C.O. Bigelow Vitamin Mentha Tinted Lip Balms and Mentha Lip Tint

Bath and Bodyworks, the well-loved American palace of scents is new to downtown Toronto (the first Toronto location opened in Yorkdale Mall in 2008) and I'm slowly becoming acquainted with their enormous selection of candles, lotions, hand sanitizers, perfumes, aromatherapy, room fragrances and skincare. When I first went inside the Eaton Centre store it was on their opening weekend and it was extremely overwhelming with products, sales and salespeople at every step. I did try one of the products I review here, but did not buy it simply because I am immediately turned off by sales pitches.

However, I did go back recently to replenish my stock of hand sanitizer and picked up three (for $15 CDN$) C.O. Bigelow lip products, including the lip gloss I'd been accosted by during my first trip inside.

I chose two of the tinted lip balms and one lip gloss. The Vitamin Mentha Tinted Lip Balms come in a few different shades and clear. All contain mint, smell like mint and feel cool and tingly on the lips. 

I chose the reddish shade called Merlot Mint because I'm a sucker for cherry-stained lips.

Merlot Mint shade

Merlot Mint swatched

Merlot Mint on my lips

As you can see, the lip balm goes on a bit streaky. It'd probably be best applied with a lip brush or dabbed on with your finger. 

I also chose the natural pink shade Poppy Pink Mint.

Poppy Pink Mint

Poppy Pink Mint swatched.

Poppy Pink Mint on my lips.

I like the colour of this lip balm, although too much can look chalky. 

Both balms are made with peppermint oil which provides your lips with a tingling sensation and coolness and the peppermint also helps freshen your breath. It is quite an intense mint scent so if you're not a fan, this is definitely not the lip product for you! They're also apparently "packed" with vitamins, minerals and antioxidant-rich goji berries. As a lip balm, these are both quite good. I can wear these for hours without feeling the need to reapply. As opposed to how I normally apply lip balm and then lipstick or gloss, these eliminate the need since they're so pigmented.

I also chose the Magenta Mint Mentha Lip Tint which is actually more of a gloss than its name implies.

Magenta Mint Mentha Lip Tint

Magenta Mint swatched

Magenta Mint on my lips.

Like the balms, the lip tint is made with peppermint oil, so it makes your lips tingle, enhance the colour ever so slightly and aids in freshening your breath. It is very minty, be warned. The colour is very faint and the tint is very glossy but it doesn't dry my lips out like so many glosses can. It's not a gloss but not to fear, your hair will stick to this just like a gloss! It'll be a great top to a lipstick colour that you want to add shine to.

To demonstrate, I've done just that below. I topped the Poppy Pink Mint lip balm with the Magenta Mint lip tint. Pretty, isn't it?

Poppy Pink Mint Mentha Tinted Lip Balm topped with Magenta Mint Mentha Lip Tint.

*Note: These products taste delicious too (if you like mint). 

C.