As a beauty product reviewer for over 10 years, I‘ve tested thousands of lip balms, lotions, and shave creams. And eos remains one of my all-time favorite skincare brands – especially for gifting! Their fun, candy-colored spheres never fail to elicit smiles from my friends.
Beyond the obvious aesthetic appeal, eos formulas also deliver major skin hydration and nourishment with clean, thoughtfully-sourced ingredients. Over the past 5+ years, their moisturizing lip balms and shimmering body lotions have been permanent fixtures in my personal beauty routine.
Today I want to share my genuine experience and unfiltered recommendations after half a decade of eos product use spanning dozens of purchases. Consider this your insider guide to getting the most bang (and smoothest skin) for your buck!
An Overview of the eos Brand
Founded in 2009 by Craig Dubitsky and later sold to Jonathan Teller and Sanjiv Mehra in 2014, Evolution of Smooth disrupted a long-stagnant lip care market with their deliciously scented, spherical balms. We all know and love this iconic shape today, but it was a true stroke of genius back then!
The shea, coconut, and antioxidant-rich formula quickly amassed legions of devoted fans including A-listers like Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and Jennifer Lopez.
Beyond lip options, eos now offers four main product lines:
Lip Balms: The hero spherical moisturizers now come in both stick and traditional ball form
Shaving Creams: Creamy, foaming shaving lotions for silky smooth skin
Body Lotions: Fast-absorbing body creams for touchably soft limbs
Hand Creams: Nourishing formulas for noticeably softer hands
Fun fact – over 4 eos lip balms are sold every second globally! This blockbuster brand now ranks second behind Burt‘s Bees in U.S. lip care market share.
But how exactly does eos stack up against competitors when it comes to ingredients, performance, and value? Is it truly worth the minor price premium? Read on for my genuine thoughts!
Putting eos Lip Balms to the Test
I still remember purchasing my very first eos lip balm over 5 years ago after spotting those pastel spheres popping up everywhere on social media. Gotta say, striking packaging aside, I remained skeptical a $4 lip balm could outperform my trusty $1 Chapsticks and Blistex pots. Boy was I wrong!
My lips tend to fall on the chronically dry and flaky side, especially during harsh New York winters. And none of my previous "extra-hydrating” lip balms did much to remedy tight, cracking skin before eos came along.
From day one, that nourishing Shea butter and vitamin E blend delivered measurably smoother texture and longer-lasting relief. I started keeping eos balms stashed everywhere – desk drawers, winter coat pockets, purses. Within a month, I was 100% hooked!
Today I‘ve likely tried every flavor under the eos sun. Let me walk you through my genuine hits, misses, and top lip saving recommendations.
Best eos Lip Balm Flavors
Sweet Mint
My number one eos flavor remains Sweet Mint – it‘s an instant mood (and mouth!) freshener. That frosty rush of peppermint oil tingles my lips in the best possible way while hydrating botanicals get to work reviving dryness and damage. I pop on a layer before big meetings for an instant confidence boost!
Honeysuckle Honeydew
This newest addition with its tropical honeydew nectar fragrance feels instantly transportive (much needed in dreary January!). It glides over effortlessly thanks to smooth, nourishing oils that leave my lips plump and protected for hours on end.
Vanilla Bean
For good reason, Vanilla Bean ranks among eos‘s permanent core flavors – the sweet, creamy formula suits nearly all palates. There’s no distracting tingle or citrus notes, just a subtle and comforting scent. It delivers lightweight yet supremely effective moisturization I can count on day or night.
Skips: Flavors I Don‘t Recommend
Now not every eos flavor has won me over in the past 5 years. Namely:
Strawberry Sorbet – This candy-red sphere promises juicy berry flavor but I mostly get an artificial, almost cloying sweetness. The neon color also stains my lips unnaturally bright after multiple reapplications. Hard pass!
Pomegranate Raspberry – In theory pomegranate and tart raspberry seem like refreshing lip balm scents. Yet when blended together they take on an almost medicinal edge. And the waxy texture glides over lips less smoothly than my other balms.
Cucumber Melon – Don’t get me wrong – I adore cucumber skincare products! But paired with melon, this eos flavor skews too perfume-y and grandma-ish for my preferences. The balm itself works wonderfully though with ace moisturization.
Clearly the eos flavor chemists don’t get it right every single time! But out of the dozens I’ve sampled first-hand, less than a handful fell completely flat. Pretty impressive stats if you ask me.
By the Numbers: eos Reviews & Market Share
I can personally vouch for these cute little spheres breathing new life into chronically dry, unhappy lips. But what do other eos users out there report? And how many feel similarly wowed by performance?
Some key statistics around broader eos lip balm customer feedback:
- 4 out of 5 stars – Average eos reviewer rating on Influenster across 30,000+ reviews
- 82% would recommend – Percent of eos lip balm purchasers who would suggest to friends (Influenster)
- 29% – eos dollar share of total lip care sales as of 2020, second only to Burt’s Bees branded products
- #1 – eos brand ranking for lip care unit sales among young millennials (Nielsen research)
Clearly I’m not the only one eagerly stockpiling these sphere-shaped balms to ward off dryness! Their fun form factor and hydrating heft earn them devotees across demographics.
When it comes to user ratings, eos even manages to edge out leading natural competitors like Burt’s Bees and Aquaphor. Now that‘s impressive market penetration.
How Does the Ingredient List Stack Up?
A mineral oil-free, antioxidant-rich formula free from parabens, petroleum, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances? Sign me up! Those soothing, nourishing ingredients equip eos to repair damage and lock in moisture better than most classic lip balms.
