rare beauty review: stay vulnerable glossy lip balm

Sephora used to be one of my favourite places to shop, but in more recent years, my purchases there have been limited. However, since I had some Sephora gift cards in my wallet, the Rare Beauty perfume was added to my collection (read about that perfume and layering balm here) as well as the Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm in the shade Nearly Neutral. 

According to the brand, the Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm is a "hydrating, non-sticky, long-lasting lip gloss that cushions lips all day with soft, nourishing color and shine." It also claims to be "like a lip mask in a gloss." Since many lip glosses out there can be sticky or tacky, the Rare Beauty glossy lip balm seemed like the best of both worlds: shine without stickiness. There were a few different shades to choose from, but Nearly Neutral is the one that caught my eye. It is described as a soft neutral pink. The packaging is fairly simple and straightforward, but the back portion of the product is flat rather than round. This is nice because the Glossy Lip Balm does not roll around on countertops and it is easier to twist off the top thanks to the flat edge. I do like that the user experience is taken into consideration when it comes to the Rare Beauty packaging. 

As the name suggests, this is a nice neutral lip colour, though this is more of a pink-brown than a soft neutral pink. There is definitely more brown that comes through than pink, in my opinion. The colour is pretty and the finish is nice and glossy. When it comes to the comfort level, this is not my favourite. It is a little bit sticky, despite the brand claims, and does not feel hydrating. I have had a positive experience with Rare Beauty products overall, but the Stay Vulnerable Glossy Lip Balm was my first disappointment. I will do my best to use it up, but this is not something that I would purchase again. The packaging is simple but thoughtful and the colour of the lip product is lovely. However, the glossy lip balm doesn't feel hydrating and is not all that comfortable to wear. It is also somewhat sticky despite the brand claim that this is "non-sticky." Ahh well. Now I know!

Have you tried anything from Rare Beauty? What is your favourite neutral lip product?