Beauty Finds: Dr Paw Paw Original Balm Review

Welcome to another Beauty Finds! This edition is Dr Paw Paw Original Balm Multipurpose Soothing Balm With Natural PawPaw. 

First up some clarification. I got this confused with the Australian version of this balm. I’d heard a lot about Lucas Pawpaw Ointment, an Aussie cult classic and all sense of it’s plastic don’t get it went out of my head seeing it in Urban Outfitters. I wanted to try it! The ingredients are good, clean, natural. I finally get to try a cult classic! Skip a paragraph for the review or read on for my beauty finds requirements. 

I have a few requirements when it comes to beauty products: cruelty free, natural, clean, vegan better. I do my best to avoid nasty ingredients such as SLSs, parabens, PEGs, silicones, etc. Petrochemicals are the sneakiest with so many derivatives and aliases. I also avoid palm oil and it’s derivatives as I prefer orangutans. Coconut oil marketed as the good oil I’m also cutting down on as it can be just a damaging crop as palm oil. If I do get products containing palm or coconut oil I try to get organic or sustainably sourced. With make up it’s a little harder so I go for cruelty free brands. I prefer products with less plastic and thankfully more brands are aware consumers don’t want unnecessary plastic (or governments are telling them less plastic). My skin type’s oily sensitive, acne prone and now wrinkles. I know nothing stops those lines, but if I can delay them then….

Dr Paw Paw Original Balm Multipurpose Soothing Balm With Natural PawPaw

Dr Paw Paw the ultimate miracle balm, providing moisture to lips, skin and hair. This fragrance free multipurpose balm contains natural, hydrating and calming properties that work to smooth, soothe and provide relief. 

Ingredients! All natural, vegan and clean!

Okay, this isn’t the Aussie version. It does contain papaya or paw paw but that’s as far as the comparison goes. Both are in the same style tube, have a very similar name so it’s easy to mistake one for each other. Sneaky on Dr Paw Paw. This is the British version, a completely different company which after seeing if it was the Aussie one, I’m glad it isn’t. Lucas Paw Paw contain petroleum and that’s a big no for me. It also explains why it’s a big hit as petroleum will make any skin smooth and soothed. I don’t do petroleum derived products.

To be honest I haven’t used it for anything other than lips. I just don’t like the idea of using a balm that’s been on my lip on minor skin conditions. It just doesn’t feel hygienic. 

It’s many uses

Dr Paw Paw Original Balm’s fragrance free, colour free clear, not sticky on lips and neither is it sticky on skin for those minor skin conditions. Trying it on my back of my hand I can see it would be good for ezcema as it’s not oily, sticky. My next flare up if I remember, I’ll try it out. However on lips it just doesn’t seem to do anything. I can feel it’s on, but unlike Honest Beauty Gloss – C lip gloss, it doesn’t provide long lasting wear. I would say it’s more a gloss than a balm. It does hydrate a bit, mainly just sitting my lips not doing anything. I have to reapply frequently and despite the tube being bright yellow I can never find it in my rucksack front pocket! I think I got the defective one for lips that didn’t win 20 awards. 

Please excuse the blurry photo. The price sticker just covers Made in Great Britain which if you didn’t know any better would think it’s the Aussie version

I like the applicator. It’s angled to get better application when squeezing the tube and you can control how much comes out. A lot of thought has gone into the ergonomics of it. Due to the angle it doesn’t go all around your mouth unlike how some lip glosses can. That’s the one thing I don’t like much as in Honest Beauty’s Gloss-C lip gloss. That can go everywhere! 

The applicator I do like!

Thanks to it’s lightweight formula and non stickiness a little try it out writing this, it’s great for taming flyaways and unruly brows without being too heavy or oily. Again though I don’t like the idea of using it on my lips and brows! 

It’s good value for money, €5 for 10ml and lasts quite a while. The packaging as mentioned in sanity left the building introduce is plastic which I like to avoid if possible. The carton is cardboard. I just don’t think for me it’ll be a repeat buy due to that it’s not long lasting enough for me as lip balm/gloss. I will however have it in my bag as back up and if I’m unable to get Honest Beauty Lip Glossy-C lip gloss. Would I recommend? I’m in the minority here. In a pinch yes, but I’d look for better versions if you want to use it as a lip balm.

Do you prefer lip balm, lip gloss or a combo of both? Please share in the comments below. Thank you for stopping by! 

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