Tuesday, March 01, 2016

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask- Smashed & Original




Bite Beauty Agave Lip Masks are not a new product. In fact, this was a repurchase, since I finished 0.5 oz tube of the original formula. I keep lip balms and treatments all over the house and in every purse and  use them often, which so far this winter has resulted in various empty pots and tubes, and no lip cracking. Not even once. The one from Bite is definitely one of the reasons, so I decided to get both the regular one again as well as the red Smashed, hoping for a spectacular tinted lip treatment that will provide enough color.

The main reason Bite's Agave lip masks are so effective is that the ingredient is lanolin, the same stuff that's sold in 7 and 8 oz tubs for peanuts. Bite Beauty took the lanolin and improved its texture to make it less waxy, enriched it with some antioxidants and other good-for-you natural materials, and probably most important to many: got rid of the smell. Now, personally I don't mind the slightly animalic natural smell of pure lanolin. I find it slightly... goaty and warm. But neither the massive tubs nor the smaller tubes of branded Lansinoh (yes, the stuff they sell for nursing mothers) are exactly purse material, and I'm shallow enough to like the more cosmetic packaging of Bite Beauty's masks.

A word about the "mask" thing: this product can be used in various ways: as a simple lip balm to slather on throughout the day as needed, as a pre-makeup treatment, as well as in an extra thick layer that you leave on and then wipe off the excess, like a mask. The product tastes vanillic and slightly sweet, and is pleasant without being overwhelming or lipdticky in scent. Bite Beauty used to make the point that their lip products are made with all food-grade ingredients. They still call it "good enough to eat", but are less pushy with this claim, as we can all read and understand listed ingredients. Snark aside, this is a quality product that has be serving me well.

As for the red-tinted Smashed, I hoped for more color. As it stands, since my lips are naturally dark, the difference between Smashed and the sheer one is negligible. I don't look like I'm wearing a red gloss, and even when I tried swatching it on my hand, almost no pigment showed up, so basically, these are two tubes of nice clear balm.


Smashed Ingredients:
Lanolin* (Pharma Grade), Castor Seed Oil*, Shea Butter*, Glyceryl Rosinate*, Blue Agave Nectar**, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables*, Beeswax**, Flavor (Aroma), Monk Fruit Extract*, Vanilla  Extract*,Carnauba Wax*, Hydrogenated Castor Oil *, Trans-Resveratrol*, Sunflower Seed Oil**, Grape Seed Extract**, Tocopherol *, Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850).

Original Ingredients:
Lanolin* (medical grade), Castor Seed Oil**, Organic blue agave nectar**, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables*, Organic Beeswax**, Flavor, Vanillin, Monk Fruit*, Vanilla Extract*, Carnauba Wax*, Trans-Resveratrol*, Grape oil*, Tocopherol acetate*, Honeysuckle Flower Extract Jojoba Seed Oil*.

* Natural
** Organic

Bottom Line: Overpriced for what it is, yet too convenient to ignore. And it works.


Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask- Smashed & Original ($26 each, made in Canada) are available at Sephora.

10 comments:

  1. I have this in the other color, Champagne, which adds a nice bit of "gleam" to my lips. However, while I like it, I don't love this the way I do my beloved Amore Pacific lip goop (I can't remember what it's called--but it's spectacular). I find the Bite mask to be a bit stiffer, harder to spread, and doesn't feel quite as nice. I can't imagine you haven't tried the Amore Pacific lip balm, but if you haven't, do. It's so nice.

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    1. If I remember correctly, the Amore Pacific was similar to my then-favorite from Kanebo Sensai. Since the latter is no longer around, I probably should go back to AP. Thanks for the reminder
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  2. I love this stuff. I've used up two tubes of it and repurchased again. It really saved my lips when nothing else seemed to be doing the trick. I use it at night mostly but on those bitter cold days I did pop a tube in purse as well.

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    1. The tubes are so purse-friendly, which makes them worth their price in gold.

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  3. I also have it in Champagne and agree with SoSueSam that it is nice, but not the greatest player on a crowded field of lip balms and treatments. I found it to be unpleasantly stiff and although it was occlusive, it didn't offer much hydration. Of course, I live in a completely different climate zone and that could easily impact the overall performance. I really like the AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment at night to replenish my lips and during the day, I like good old Jack Black for its SPF in a satiny finish.

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    1. I think performance might also depend on the way one's lips respond to lanolin. For me, that's a nearly magical ingredient in the way it actually heals cracks (and prevents them. My lips haven't bled all winter).

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  4. I really need to get Champagne, I used it during one recent winter that was bitterly cold and it really stuck on my lips and protected them while I waited for buses, waited in the subway...had to pass the wind vortex at work. Strangely enough I tried Smashed but my lips reacted to that version. That, Tatcha & Dior lip balms are my favorites.

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    1. The ingredients do seem to be slightly different between the colors, so an allergic reaction to one but not the other can definitely happen. I love anything and everything from Tatcha, but also still adore (and buy a new one every once in a while) the Nuxe matte balm (Reve de Miel).

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  5. I'm a little sour on lip masks right now... I picked up Nugg's lip mask and it's terrible. I'm just using it as an overnight balm until I use it up, but I don't understand-- aren't their facial masks super popular? Why is it so unpleasant??

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    1. I've never tried anything by Nugg. But life's too short to waste them on sub-par lip products when there are so many fantastic ones.

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