“Let me take you down, ’cause I’m going to, apply Strawberry Field forever.”
LOL!
This, my friend, is what happens when you grow up in a house (of learned doctors) where both of your parents worshiped The Beatles. You hum that song to yourself every time you apply Butter London’s creamy new $20 Lippy Tinted Balm in Strawberry Field (and keep calling it “Strawberry Fields Forever”) — a side effect of growing up on a steady diet of music by John, Paul, George and Ringo.
The Lippy Tinted Balms: New to the Butter London Line
The nail polish purveyors recently branched out into other forms of makeup, releasing pieces for eyes, lips and cheeks. Strawberry Field is one of six Lippy Tinted Balms added to Butter London’s permanent line.
The pigment sucks you in, but the coverage seals the deal…
Before I brought the bright red balm to my lips for the first time, I thought it would be a chore to apply based on how pigmented it looked in my initial swatches, but it’s just as easy to wear as a Burt’s Bee’s Lip Balm.
When fall, which is still just a whisper on the wind, and the holidays roll around, red lips abound! — and there are plenty of options to choose from, but Strawberry Field doesn’t bring with it the high-maintenance drama that often accompanies full-coverage crimsons.
Being a balm, it’s sheerer than your average lipstick and doesn’t flip out if I fudge my application a little… Mistakes aren’t as easy to spot.
Heck, I can even apply it without a mirror and can skip a lip liner and lip brush. Really, it’s one of the easiest reds I’ve ever worn.
Mo’ deets…
- Does it smell or taste like strawberries? Nope, neither. And thank goodness for that! Nothing turns my tum more than faux strawberry. It’s a little like Nilla Wafers, and it’s faint and fades after five minutes.
- How’s the moisture content? Not too shabby, tabby. They may not be as moisturizing as a Burt’s Bees Lip Balm (those make my lips go “AHHHHH!” whenever I wear them), but they’re still quite hydrating.
- What’s the wear time like? One layer and I’m good to go for at least 3-4 hours, which is great for a lightweight, non-sticky balm.
- Will I need multiple layers? Nah, just one, and get this — the formula’s smooooove and doesn’t settle into lip lines.
Got full lips?
I can see this looking lovely on millions of lips, but I bet it would look particularly fab on someone with full lips (ooh, like Scarlett Johansson!).
My friend Jen has luscious, full lips, and she usually steers clear of intense reds, afraid that they’ll just be too much. I think Strawberry Fields would totally work for her, because while red, it’s not overwhelmingly red, and the finish is more of a mellow sheen than a mirror-like shine.
Packaging and design
The $20 price tag seems a bit high based on the basic packaging (lightweight, flimsy plastic…kind of cheeseball), but the amount of pigment and wear time mostly make up for it.
The last word…
All in all, I think it’s a lovely, quick, easy, casual course to Red Lip Land. A good one to put on your radar for fall.
PRICE: $20
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Ulta stores and online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 🙂
I got my first Butter London nail lacquers a few weeks ago, and it looks like now I have to get me some Butter London lippies as well!
Such a great shade… The exact type I would wear when I feel like going red but I’m just in jeans and a cotton top. I never think to pair red with a green eye, but the look you put together is gorgeous <3
This looks just like NARS Flamenco, another great sheer red!
I love a casual tinted red lip! Wish the packaging was nicer.
Okay this sounds amazing! I love the idea of a red lip balm because it’s so much easier than dealing with a red lipstick (which I will still be sporting a lot this autumn).
oooh this looks like a nice lippie! but even more than anything I am seriously loving your hair! are u doing anything different? new product? new curling iron? seriously its like VS supermodel hair! xoxo
Very pretty! I’m going to check this out.
Nice! I usually see a red lip and think I can’t make that work for me, but this looks perfect.
And now I’ll be humming Strawberry Fields Forever all day!
Pretty! This looks like something I could handle. I’ve always been intimidated by high-maintenance reds but this might be the beginner’s red lip product I need to try.
That is a great way to use a green eyeliner(shadow) it looks gorgeous with the red. Without being abrasive.
Oh hey, this one packs so much pigment! It definitely doesn’t look like a tinted lip balm! Very pretty! Need to check it out for sure!
A red that doesn’t scream “OMG-RED!!!”? I am so there! 😀
I love a good red lippy! I’m currently in the process of trying out some new Butter London products for my blog as well… got the cream eyeshadow and color mascara. I think Butter’s going to do really well with their new products!
Does the lipstick dry out after a while? And is it more matte than glossy finish?
I can’t believe this is being marketed as a tinted lip balm. It has an amazing color.
Hello, Miss Karen. I just adore your blog! Im so happy to be a subscriber & get detailed info on great beauty products. I immediately picked up this Lippy & Covergirls smoochie based on your reccomendations. Thanks for all your help in the beauty department. P.s. You look beautiful in all your photos. I’d love to know how to get your amazing highlights! Please share. (I would love to ask my hairdresser for the same)
You’re killing me. I actually caught myself swatching some Marc Jacobs lippies last week. All the while, thinking “why am I doing this? I don’t need another lip product!”. HAHA! I love the idea of a red tint; it’s so much more appealing to me than full coverage red. I agree that it would be awesome for fall.