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Dr. PAWPAW Shimmer Balm
Dr. PAWPAW

Dr. PAWPAW Shimmer Balm

Efficacy75/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Ricinus communis seed oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil + 2 more
Works
What the product description says
“Add a touch of shimmer to your lips with Dr. PAWPAW’s nourishing balm.”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: helianthus annuus seed oil, ricinus communis seed oil.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

Ricinus communis seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency~25–38%
Helianthus annuus seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function~4.7–7.1%
Olea europaea fruit oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation~2.1–3.2%
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin~1.4–2.1%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Carica papaya fruit extract, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract
Medium risk
We flagged 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Carica papaya fruit extract—High~1.1–1.6%est.
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractCan be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritatingHigh~0.4–0.9%est.
Ricinus communis seed oilA plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistencyMedium~25–38%est.
Olea europaea fruit oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammationMedium~2.1–3.2%est.
Aloe barbadensis leaf extractTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skinMedium~1.4–2.1%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Ricinus communis seed oil~25–38%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-inflammatory

A plant oil that can help soften the skin. It might be helpful in calming down inflammation, but solid research is lacking. Is often used in lip products to create the needed product consistency

More about Ricinus communis seed oil
Hydroxystearic acid~9.2–13.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Hydroxystearic acid
Helianthus annuus seed oil~4.7–7.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Euphorbia cerifera wax~3.9–5.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Euphorbia cerifera wax
Calcium aluminum borosilicate~2.4–3.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to thickenthe product consistency

More about Calcium aluminum borosilicate
Olea europaea fruit oil~2.1–3.2%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation

More about Olea europaea fruit oil
Carica papaya fruit extract~1.1–1.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
More about Carica papaya fruit extract
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract~1.4–2.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

More about Aloe barbadensis leaf extract
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract~0.4–0.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemishAnti-oxidationAntibacterial

Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating

More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract
Tin oxide~0.55–1.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation

More about Tin oxide
Titanium dioxide~0.15–0.55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

More about Titanium dioxide
Ingredient list view

Ricinus communis seed oil, Hydroxystearic acid, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Euphorbia cerifera wax, Calcium aluminum borosilicate, Olea europaea fruit oil, Carica papaya fruit extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Tin oxide, Titanium dioxide

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Amazon USPrice as of 11/12 15:27 GMT
$8.67
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
Dr. PAWPAWShimmer BalmYOUR PRODUCTDoréLe BaumeSaint CosmeticsVelvet Lip CreamRÓENElixir Tinted Lip Oil Balm - Scarlet
Match—38%37%37%
Price$8.67$13.46+$4.79——
Shared key ingredients—2 of 42 of 42 of 4
Key difference—Cera AlbaCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideAgran Oil
Irritancy Medium Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Final report on the safety assessment of Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate SE, Ricinoleic Acid, Potassium Ricinoleate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Ethyl Ricinoleate, Glycol Ricinoleate, Isopropyl Ricinoleate, Methyl Ricinoleate, and Octyldodecyl Ricinoleatencbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Castor Oil: Properties, Uses, and Optimization of Processing Parameters in Commercial Productionncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Effect of ricinoleic acid in acute and subchronic experimental models of inflammationncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Careonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  5. 5
    Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egyptjournals.lww.com
  6. 6
    Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
Dr. PAWPAW Shimmer Balm
Dr. PAWPAWShimmer Balm
Buy on Amazon$8.67 · as of 11/12 15:27 GMT

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy on Amazon$8.67 · as of 11/12 15:27 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.