Brand Focus: Epic Blend Lip Balms (+ A Wee Giveaway) (Closed)


Epic Blend is a Canadian company based in Kelowna, British Columbia that has been producing high quality, natural lip balms since 2007.  The balms are free of petroleum, synthetics, GMO's and gluten and are instead packed with nutrient-rich natural and organic ingredients.  

The company offers three lip balm formulas:
Hemp - made with organic hemp seed oil, a great nourisher that's packed with antioxidants and quickly absorbs into the skin
More Moisture - includes organic shea butter for extra moisture and longer staying power on the lips
Vegan - Replacing the beeswax with candelilla wax, these are 100% plant-based and vegan

I first discovered Epic Blend many months ago, back when I was still working at the health food store.  I was given a tube of Hemp Mint lip balm to try and quickly fell in love.  Sadly, that store didn't end up carrying the balms - at least not during the time I was working there - so, at a loss for how to get my hands on more, I reached out to Epic Blend who very generously sent me the entire line to review.  With so many balms and only two lips of my own, I enlisted my sister's help.  (You may remember Victoria from this post.)  She's nowhere near the product junkie status of yours truly, but she does appreciate a good lip balm, so I can't imagine a better person to recruit.  We split up the balms (and even saved a couple for one of you to win - more on that later) and after several months of rigorous testing, the verdict is in.



Caitie says...
I'm pretty sure I killed any suspense about what I thought of these when I featured the Unflavoured More Moisture Balm in my Starting Overtag video, but in case you missed it, I love these balms.  Each and every one of them.  

Hemp Mint started it all for me.  It's a perfect blend of peppermint and spearmint that's minty, but not to the point where you feel as though you're freezing your lips off if you wear it outside in cold weather.  Hemp Citrus Kick - a blend of grapefruit and orange - is bright and zesty, perfect for any citrus lovers out there.  Vegan Pineapple-Mint sounds like an odd mix at first, but the combination works.  It's fruity and fresh, all at the same time.  Surprisingly, More Moisture Unflavoured ended up being my favorite of the bunch.  It may not be flavoured, but it has a slightly sweet scent from all the oils and butters and really is the perfect, basic, no frills lip balm.  I can't imagine not keeping this one on hand at all times now.  Lastly, I tried the Garnet Star Tinted Lip Balm, which gives your lips a sheer, coppery-red tint.  The colour is subtle but pretty, and you get all the same lip loving benefits as you do from the rest of the balms.  

I really don't notice a significant difference between the three formulas.  If I had to differentiate, the Hemp has a little more slip to it than the other two, while the More Moisture is a bit more substantial and buttery on the lips.  The Vegan is a little more solid in the tube initially, but it applies great once it's warmed up on your lips.    All three are excellent.

Victoria says...
There's no contest: The Epic Blend flavours Caitie gave me to try are my new favourite lip balms.

I was pretty thrilled with the flavours I scored: The ones Caitie didn't really want were exactly the ones I wanted to try. After a long and very scientific (ahem) trial process, my favourite wound up being Hemp Vanilla, which has an unexpected chocolate note thanks to the combination of vanilla and cocoa butter. Vegan Wild Berry is a close second, with a rich and fruity scent. I also love More Moisture Cherry and More Moisture Green Apple, which smell exactly like the fruits they're named after without any artificial tang--just scrumptiousness. Last but not least, Hemp Coconut is the one that has made its way into my work bag, since it's a neutral but still aromatic flavour.

I had a scare about a month into using Epic Blend, when the weather changed and I discovered that my lips were chapping and peeling. I stopped using anything but Epic Blend for a couple of weeks to give them a fair shot, and the problem went away--which is when I threw out most of my other lip balms. Good riddance!

The Bottom Line
Epic Blend has pretty well hit it out of the park for both of us!  Epic indeed.  I love that the company is Canadian, that the ingredients are predominantly organic, and that the balms really work.  I highly recommend checking these out!

We've also got two balms to give away to one of you: More Moisture Grape and Garnet Star Tinted Lip Balm.  The giveaway will run for a week and is open to anyone, anywhere.  Fill in the Rafflecopter widget (below) to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Press sample

14 comments

  1. I like Nuxe Reve de Miel lop balm.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  2. Favorite lip balms are always are always ones flavored with peppermint oil. I just love the fresh feeling!

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  3. Will definitely give these a try! Love the sound of the mint, vanilla, cherry, and tinted one. Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. I actually wrote about my favorite lip balms on my blog: http://bit.ly/1zpMrhr

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  4. My favourite lip balm is anything that is strawberry flavoured!

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  5. O.o My post has been ate like twice *kills google*

    Lyck's Candied Orange Lip butter is my current fav (just don't like the tub it comes in, would prefer stick form).

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  6. I usually use my own homemade lipbalm but since I am a lip balm addict I love trying out new natural ones!

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  7. I do not have a favorite lip balm. I just use whatever works, and that has been shea butter. -craftyone

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  8. Agh favourite lip balm... probably the Mint Chocolate one by Bare English - almost finished it which is a rare thing in a balm for me! Love the look of these especially the tinted one. Thanks Caitie (and Victoria) :) x

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  9. Love the Madison Street Beauty and Bubble and Bee lip balms - these Epic Blend ones look great too! Fun giveaway :)

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  10. All natural? Canadian? Lip balm? Be still my heart! I am all about supporting little companies that could. Love their name and I'm so glad you liked them! The coconut sounds super appealing.
    xoxo
    Audrey

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  11. I love too many! I like Acure's, S.W. Basic's, Portland Bee Balm, and the list goes on..

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  12. de mamiel rosey lip balm. I have a healthy amount of lip balms in my stash! x

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