E.l.f. has been busy expanding its selection of skincare products. One of the new lines launched last year is the Cannabis Sativa Collection, which features hemp seed oil. I purchased a kit with all four of the products from the collection so I could try them all, since hemp seed oil is a relatively new ingredient to me. The collection includes All the Feels Facial Oil, Happy Hydration Cream, Calm Balm, and Puff Puff Primer.
Two of the products from the Cannabis Sativa Collection stood out to me. I tried the Happy Hydration Cream right away and absolutely adored that product. It’s one of my all time favorite lightweight moisturizers. I waited a little while to try the e.l.f. Calm Balm because I had a couple of other lip balms going at the time. Now, I’ve been using the Calm Balm for a month or two and it’s very nice! I always keep this handy in my bathroom for easy access.
E.l.f. Calm Balm is an untinted lip balm that’s low-maintenance to apply, and feels great on the lips. Keep reading to learn more!
E.l.f. Calm Balm product claims directly from ElfCosmetics.com
This lip balm is infused with hemp-derived cannabis sativa seed oil to nourish the lips and deliver a healthy, natural looking shine. Benefits: nourished shine, supreme moisture, conditioned lips.
Disclosure: IntegriBeauty includes affiliate links within product review posts. I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. IntegriBeauty is independently owned and all products discussed within IntegriBeauty product review posts are thoroughly tested and given honest reviews.
Other product details
- Price: $5.00
- Net weight: 0.7 oz. | 1.9 g
- Made in China
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Fragrance-free
- Shelf life: 12 months
- Where to buy: ElfCosmetics.com
- ElfCosmetics.com ships to the USA and Canada only.
- Overall rating: 8.4/10
- Packaging: 10/10
- Ease of application: 10/10
- Hydration: 6/10
- Ingredients: 8/10
- Price: 8/10
Please note that I am not a skincare professional. I am simply an individual that enjoys learning about and using skincare products. Speak to your dermatologist or esthetician if you have any concerns.
Packaging
I’m impressed by the design of the packaging for e.l.f. Calm Balm. It looks much more luxe than what you usually see with lip balms! It’s packaged more like a skinny lipstick than a lip balm. Calm Balm comes in a somewhat long plastic tube that twists up. It comes out at an angle which helps with the ease of application. In addition to being great for functionality, it’s also very pretty. The outside packaging is pearlescent white which gives it a high-end feel.
E.l.f.’s packaging is usually very simple and sleek. While this product’s packaging is still simple, it has a more unique flair that I really like. It’s one of those products that will look nice sitting on your vanity.
Ease of application
This lip balm glides on like nothing I’ve ever felt before. That sounds like a bold statement, but it’s true! Calm Balm feels more like a lip oil in stick form, rather than a traditional lip balm. Most lip balms are quite waxy and may tug at the lips when applied, but that is not the case with this one at all.
Since there is no shimmer or tint in this lip balm, it’s one that can be applied effortlessly without a mirror. You really can’t go wrong when applying this stuff!
Hydration
Since e.l.f. claims that this product provides “supreme moisture,” you may have been surprised to see that I only rated it 6/10 for hydration. I had high expectations for Calm Balm’s level of hydration since it contains hemp seed oil which is supposed to be very hydrating. Unfortunately, it does not feel as hydrating as I’d like.
As I mentioned before, Calm Balm goes on like a lip oil, and it also feels like a lip oil once it’s applied. It feels great for a while, but that hydrated feeling goes away more quickly than it would with other lip balms. This lip balm usually keeps my lips feeling moisturized for about an hour, give or take, depending on if I eat or drink anything while wearing it. I’m not sure if it fully absorbs, or if it wears away in that time.
I have read that some people use Calm Balm at night and wake up to soft smooth lips. In my experience, it does not provide enough hydration to get me through the night. It’s possible that could be due to my stuffy nose forcing me to breathe through my mouth while I sleep, ha!
