Looking for a multi-purpose product that works as blush, lipstick, and even eyeshadow? Why not give a lip and cheek balm a try?
CHANEL’s N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm has been popular in the world of luxury makeup for its versatility and nourishing formula, but now it seems like it has some competition!
Amuse has introduced their Lip & Cheek Healthy Balm, featuring two delightful fruit-inspired shades in each product. It’s much more affordable and promises similar results to the CHANEL balm, but is it truly a dupe?
Our senior social media designer, Swee Qi, put these balms to the test, so keep reading to check out her comparison and overall thoughts!
The Products
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The red camellia, a key ingredient in CHANEL’s skincare, makeup, and fragrances, is featured in their nourishing balm. This ingredient not only combats premature signs of aging, but also visibly refines pores, restores skin elasticity, and provides hydration.
In contrast, the Amuse balm offers a unique twist on the classic balm, with two colors in each product. One side has a smooth cream texture, while the other side features a glossy balm formula. This allows you to mix and match the colors according to your preference.
Plus, the Amuse balms tend to contain a lighter and darker shade, enabling you to create a variety of makeup looks. Each delightful shade is inspired by different fruits, giving a refreshing effect.
The Shade Range
Credits: @chanel.beauty/Instagram
CHANEL presents a wide range of options, with nine different shades to choose from. You can opt for neutral tones like Lively Rosewood and Healthy Pink for a natural, no-makeup appearance.
If you prefer a bolder look, CHANEL also offers vibrant corals and reds such as Red Camellia and Vibrant Coral. And for those seeking something truly distinctive, there’s Purple Energy, a shade reminiscent of grapes.
Amuse provides a variety of shades, with the option to use each color individually or mix them together thanks to its two-sided design. This versatility allows for a wider range of shades overall!
Amuse includes shades like 01 Boksoonga Balm, a peachy color, and 02 Mango Balm, which offers corals and oranges.
03 Strawberry Balm is a unique mix, featuring a pale lilac shade perfect for adding a touch of brightness to your complexion.
For our test, we used shade Ardent Brick for CHANEL, and shade 05 Fig Balm for Amuse.
The Formula
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The CHANEL balm has a creamy texture that glides on smoothly, perfect for both lips and cheeks.
Meanwhile, the Amuse balm offers a glossy finish on one side and a creamy texture on the other, reminiscent of the CHANEL formula.
Applying both balms is a breeze, but the Amuse balm feels even smoother on the skin and blends out effortlessly.
Credits: @dailyvanity/Tiktok
Both balms offer long-lasting wear and rich pigmentation, providing a beautiful burst of color with a dewy look. Still, we found that the Amuse balm was slightly more glowy!
The nourishing properties of the CHANEL balm were evident upon application to the cheeks, but unfortunately, this effect seemed to diminish over time.
Plus, we observed that the CHANEL balm tended to slightly dry out the lips after a few hours of wear, a problem that was not present with the Amuse balm.
The Price
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Being a luxury makeup product, the CHANEL balm costs RM205 (6.5g) on the CHANEL website. On the other hand, the Amuse balm retails for RM75 (3g) at Sephora.
The CHANEL balm contains more product, but the Amuse balm’s dual shades make up for this difference by adding a touch of variety to your makeup routine.
In our opinion, the CHANEL balm didn’t quite stand out enough to justify its higher price, and seemed more like an average lip and cheek balm.
If you’re all about indulging in luxury makeup, then splurging on the CHANEL balm might be worth it. But if you’re on a budget and looking to save some money, the Amuse balm will definitely do the trick.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Amuse balm is a great alternative to the CHANEL balm!
Both balms give a nice touch of color for a more natural makeup style, but ultimately, we found that Amuse’s formula and texture outshone CHANEL’s.
If you want a multi-purpose product for your lips and cheeks that won’t cost a fortune, we’d definitely suggest giving Amuse a try.
@dailyvanity Dupe alert: Chanel Lip & Cheek Balm faces off against Amuse Lip & Cheek Healthy Balm.🔥 Are we witnessing the ultimate lip & cheek balm dupe? See what they look like on both sides of the face and share your verdict!✨ #chanellipandcheekbalm #amuselipandcheekhealthybalm #beauty #makeupdupe #cheeks #lips
Featured image credits: @dailyvanity/Tiktok.
