Credit:
Glossier
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If you love a minimalistic makeup look, Glossier is likely one of your go-to-brands—if it’s not, it should be! The social media-famous makeup and skincare brand is all about enhancing natural beauty, and one of the most popular Glossier products is its iconic Balm Dotcom (available at Glossier).
This lip balm has been a fan favorite since its launch almost 10 years ago, living up to its pun-inspired name. It comes in a variety of scents, as well as both clear and tinted colors, and the vegan, cruelty-free formula is designed to keep your lips smooth, hydrated, and soft.
We wanted to see if Balm Dotcom lived up to the hype, so I tested out three popular flavors. Here’s everything I loved about this lip gloss—as well as a few downsides to keep in mind.
What we like about Glossier Balm Dotcom
It comes is a variety of scents and colors
Lots of varieties.
Balm Dotcom is currently available in nine scent and color combinations. The Original unscented version and the Mint and Coconut scents are all untinted, offering a clear everyday balm, and the other options offer subtle shades of pink, peach, and purple to give your lips a little color.
During testing, I tried out three different scents—the Original, Coconut, and the new Wild Fig option, which has a coral tint. The Original quickly became my go-to for daily wear, as it’s the most similar to a basic lip balm. The coconut had a fresh beachy scent, but it didn’t apply quite as smoothly as the unscented option.
Interestingly, I didn’t find the Wild Fig to have much of a noticeable scent, but I did like the color of it. At first I was nervous that the hue would be too much, as it seems quite bright coming out of the tube, but it becomes fairly sheer when applied. It was great for adding a subtle touch of color to my lips when I was heading out of the house.
The tube makes it easy to apply
The Balm Dotcom comes in a 0.5-ounce plastic tube with a screw-off cap, and the applicator has an angled edge that makes it super easy to swipe across your lips. I really enjoyed this packaging—it made it easy to squeeze up just the right amount of balm, whether I wanted a thin coating or a thicker layer. Plus, when you release pressure on the tube, any excess balm gets sucked back into the packaging so you don’t waste any.
While half an ounce might not seem like a lot of product, it definitely goes a long way, especially if you apply it lightly. I used the Original formula once or twice a day for about a month, and there’s still quite a bit left in the tube.
It’s perfect for everyday wear or special occasions
I think my favorite thing about Balm Dotcom is that it’s more versatile than regular lip balm. Sure, you can use it to hydrate your lips during the day, but it also offers a lovely glossy effect that’s perfect for special occasions, especially if you like a lighter makeup look.
The untinted options could easily be layered over a lip stain in place of a regular gloss, and they’re much more wearable, if you ask me. The balm gives your lips a nice shine without being gloopy or sticky. I also loved swiping on the tinted Wild Fig formula before leaving the house—it added just enough color to make me look put together, without being inconvenient or messy to apply.
What we don’t like about Glossier Balm Dotcom
It’s not quite as hydrating as other lip products
Beware of a formula change that isn't as good as before.
In terms of hydration, Balm Dotcom isn’t as long-lasting and hydrating as my other go-to lip products. On a daily basis, I generally reach for Blistex Medicated Lip Balm whenever my lips are feeling chapped. I find that it keeps my lips hydrated for several hours, and I love that it also offers SPF 15 protection when I’m outdoors.
By comparison, Balm Dotcom generally lasts for around an hour—sometimes even less if you put on a light coat. It also doesn’t offer any protection from the sun.
The formula was recently changed—and not for the better
Balm Dotcom has been a fan favorite product since 2014, but the brand recently updated the formula of the lip balm. Glossier announced the change at the beginning of 2023, and the new formula is vegan, as it no longer includes lanolin or petrolatum.
Unfortunately, long-time users aren’t loving the new formulation. Recent reviews on the product are almost universally negative, saying that the new balm formula is too oily and doesn’t hydrate nearly as well as the original version. I never personally tried the old formula, but I did find that the current product doesn’t last as long as you might expect from a lip balm.
Should you buy Balm Dotcom?
Yes, it’s worth keeping a tube in your bag.
It's worth getting.
After testing out Balm Dotcom for several weeks, I can definitely understand why people think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. The lip product is hydrating, comfortable to wear, and easy to apply, and it comes in a variety of scents and colors to suit just about every style. If I were to repurchase, I’d probably opt for the Original unscented formula, which I found to be the smoothest to swipe on my lips, but the Wild Fig was also a really flattering (yet subtle) color for date nights or just days when I was feeling fancy.
It’s worth noting that Glossier did recently update the formula on this product, so if you’ve used it before, it might not feel the same as you remember. The new formula doesn’t seem to be quite as hydrating and long-lasting as the previous version, but I still liked using it for everyday wear.
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