Ethique

Ethique Pepped Up Nourishing Lip Balm

Name: Ethique - Pepped Up Nourishing Lip Balm
Brand: Ethique

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh

See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing

Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Euphorbia cerifera cera + 6 more

Works

What the product description says

“Pepped Up™ Nourishing Lip Balm”

Source: Ethique

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, cocos nucifera 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).

Caprylic/capric triglycerideKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~23–34%

Euphorbia cerifera ceraKey activeEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and thickens the product's texture~8.3–12.5%

Cocos nucifera oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~3.8–5.7%

Simmondsia chinensis seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.~2.9–4.3%

Theobroma cacao seed butterKey active· EmollientEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect~2.2–3.3%

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~1.8–2.7%

Stearic acid· EmollientEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient~3.7–5.5%

Moringa oleifera seed oil· EmollientEffect: LowA plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid~1.3–2%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

3 strong irritants: Mentha piperita oil, Linalool + 1 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Mentha piperita oilUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.35–0.85%est.

LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.45%est.

LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.1–0.4%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~23–34%est.

Euphorbia cerifera ceraHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and thickens the product's textureMedium~8.3–12.5%est.

Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.Medium~2.9–4.3%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~1.8–2.7%est.

Moringa oleifera seed oilA plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acidMedium~1.3–2%est.

Comedogenic

2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

2 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~3.8–5.7%est.

Theobroma cacao seed butterHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect3/5~2.2–3.3%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Caprylic/capric triglyceride~23–34%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride

Euphorbia cerifera cera~8.3–12.5%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and thickens the product's texture

More about Euphorbia cerifera cera

Stearic acid~3.7–5.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient

More about Stearic acid

Cocos nucifera oil~3.8–5.7%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil

Simmondsia chinensis seed oil~2.9–4.3%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.

More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oil

Theobroma cacao seed butter~2.2–3.3%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-dandruff

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect

More about Theobroma cacao seed butter

Ricinus communis seed oil~1.8–2.7%

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

Moringa oleifera seed oil~1.3–2%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid

More about Moringa oleifera seed oil

Mentha piperita oil~0.35–0.85%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha piperita oil

Linalool~0.1–0.45%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool

Limonene~0.1–0.4%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene

Ingredient list view

Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Euphorbia cerifera cera, Stearic acid, Cocos nucifera oil, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Ricinus communis seed oil, Moringa oleifera seed oil, Mentha piperita oil, Linalool, Limonene

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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
	EthiquePepped Up Nourishing Lip BalmYOUR PRODUCT	HurrawAlmond Lip Balm	The Jojoba CompanyJojoba Lip Balm	evolutionofsmoothWatermelon Frosé Stick and Sphere Lip Balm
Match	—	44%	43%	41%
Price	—	$5.00	$6.75	—
Shared key ingredients	—	5 of 6	4 of 6	4 of 6
Key difference	—	Sunflower Seed Oil	Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil	Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2
Irritancy	High	Medium	Low	Medium
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

EthiquePepped Up Nourishing Lip Balm

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