Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm - Review

I've been making my own lip balm for several months now (almost a year, in fact), and haven't bought a huge amount since embarking on the USS I-Don't-Need-More-Hobbies. Like the Brightening Eye Perfector, however, I received several Revitalizing Lip Balms from Neutrogena, and was pretty happy to see they include an SPF - if you've ever sunburned your lips, you know how painful it can be.

These balms retail for $8.99, and come in the standard 0.15 ounce size. They're packaged in oval-shaped tubes (like what I use - they don't roll away from you!), and are black, which in a way makes them stand out, but can also make them harder to see in a dark purse.

Neutrogena says:

Revitalizing Lip Balm helps make lips softer, rosier and healthier-looking, even after you take it off! This sheer tinted balm with exclusive ion2complex™ instantly moisturizes lips, leaving them looking fuller and more defined. In just one week, it helps improve lips' texture and restores the look of rosiness. SPF 20 helps protect lips and keeps them looking healthy. 

I have three colors, Sunny Berry, Petal Glow, and Healthy Blush, and there are three additional shades in the line: Sheer Shimmer, Healthy Blush, and Soft Caramel. Although Neutrogena describes these as sheer, I was taken by surprise at how pigmented they were. They're not full coverage, but they're not like the Cover Girl balms - they show up pretty well on me! Some of the colors aren't what I would pick for myself, but that's okay. Of what I have, I like Petal Glow the best right now.

Petal Glow is a very pretty peachy-glowy color. Healthy Blush is a pinked-nude. Sunny Berry is a lighter berry tone.

It seems my lips feel different than they did before using these balms - but that's a hard thing to really know for sure (placebo effect and all that). I can say my lips are less prone to flaking for a few days after wearing the balm for several days in a row, but after the 3rd or 4th day of not using it, things are back to "normal" for me.

Scent wise, these are interesting. They don't really have a taste, and smell like tea, I think. I can't say that confidently, because it's sort of hard to know for sure what they're supposed to smell like. Maybe a little fruity, but a strong tea note is definitely there.

I love the fact that there's an SPF value. LOVE. And, you don't really smell it. I think I've tasted it, though, after wearing the lip balm for a while. There's a very small hint of a medicinal/chemical something, but it's nothing terrible.

Please know, this product was sent to me for review by BzzAgent. The thoughts above are my own, and I was not paid to say anything complementary or otherwise.