Are you someone who buys beauty products for superficial reasons?
Now you may ask me, isn’t all (physical) beauty superficial? Well yes, but that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about buying a beauty product just because you like the packaging.
I’m guilty of just that. When I go grocery shopping with mom, I’ve picked up everything from dijon mustard to pink lemonade just because I’ve really liked the packaging design.
When I first saw Smith’s Rosebud Salve, I was very attracted to the lovely tin with vintage designs. So I read up on it. Rosebud Salve was made in 1892 & the design is not some gimmick but just the result of an almost-constant design through the years. It’s not easily available locally but I managed to order it online without much fuss. I chose to get their ‘three lavish layers’ set (they have another one called three luscious layers, & I’ve had my eyes on that one since a while too 😉). I loved the large rectangular tin that the set comes in.
The three layers that come in the lavish layers set is the original Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Minted Rose lip balm & Strawberry lip balm.
Each tin is 0.8oz (22gms) so that’s rather large. I can definitely attest to the fact that these don’t get over quickly at all.

The original Rosebud Salve. It’s very natural- it just contains essential oils (aromol), cottonseed oil in a petroleum base.
I can tell you one thing though, I know how this product is still being made well over 100 years after it was first introduced – it is amazing! This one is not just a lip balm but can be used elsewhere too like fingers/toes, elbows, etc. wherever you need a little extra moisturising. I thought I was the only one getting really excited after using it so I made my mom try it too. She was actually a little speechless, she did throw around some words like ‘moist, yummy, fragrant’. You have to use it to believe it, yes it’s that good.
Minted Rose seems quite similar to Rosebud Salve. The rose fragrance is common to both, but this one is obviously very minty too. And thanks to the menthol, there’s a wonderfully cool sensation when you apply this one.
Moving onto the Strawberry Lip Balm. One thing I noticed about this is it’s slightly firmer than the other two. While they are bit greasy, this one has a balmy feel (not that that’s bad or anything… just saying!) The fragrance reminds me of a strawberry milkshake, or strawberry cream biscuits.
Now, let’s talk about the fact that they come in tins. Super cute, yeah I know. But what about carrying them around? The tins seal nice & tight so you don’t have to worry about them opening in your purse. But sometimes they can be a little fiddly to open (maybe I just have to get used to them). For the germophobes: they make tube versions of these too! Nifty, no? I will still choose tins over tubes purely for the cuteness factor, but I’m quite the homebody. I know for fact that I would not be comfortable with putting these on my lips when I’m out & about in public , but of course you can use them when you get a restroom. So when I’m going street-shopping or on a photo walk, I know not to carry one of these. Otherwise, no complaints!
✘ You won’t like this if you can’t stand a strong fragrance of rose (I love it!)
Magali