When it comes to lip balms or lip-care products, most of us already have an idea of what we’re looking for based on previous experience with other brands or products.

We also know our lips best – how they react to different climates or temperatures, whether they tend to be dry or moist most of the time and how tthey react to different products or ingredients in terms of lip balms, lipsticks, glosses etc.

So it stands to reason that we would look for a brand that would be best suited to our individual needs so as to retain (or attain) the smooth, soft, luscious texture we want for our lips. Of all the brands that I’ve used over the years, none sticks out more in terms of creative product design and simple, good ingredients than eos.

It’s rare to find beauty brands that are simultaneously popular and unpopular at the same time and ‘eos’ (or ‘Evolution of Smooth’) is a brand that is all too familiar with this dilemma. Whenever I talk to people about the brand or their products (research for these articles), I tend to get really mixed reviews – more so than with man other brands of a similar nature.

So in writing this, I hope to disband a few of the myths surrounding this brand as well as point out some issues that I think the brand could work on a bit (if they haven’t already started doing so).

eos Company History and Background Explained

A little known fact about eos was that they were actually founded in 2006, but only really entered the market in 2009 in order to grow their product base and perfect their recipes. The company was founded by a former commodities trader called Craig Dubitsky who later left the company to lead the oral hygiene brand Hello.

Since then, the company has gone on to clear literal leaps and bounds in business terms – especially for a company of it’s size. It’s outsold big brands like Burt’s Bees and has already made it’s way into the mainstream with famous endorsers like Kim Kardashian (as of 2012).

For many, the company is hailed as a perfect example of start-up business success and many consider Dubitsky a genius for it. However, while the future of the company seems stable and certain, controversy is never far behind (as is often the case with start-up businesses) – but I’ll get into that a little later in the article.

eos Lip Balm Flavors & Products Breakdown

In terms of range and choice, eos is a brand that has really outdone itself. Who would have guessed that something as simple as lip balm could become such an in-depth craft – maybe even an art! Their range of lip balms and lip care products is quite astounding and I’ve been lucky enough to try out most of them. But here’s what you can expect from the brand so far:

Organic Lip Balm

The organic lip balm range focuses on using only the best, natural ingredients in their recipes to ensure that your lips get all the nourishment, moisture and nutrients that they need to stay healthy, soft and plump.

It’s a very accessible range that includes flavours such as Strawberry Sorbet, Pomegranate and Raspberry, Passion Fruit, Summer Fruit, Sweet Mint, Honeysuckle, Blueberry Acai, Vanilla Bean and Wild Berry. I would definitely recommend this line to those who are new to the brand.

Visibly Soft Lip Balm

This range is specifically designed to help dramatically soften and moisturize dry, tight lips. They’re incredibly rich and silky in terms of texture and the feeling your lips get after using them is difficult to describe.

It’s unlike most lip balms that I’ve used as my lips feel softer and smoother, but there’s generally little or no residue (or caking) on my lips after application – which is common with organic lip balms. Definitely a major plus point for me as you won’t be left reapplying the lip balm every  hour and it doesn’t affect the flavour or taste of your food and drinks as much either.

The range includes flavors such as Vanilla Mint, Coconut Milk, Black Berry Nectar, Honey Apple, Peppermint Mocha and Peppermint Cream.

Crystal Lip Balm

This is probably one of my favorite lines in the brands product range as it’s the most practical and the most effective. The Crystal line is devoted to creating soft, smooth lips without the rubbery texture that is common with clumpy, organic lip balms.

It’s basically like thin, organic ‘roll-on’ for your lips and can be applied straight to your lips for lasting moisture control and protection against dryness as well as layered on top of lipstick in order to help seal the makeup onto your lips as well as locking in moisture. The line consists of two flavors, namely Vanilla Orchid and Hibiscus Peach.

Shimmer Lip Balm

The shimmer line is all about looking glitzy and glossy while you keep your lips supple and moist – perfect for those nights out, when you want to dress up and look your best whilst keeping your lips soft and smooth. The range comes in 3 flavors namely Sheer Pink, Pearl and Coral.

Active Lip Balm

This line is perfect for outdoorsy people or those who tend to enjoy spending a lot of time on the beach etc. They’re specifically formulated to hold up against the elements and won’t slip or run easily. The range comes in two individual flavors, each with their own unique SPF rating. Lemon Twist comes in at 15 SPF and Pink Grapefruit has an SPF of 30 – stylish and practical!

Medicated Lip Balm

This lip balm is really more for those are suffering from particularly dry or chapped lips and need serious intervention to prevent cracking and bleeding. It contains a rich amount of natural antibacterial agents like Phenol which helps to ensure that your lips stay clean and free of infection while the long lasting formula helps to ensure that moisture is locked in for hours.