Ingredients
I was on the fence about reviewing Calm Balm’s ingredients, until I looked at the ingredients list! There are several that piqued my interest, so I knew I needed to go for it. While I don’t like every aspect of this product, I am impressed by many of its ingredients. Here’s the full list:
Pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, Bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, Dipentaerythrityl hexa c5-9 acid esters, Polyethylene, Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil, Ceresin, Daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil, Beta-carotene, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, Ascorbyl palmitate, Daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, BHT
Most lip balms don’t have very many skin-loving ingredients, but this one has seven (there are 16 total ingredients)! I’ll provide brief descriptions of those ingredients first, and then move on to briefly discuss the remaining ingredients (please note that my primary resources for ingredient information are INCI Decoder and Paula’s Choice Ingredient Dictionary).
- Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil
- Contains antioxidants
- Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil
- Wax ester that stays on the surface of the skin
- Moisturizes and makes skin soft
- Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil
- Contains omega fatty acids, phospholipids, plant sterols, amino acids, and vitamin E
- Strengthens skin barrier
- Beta-carotene
- Antioxidant
- Converts into vitamin A (retinol)
- Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil
- Improves damaged or irritated skin barrier
- Loaded with fatty acids
- Ascorbyl palmitate
- Stable form of vitamin C
- Antioxidant
- Daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract
- Potent antioxidant
- Has skin-regenerative abilities
Pretty impressive for a lip balm, right? I always like it when skincare ingredients are worked into products that usually don’t provide extra benefits to the skin. I’m really happy to see several sources of antioxidants, as well as two ingredients that repair skin. When my lips get dry, I have a bad habit of chewing on them, so it’s nice to have reparative ingredients for faster healing.
Now that we’ve discussed those lovely ingredients, I’d like to touch on the eight “neutral” ingredients in Calm Balm. While these ingredients are important to the overall effectiveness of the product, they don’t provide any special benefits to the skin or harm the skin. These ingredients are things like basic emollients, skin conditioners, thickeners, and preservatives.
There is one ingredient in this category that is controversial, and that’s polyethylene. Polyethylene is the most common plastic in the world. It has many uses, but in wax-form it is frequently used as a thickener. Some sources claim that polyethylene is toxic, but it has been researched by Paula’s Choice and found to be safe in skincare.
Lastly, there is one ingredient in this product that I have labeled as “bad.” Carrot seed oil can have antioxidant properties, but applied topically it may cause sensitivity. Fortunately, this ingredient is halfway down the list so it shouldn’t have a very high concentration. Also, note that this ingredient is different from carrot root extract which is an antioxidant with skin-regenerative abilities.
Price
Usually e.l.f. products get an easy 10/10 rating from me for price. I had to give $5.00 Calm Balm a little more consideration before choosing to rate it at 8/10. I did a bit of looking around the internet at basic lip balms and there are several that are two to three dollars. Many of them also include more product than this one does, at only 0.7 ounces, or 1.9 grams.
Despite the fact that Calm Balm is more expensive per ounce than a lot of other lip balms, I only deducted two points on price for a couple of reasons. First, most inexpensive lip balms, especially the most common ones, are not cruelty-free (like Chapstick and Nivea). E.l.f. is 100% cruelty-free! Also, most lip balms don’t have great skincare ingredients added like this one does.
I think Calm Balm would be better priced slightly lower, but to me it’s still worth the $5.00 price tag.
Of the lip balms I’ve used through the years, I wouldn’t say Calm Balm is my favorite. I usually prefer a formula that will stay on my lips a little longer and provide lasting hydration. With that being said, I definitely enjoy having Calm Balm in my collection! It has a very pleasant smooth texture and I like the healthy shine it provides.
Calm Balm can be used any time, but I have a couple of favorite ways to use it. I like to apply it when I start my skincare routine morning and night. It feels slick and comfortable on my lips while I go through all the steps of my routine. It is also a nice choice after using a lip scrub because it’s very lightweight, smooth, and soothing on somewhat irritated lips.
I recognize that Calm Balm isn’t for everyone. If you only like heavier, or more traditional lip balms, this one might not be for you. For others, it might be perfect! If you’re looking for something lightly hydrating that’s easy to throw on any time of day, then Calm Balm could be just right for you.
Have you tried e.l.f. Calm Balm or any other products from the Cannabis Sativa Collection? If so, please share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
Lauren
