[affiliatelink] A good friend, knowing my love of Japanese beauty products and my love of lip balms, found the perfect gift for me while she was over in Tokyo. I don’t know what it is about Japanese balms but they’re just the best in the world as far as I’m concerned.
D Program is a Shiseido owned company and one I’d never heard of before now. It doesn’t seem to be quite as pricey as Shiseido products (who also make stellar lip balms) and although it’s proving difficult to find any information about D Program in general I ‘think’ one of its USPs is more natural formulas across the brand.
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The D Program Lip Moist Essence is clear and gives a sheen to the lips – it’s super, super comfortable, very softening and a good over-nighter as a lip mask. There is a plumping element to it (not so I’d notice, to be honest) but I’m working from such odd translations (“vertical wrinkles are not conspicuous, lipstick glue is up”) that it’s best to go on my gut feel rather than what I’m reading! It’s a gentle formula for sure – my lips react horribly to a lot of balms and I’ve yet to drill down which common ingredient is the culprit) I’m usually left with just the really expensive ones (By Terry and Sisley) and Lanolips as my choice in this country. Balms that I bought in Japan when I was there a couple of years ago, even though they are global brands, don’t give the same reaction. So, what are they leaving out in Japan that they don’t leave out elsewhere? That’s the big question!
Anyway, I did track the very last one in stock down to Yes Style (HERE) and it looks a little different to mine in that the packaging is pink. It’s £16.
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
10 comments
Have you tried reve de miel by nuxe? It has resurrected my lips.
Yes I have.. I forgot about that actually – you’re right, it’s very good x
I would love to know what’s in them too as I have the same problem in that I’m addicted to lip balm but find a lot dry my lips. I’ve heard that the healing balm by cerave whilst not a lip balm is supposed to be good so I’m going to try and get some, not sure it’s available in this country
Can you get Lanolips? Try that first. x
I find the same. If my lips are dry I prefer to use moisturiser on my lips and just put up with the taste. You may be sensitive or even allergic to some of the ingredients in a lip balm eg. propolis, lanolin, camphor,menthol etc. Also humectants on their own just draw the water out, there needs to be an occlusive ingredient as well to stop the water evaporating and making your lips drier.
Hi Jane, I’m heading to Japan next week with my mum & gran. Any other must buy (fairly budget) products to pick up? If you have blog post on this already please feel free to push me in that direction!
I do have a couple of Japan posts of things I bought but mainly what I like the most – ironically – are the tiny Vaseline pots and the Nivea Rich Care & Colour Sticks. I gave the Vaseline pots out as gifts and use the Nivea balms sparingly with no adverse effects. Do search ‘Japan’ in the search box and my posts will pop up. Hope you have a lovely time!
Thanks so much for the recommendations 🙂
d program is Shiseido’s sensitive skin line. The products don’t have fragrance. My lips (and the skin around them) react badly to many lip balms. However, I can use d program lip moist essence, Bioderma Atoderm lip balm, Haba lip serum (another excellent Japanese brand that isn’t well known but is good for sensitive skin).
The Lip Moist Essence’s ingredients are: Stearyl glycyrrhetinate *, sodium hyaluronate (2), erythritol, rice germ oil, concentrated glycerin, heavy liquid isoparaffin, glyceryl tri 2-ethylhexanoate, alkyl polyacrylate, dextrin palmitate, tetra 2-ethylhexanoate pentahydrate Erythritol, methylphenylpolysiloxane, 1,3-butylene glycol, synthetic sodium / magnesium silicate, purified water, polyoxyethylene / methylpolysiloxane copolymer, d-δ-tocopherol, silicone resin, coffee extract .
I suspect many lip balms use a lot of fragrance.
Thank you so much – that’s really helpful!