic Blend Hemp balms feature hemp seed oil, which a cursory Google search indicates has emollient, occlusive, and anti-inflammatory properties. Citrus Kick is one of my favourites in particular, because I love the zesty, refreshing scent derived from grapefruit and sweet orange essential oils. I have a few chocolate lover friends who are fans of Chocolate Rum, which has a convincing and not cloying chocolate scent.

Ingredients (Hemp Vanilla): organic sunflower seed oil (Helianthus annus), organic beeswax (Cera alba), organic cocoa butter (Theobroma cacao), organic coconut oil (Cocos nucifera), organic hemp seed oil (Cannabis sativa), organic flavor, vitamin E (D-alpha tocopherol), rosemary extract (Rosmarinus officinalis)

My favourite formula of all is More Moisture, which comes in Cherry, Green Apple, Grape, and Unflavored. These balms include castor seed oil and shea butter--that's in addition to Epic Blend's base formula of sunflower seed oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil, so you get an incredibly moisturizing lip balm! More Moisture balms have the most "slip" due to the number of moisturizing ingredients so they glide on super smoothly, but it's best to blot your lips first or use a Hemp/Vegan balm instead if you are applying lipstick on top. Bonus: the Grape flavour smells delightfully similar to a grape Jolly Rancher.

Ingredients (More Moisture Unflavored): organic sunflower seed oil (Helianthus annus), organic beeswax (Cera alba), organic cocoa butter (Theobroma cacao), organic coconut oil (Cocos nucifera), organic castor seed oil, organic shea butter, vitamin E (D-alpha tocopherol), rosemary extract (Rosmarinus officinalis)

For the Vegan balms, Epic Blend removed the one non-vegan ingredient from their formula, beeswax, and replaced it with candelilla wax. These balms come in Pineapple-Mint and Wild Berry and have the least "slip" but were still very comfortable to use on my sensitive lips.

Ingredients (Vegan Wild Berry): organic sunflower seed oil (Helianthus annus), candelilla wax, organic cocoa butter (Theobroma cacao), organic coconut oil (Cocos nucifera), organic berry flavor, vitamin E (D-alpha tocopherol), rosemary extract (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Maybe it's weird to be this into a lip balm, but I'm thrilled that Epic Blend let me try out their line and discover how hydrating and softening their balms are. I have one in my purse, one on my desk at home, one on my vanity, and one in my drawer at work so I'm never without some epic moisturizing powers. With all moisturizing and beneficial ingredients packed into each balm, I expected the price point to be much higher but it's surprisingly just $3.49 CAD for one balm (or $12 for a four-pack)--that's less than my Starbucks go-to grande London Fog! So basically this is a product that works incredibly well and is cheaper than a coffee/tea beverage--what are you waiting for? Go forth and have epic lips too!

Final note: Epic Blend recommends using a balm within a year of opening due to the paraben-free formula, which won't be a problem for me since I'm always reaching for them.


Which formula/flavour would you try? Do you have a favourite lip balm?

Bonus photo: this is how you keep a bunch of cylindrical items from not rolling around so that they show the name and logo properly >:)


Available online at epicblend.com, in-store at select retailers: $3.49 CAD / 4.2 g (0.15 oz)