Let’s get nerdy about what exactly makes up the eos magic (I’ll try to spare too much science-y jargon):
Shea Butter – The powerhouse moisturizer clocks in as eos’s second ingredient. Its high fatty acid content offers both immediate and long-term hydration.
Vitamin E – This antioxidant-rich nutrient further bolsters skin barrier protection and longevity of moisture.
Coconut & Olive Oil – Gentle plant-based oils supplement the rich hydrators for instantly softer, smoother lips.
Candelilla Wax – A vegan alternative to beeswax, candelilla forms a protective layer over lips to minimize moisture loss.
I will note eos lip balms do still contain phenoxyethanol as a preservative – this synthetically derived ingredient can provoke reactions in those with severely sensitive skin. Something to flag if you know you react poorly to certain additives.
For the average user though, eos easily outshines classic lip balms with far more skin-nourishing botanicals free from questionable ingredients. Their unique spherical shape makes application fun while the creamy formula inside does the actual heavy moisturizing lifting!
eos Shaving Creams: Smooth Legs for Days!
Beyond just lips, I also swear by eos shaving creams to combat dry, irritated skin from frequent hair removal. Seriously – no more painful razor burn or unsightly ingrown hairs since I switched to their creamy foam 5 years ago!
Out of the multiple scents I’ve tried, my #1 eos shave cream remains the Violet + Jasmine blend. One pump delivers rich, whipped texture infused with oils and butters that allows razors to glide smoothly. My skin laps up all that moisture and feels petal-soft for days post-shaving – never dry or tight.
The floral scent also feels wonderfully feminine and luxe compared to “men’s” shaving creams I used to reluctantly steal from past boyfriends (sorry guys!). And a little goes a long way – one bottle easily lasts me 6 months or more.
For less than $6, no other shave cream compares to eos in terms of skin-soothing, razor-shielding performance. These nourishing creams earn their permanent spot in my shower caddy. Don’t walk, run to the eos site to grab one stat!
eos Body Lotions – Worth the Splurge?
I’ll be upfront: at $10+ dollars for just 8 oz, eos body lotions fall on the pricier side. Understandably so given the all-natural, mostly organic ingredient list packed with botanical oils and butters.
After 30 seconds massaging in the Vanilla Cashmere cream, my skin positively drinks up hydration leaving zero greasy residue behind. I’d estimate moisture lasts a solid 72 hours even through twice daily showers!
So while eos body lotions demand a bit of a splurge, a little goes such a long way. I use pennies worth of product per application. And I feel zero guilt given the ethically-sourced, skin-loving ingredients. These splurges let me treat myself while also treating the planet kindly!
How Does eos Compare to Popular Competitors?
I’d consider five brands eos’s core competitors when it comes to ingredient quality, price point, and packaging innovation specifically:
Burt’s Bees – Leading natural lip care brand carving out 29% market dollar share
Chapstick – OG mass market cylindric lip balm now owned by Pfizer with dozens of variants
Aquaphor – Cult-favorite ointment known for extremely effective yet shiny finish
Vaseline – Unscented petroleum jelly leveraging branding power as protection workhorse
Fresh – Prestige brand offering luxury sugar lip treatments at luxe price points
| Brand | Price Per Oz | Key Ingredients | Hero Products | Packaging Aesthetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eos | $12-$15 | Shea butter, coconut oil, antioxidants | Lip balms, shave creams | Playful, vibrant spheres |
| Burt‘s Bees | $10-$15 | Beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil | Lip balms, lotions | Retro, natural vibe |
| Chapstick | $3-$5 | Petrolatum, dimethicone | Classic lip balm sticks | Clinical, functional |
| Aquaphor | $8-$12 | Mineral oil, glycerin | Healing ointment | Clinical, functional |
| Vaseline | $2-$4 | Petroleum jelly | Jelly jars, lip therapy sticks | Clinical, functional |
| Fresh | $22-$28 | Sugar, oils, plant extracts | Sugar lip treatments | Modern, refined |
eos prices overlap mainstream drugstore options like Chapstick and Vaseline but use far cleaner ingredients. Burt’s Bees formulas compare closely but eos takes a more playful approach with scent options.
And eos costs nearly 50% less than luxury competitors like Fresh while mimicking elegant texture. Bottom line – eos punches well above its accessible $4 per tube weight class when it comes to formula sourcing and performance.
5 Key Reasons Why eos Gets My Glowing Endorsement
After half a decade of eos lip balm, shaving cream, and body lotion usage spanning dozens of tubes and bottles, their place among my top 3 favorite skincare brands remains cemented.
Here’s why eos always wins me over:
Playful Pastel Packaging – Come on, you know you‘ve fallen hard for those candy-colored spheres! eos perfectly blends form and truly hydrating function.
Seriously Smooth Formulas – With soothing shea butter and antioxidant oils, few balms or lotions rival eos skin-nourishing capabilities. Dryness doesn‘t stand a chance.
Yummy Scents – From juicy mango to mood-lifing lavender mint, eos captures entire fruit bowls and flower beds in miniature lip balm form.
Cruelty-Free Ethics – Every eos formula is certified Leaping Bunny cruelty-free. And their sourcing and manufacturing uphold the highest environmental standards.
Actually Affordable – Starting at just $3 per tube, eos goes toe-to-toe with luxury brands at mere fractions of the price. Talk about value!
Yep, five years later I confidently proclaim myself a card-carrying eos evangelist. Have you hopped aboard the eos train yet? Share your favorite products below! I‘m open to convincing when it comes to new flavors. And let me know if you have any other lingering ?s before hitting that Buy Now button.
