Fresh Sugar Lip Balm Is Expensive. But It’s Great.

Despite Fresh’s impressive reputation amongst skincare fanatics and Wirecutter staffers alike, spending four times what I normally would on lip balm seemed like an indulgence that was too rich for my blood. With the rising quality—and therefore, popularity—of drugstore brands like CeraVe and La Roche-Posay, I don’t even pay that much for face wash or moisturizer.

This past winter in the Southern California desert where I live was such a particularly lethal combo of dry and sunny that my bargain-bin lip balms weren’t cutting it. Cracked, bleeding, and desperate for relief, I caved when I saw our untinted recommendation was discounted during one of Sephora’s sales. It worked so well—and so quickly—that I went back and bought a tube in the rosé color as well.

The difference in the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment’s quality was immediately apparent from the moment I touched the weighty metal tube, which works twofold: It insulates the balm from melting in my car and keeps it securely contained, unlike leak-prone squeezy tubes that other balms and glosses come in.

Outside of the aesthetically pleasing packaging, their superiority is evident in the formula, too. Offering a more precise application, the solid twist-up salve isn’t greasy, sticky, or otherwise messy like gel-based balms and glosses. It simply goes on smoother—forgoing those gross little waxy chunks that cheaper balms would sometimes shed—leaving my lips supple and with a pleasant sheen.

A deeper dive reveals that the formula relies on a blend of botanical oils (castor, jojoba, grape seed, the list goes on) and beeswax among its hydrating ingredients. The only thing missing is SPF, which Fresh eliminated from its original formula.

In my experience, the balm absorbs readily and actually quenches dry lips, so you’re not just putting an occlusive slick over the top that doesn’t really solve the problem. Though the cheapo lip balms I’d previously favored were effective at temporarily relieving the feeling of cracked or chapped skin, they sometimes worked too well, essentially locking in the dryness instead of the moisture.

The 14 tinted options offer deeper pigment than other cheap tinted balms I’ve tried, which is perfect for when you’re in that state of limbo where you don’t feel like dealing with the effort and upkeep of wearing lipstick, but you want to give your look that extra polish. Berry, a medium pink, and honey, a peachy nude, are both popular tints with our staff. “I literally just put berry on and go … It feels light, and I don’t have to worry about getting gross, deeply colored lipstick on my teeth,” says deputy editor Annemarie Conte.

I’ve also had good luck using the clear untinted lip treatment as a primer for lipstick, particularly if that lipstick is matte or otherwise drying. Point being, you don’t have to choose just one. In fact, many of my colleagues are the proud owners of multiples, stashing them in their cars and at their desks. “I rotate eight purses, and there’s a Fresh Sugar lip balm in every one,” says senior social strategist Makeba Drury.

Not to be dramatic (okay, maybe a little dramatic), but the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments have ruined other lip balms for me. And yes, I know how silly that sounds—I used to think people who had such strong feelings for such a simple item sounded silly, too. But they really are just that good. Plus, they’re so thick and luxurious that a little does indeed go a long way. I’ve found I burn through them less quickly than the cheap sticks I used to buy despite using them with abandon. In short: You get what you pay for.

I still refuse to buy these lip balms at full price, but luckily, I don’t have to. They’re often a beauty sale staple, so I stock up every chance I get—and because they’re currently on sale, now’s a great opportunity to see if they live up to the hype. Or in my case, try out yet another shade.

This article was edited by Annemarie Conte and Hannah Morrill.