Slim Lip Balm

If you’re a fan of the Organic line or simply want something that’s easier to carry or feels more like a traditional chapstick in your hand, then the Slim Lip Balm range is definitely for you. The formulas and flavors are the same as the Organic range, they’re just in slimmer packaging making it easier to apply and easier to carry around. Perfect for when you’re on the move and want to save space.

eos Lip Balm Ingredient List Breakdown

eos is a brand that is well known for their creative packaging, clever branding and amazing ingredients – these are largely what has shaped the brand’s success over the past years and will likely continue to shape the brands identity in the years to come. This is a list of some of the more common ingredients that can be found in the brands product range:

• Sunflower Seed Oil.
• Beeswax.
• Coconut Oil.
• Carnauba Wax.
• Jojoba Oil.
• Shea Butter.
• Olive Oil.
• Fruit Extracts.
• Tocopherol.
• Stevia Leaf Extract.

While the flavors or fragrances may change from product to product, these are the ingredients that you’re most likely to find in all the products in the eos range.

DIY Lip Balm Recipe

DIY recipes are the best way to get an idea of how a product works from the most basic stages of its production as well as being a fun and cost-effective way to supply yourself with many of the products we spend a small fortune on every year.

While I’m not advocating that you stop buying your favorite brand of lipgloss, I do think it’s largely beneficial for you to know how to make you own simply because you might prefer your homemade products and because they’re a lot cheaper in the long run. For this recipe you will need:

• 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil.
• 1 Tbsp Grated Cocoa.
• 1 Tsp Rose, Lavender, Lemon or Eucalyptus Essential Oil.
• ¼ Tsp Vitamin-E
• 1 Tbsp Dried rosebuds
• 1 Stainless Steel bowl or pot
• 1 Cheesecloth for filter (must be the a bit bigger than your bowl/pot)
• 1 air-tight storage container

On very low heat, melt the coconut oil in a small stainless steel bowl or pot. After the oil is liquid, add your roses (or other dried flowers) and stir well. Allow to steep (again, on very low heat) for 1 hour. Strain oil into a bowl through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Wipe out your original heating pot/bowl, pour oil back in, and return to heat. Add cocoa butter and stir until melted.  Remove from heat, add vitamin E oil and essential oil and stir well. Transfer to a small container and let set for 3 hours (or until completely set).

And voila! Making a lip balm could never have been easier! I encourage you to try this recipe a few times until you feel confident with it and then feel free to experiment with different flavors, ingredients or methods etc.

eos Lip Balm Problems Explained

While eos is making miracles happen in terms of creating products that are made from entirely organic ingredients (and are therefore safer to use over time), no innovation can occur without it’s own setbacks or at least, it’s rare for that to happen.

As early as 2013 and again in 2015 and as recently as 2016, user complained of black or green mold growing in the rings of the cap of the balm – which is dangerous because both forms of mold can be toxic when ingested in the right amounts by humans.

The problem was occurring precisely because the brand opted to use all-natural ingredients and by shying away from the harmful chemical preservatives that are designed to keep issues like from happening, the brand suffered a few incidents.

While these cases are still rare (because most people use their lip balm before it can acquire mold), it is definitely something worth considering. Don’t forget a balm at the bottom of your bag for months on end or you might end up suffering serious health complications.

It’s best to use the lip balms quickly once you’ve got them and store them in a cool dry place or even the fridge if you plan on keeping them for a long time. In cases like this, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry.

Is eos Cruelty-Free? Is eos Vegan?

This question is a bit of tricky one to answer straight off the cuff as there are a few details that should be discussed before we draw a conclusion. First of all, on the surface, eos seems like a brand that is all about vegan-friendly products and cruelty-free manufacturing. However, the deeper you dig, the more you uncover.

While the brand doesn’t use animal products in their products and claims not to test their products on animals (both of which are true in their own right), the fact that they still sell their products to China means it’s null and void.

The problem arises with the Chinese legal system. Chinese law requires cosmetics and personal care products to be tested on animals before they can be sold in the country. This means that by default, eos has to test their products on animals (or someone else does) in order for them to continue having business with China.

So while the brand may make all the efforts possible to create products that are vegan-friendly (in terms of their ingredients list), their persistence in selling to the Chinese market means that vegans or cruelty-free supporters will opt not to use the products by default.

Conclusion

Of all the lip care brands that I’ve come across in the years, this is definitely one of the most innovative brands I’ve encountered.  Their products are funky, hip and easy to use – not to forget being really effective at moisturizing one’s lips and locking that moisture in for long periods of time.

I generally avoid using lip balms unless I really have to. I prefer natural skin care and personal care treatment – even turning to cosmetic acupuncture. I’ve always hated that cakey feeling you get on your lips, or the inevitable dryness that seems to return a mere hour or two after applying the balm. I couldn’t think of a worse form of torture! Thankfully, eos’s range of speciality lip balm and lip care products makes this a thing of the past and will hopefully restore your faith in the abilities of lip balms again. It certainly did for me.

Read about Physicians Formula, Aveda and Make Up For Ever while you’re here at Innovative Private Label.