Skip Nav

Glossier Balm Dotcom Review

The Iconic Glossier Balm Dotcom Just Got a Serious Upgrade

Glossier Balm Dotcom Review

As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

Glossier has recently given the iconic Balm Dotcom a makeover, swapping natural beeswax for a synthetic kind, making the gloss 100 percent vegan. In a bid to be more sustainable, they've also removed petrolatum (which is a by-product of the petroleum industry and non-renewable) and replaced it with castor Jelly — a new cutting-edge, fully renewable, and vegetable-based ingredient.

As well as perfecting the formula, the packaging has a brand new no-touch applicator (perfect for a post-pandemic world). The new tip was so easy to use directly on my lips which I prefer to squeezing it out on my finger before applying.

Read on to see my first impression of the Glossier Balm Dotcom collection and how it compares to the new version.

Some people have chapped lips in the Winter — I have chapped lips year-round. The unwelcome dryness is the one lingering side effect (not counting my blemish-free skin) from my six months on Accutane years ago. It's a small problem to have, but man does it bother me. I have tried dozens of lip products, from traditional balm to medicated ointments. Recently, I even bought a highly rated, specialised lip peel from Amazon. That one worked to temporarily soften my lips, but everything else just seemed to make it dryness worse.

Then I found Glossier Balm Dotcom.

My trendy coworkers had been using Glossier for years, but despite the features on POPSUGAR, I hadn't tried anything from the brand — not the cult favourite Boy Brow, not the Hero Duo that everyone had been raving about, and not the Balm Dotcom that I was certain wouldn't work for my chronically dry lips.

After seeing the product pop up on so many "best of" lists — minty lip products, best balms, chapped lip cures, even best gifts for men — I whipped out my credit card.

You can buy the glosses individually for £11, or a bundle of three for £28. I opted for the trio, frankly because it was too hard to decide between the flavours: Original, Birthday, Rose, Mint, Wild Fig, Lavender, Mango, Berry, and Coconut. Each promised to moisturise, but some had added benefits like a tingling sensation (Mint), a subtle shimmer (Birthday), or a light purple tint (Lavender). I went with Mango, Mint, and Coconut (because I love tasting like a tropical vacation in the Winter).

My package arrived a week later. I ripped the balm out of Glossier's signature pink pouch, slathered it over my parched pucker, and waited. The balm itself is waxy and reminded me of my mum's heavy-duty Mary Kay Extra Emmollient Night Cream. Whereas most products I've tried just sit on my lips and eventually make them even drier, the Balm Dotcom soothed my skin and within minutes, they felt healthier. For once, advertising promises came true for me!

Billed as a "universal skin salve," the balm is multipurpose (meaning you can squeeze some out and put it on your cracking elbows) and deeply hydrates thanks to antioxidants and natural emollients. It's dense and definitely doesn't have a high-gloss finish, so if that's what you're looking for, move along. The shades (especially Cherry) are flattering without screaming "I HAVE LIPSTICK ON," they all taste juicy as hell, and best of all, the product actually works.

I was so happy with the results that I cleared out my balm box, where I'd been hoarding products that kinda, sorta helped my dry lips. After my dog ate the Cherry (devastating true story) and I immediately misplaced the Coconut, I ordered another trio to spread around my car, purse, and bedside table. My lips feel more hydrated overall, and now I just use the balm because I love the dense texture and the flavours. It's great for daily use, and I'll layer it on top of lipstick if I'm feeling fancy.

Fast forward to 2023, there's a new Balm Dotcom formula in town. I couldn't wait to test out the new version and see if it lived up to my love for the original. At first glance, the main difference is the applicator. The new pointed tip makes applying on the go much easier and saves me squeezing it onto my finger before applying.

I didn't notice any big changes in the texture of the gloss but it is ever so slightly thinner. However, this didn't effect the application or longevity of the product.

If you're at the end of your rope looking for something that will actually help your chapped lips, I can't recommend Balm Dotcom more. It's the only product that worked for me, and it might just work for you, too.

Additional reporting by Chloe Dunn

Latest Beauty