Blistex: Herbal Answer

The first thing I wondered when I saw Blistex's new "Herbal Answer" lip balm was, what exactly is the herbal question? I suppose this stick is Blistex's response to growing requests from consumers for healthier, more organic products. To that end, Blistex has done a decent job of creating an "herbal alternative" to its own petroleum-based lip balms for all those hippies out there, but it's still petroleum based and contains several preservatives. It can't quite hold up to other brands (Eco Lips, for one) that have done a better job being wholly organic and preservative-free.

Price: $1.99. The way it oughta be.

Glide: Smooth, consistent, practically perfect.

Appearance: Herbal Answer comes in either a stick or a tube. I realize we've been using these terms interchangeably on Chaptastic (and will likely continue to do so), but in this case the tube I'm referring to is of the squishy, mini toothpaste variety. The stick (the only one I tried) is standard size and has a pastel lime green color that resembles Blistex's Melon Medly Fruit Smoothie balm to a tee.

Flavor/Smell The stick has a subtle, non-cloying sweet taste and a vaguely tea-like, almost fruity flavor. I don't mind the sweetness, but it makes me lick my lips more often. The smell is nice: chamomile, a bit of lemon...actually, it smells a bit like Sprite.

Lasting Power: Pretty good. It absorbs well and fades away slowly.

Product Plusses: SPF 15, happy ingredients (aloe, avocado, chamomile, shea butter, jojoba).

But if you're going to tout your use of natural ingredients, why still use 43% petroleum and lots of preservatives like paraben? That's like adding a carrot stick to an order of french fries. This is just your basic mass-produced lip balm with a few drops of things you can pronounce in it. Oh, Blistex. You were so close. Still, it's a good, reliable stick with a pretty scent and lasting power, and at the very least you can pretend that it's good for you.

3.5 out of 5.