SEPHORA COLLECTION Oil Infusion Hydrating Lip Oil Cherry review

Before I begin this review, I want to mention how flawed and dumb the design of the packaging is! It always tips over and knocks everything on my desk onto the floor, creating a huge mess! This happens at least once or twice a week!

Whoever thought it was a great idea to make the base too small, the container too heavy, and the shape too rounded… 🤦🏻‍♀️

Whoever came up with this design needs to be sued!! 😂

The product, on the other hand, is actually good!

I chose the Cherry shade, which is a sheer red. It has a nice, soft scent that doesn't linger, and it gives my lips a subtle glossy tint without being overly sticky. I also really like using it on top of lipstick because it enhances the colour and gives my lips that slightly glossy, polished look.

What surprised me is that, unlike a lot of lip glosses I've used, this one doesn't leave my lips feeling dry after wearing it. It gives me the glossy effect without that uncomfortable, sticky feeling I sometimes get from traditional lip glosses.

The only downside is that the shine doesn't last very long — it disappears pretty much immediately after eating or drinking, so I do find myself reapplying it throughout the day.

A lot of people have compared this to Clarins' Lip Comfort Oil, but having used both, I think they're actually quite different.

Clarins is thicker and feels more substantial on the lips. It's also much more of a self-contained product that I can wear on its own. This one, on the other hand, works really well on top of lipstick. I think of it more as a finishing product that adds a little shine and tint rather than something I would necessarily wear by itself.

The applicator

The applicator is a thin paddle, and it gives me just enough product to cover about half of my lips at a time. I actually really like this because it gives me good control over how much product I use. I never feel like I'm accidentally putting on too much.

Pros:

• Sheer cherry-red tint
• Soft, pleasant scent that doesn't linger
• Adds a subtle glossy finish
• Works really well over lipstick
• Not overly sticky
• Doesn't leave my lips feeling dry
• Paddle applicator gives good control
• Easy to apply without overusing the product

Cons:

• THE PACKAGING. >___<
• The container tips over way too easily
• The small base + heavy, rounded container is a terrible combination
• Not as versatile as Clarins' Lip Comfort Oil
• Sheer colour may not be enough for people looking for a more noticeable tint

I've had quite a few bad experiences with Sephora-branded products, so I'm actually really glad this isn't one of them!

Well… except for that cursed container. 😑

The product itself is good. The packaging, however, is a completely different story. 😂

Score: 8.5/10
Website: https://www.sephora.com/product/oil-infusion-hydrating-lip-oil-dragon-fruit-P518068?country_switch=ca&skuId=2882843&om_mmc=ppc-GG_2024543160_70610901974_pla-420315098113_2882843_354815103824_9000895_c&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=2024543160&gbraid=0AAAAADnIXb3bCW9bDDDCyCKwNIDqBTFpk&gclid=CjwKCAjwhZDUBhBGEiwAbi5bjueJrPyuKnZGDqVIq-vIZ6e7CdaiVkF0Cbslqa5gADNYSlAI9CaGaxoCAXEQAvD_BwE

PÜR Gum Review: Xylitol vs. the Typical Sugar-Free Gum

Unlike in Asia, it is quite hard to find xylitol gum here. I’m not sure why it is that so many of the sugar-free gums I come across in North America use sweeteners like aspartame instead of xylitol.

In Asia, especially in Hong Kong, I’ve noticed that xylitol gum is much more common, and it is often recommended as part of good oral hygiene. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that doesn’t feed cavity-causing bacteria the way regular sugar does, and chewing sugar-free gum also stimulates saliva, which helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids in your mouth. There is evidence that sugar-free gum, including xylitol-sweetened gum, can help reduce cavity risk when used as an addition to regular brushing and flossing.

So, I’ve always wondered why xylitol gum isn’t more popular in North America.

That was until I learned about PÜR Gum.

PÜR is headquartered in Toronto, which made me even more curious about why it can sometimes be so hard to find. Are people just scooping them up, or are they not as popular as I thought? 😂

I bought a pack and honestly, if it weren’t for the xylitol, I probably wouldn’t have liked it very much — especially when there are already so few alternatives.

PÜR Gum is sweetened with 100% xylitol and is completely aspartame-free. The company also says its gum is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial flavours and colours. One interesting detail is that although PÜR is headquartered in Toronto, the gum itself is manufactured in Switzerland.

I tried several different flavours, thinking maybe the short-lasting taste was just a flavour issue (because some flavours of gum naturally seem to lose their flavour faster), but of the few flavours I tried, they all had the same problem.

PÜR Gum doesn't last very long.

It usually starts losing its flavour at around the 10-minute mark, and by about 25–30 minutes, the gum starts to disintegrate. I usually spit it out at the 30-minute mark because it loses its chewiness and just doesn't feel like gum anymore.

This isn't exactly a cheap gum either. Compared to some of the other brands, it falls somewhere in the middle:

• Excel sugar-free gum: $6.69 for 60 pieces — $0.11/piece
• 5 Gum sugar-free gum: $2.99 for 15 pieces — $0.20/piece
• Mentos sugar-free gum: $3.98 for 50 pieces — $0.08/piece
• PÜR Gum sugar-free gum: $5.49 for 40 pieces — $0.14/piece

(Prices based on what I paid/observed and may vary by store.)

My biggest issue

For me, the biggest problem isn't the flavour itself — it's the fact that the flavour and texture don't last very long.

I actually like the idea of PÜR Gum quite a lot. I like that it uses 100% xylitol, and I like having a sugar-free gum option that doesn't rely on aspartame. But when I compare the actual chewing experience to other gums, I find myself disappointed by how quickly it loses its flavour and chewiness.

Conclusion

I really wanted to love PÜR Gum because it checks so many boxes for me: xylitol, sugar-free, aspartame-free, and made with ingredients I feel more comfortable chewing regularly. Unfortunately, the actual gum experience just isn't quite there for me.

If you're specifically looking for a xylitol gum, PÜR is definitely worth trying because there aren't that many options available. But if you're judging it purely on flavour longevity and chewing experience, there are other gums that I enjoy much more.

So, for now, I'll keep looking for that perfect xylitol gum — one that gives me the oral-health benefits I'm looking for and actually lasts long enough for me to enjoy it. 😅

Score: 6.5/10
Website: https://thepurcompany.com/