First Impression Review: Naked Sundays Glow Balms
Naked Sundays has officially dropped their long-awaited Glow Balm sticks, and as someone who lives for a multitasking makeup moment, I couldn’t wait to try them.
These balms are designed to hydrate, tint and top up your sun protection in one creamy swipe.
But are they as good as they sound?
I’ve just gotten home from a week away and my skin is dry, a little textured, and there’s an unwelcome friend on my lip you might notice.
Still, I wasn’t about to wait any longer to give these a go.
Image: Swatches and the GlowBalms
Here’s What’s Inside:
100% zinc oxide (mineral) filters to help top up your SPF. Note: These are not a primary sunscreen. They’re a makeup product with bonus protection.
3% peptides at a clinically proven amount that helps support skin texture and elasticity.
Avocado seed, cocoa seed and vitamin E for hydration and antioxidant benefits.
Iron oxides give the GlowBalms their pigment and help protect against visible light. That makes them a smart choice if you’re trying to prevent hyperpigmentation from getting worse.
Texture and Finish
Each GlowBalm has a slightly different level of pigment and shimmer.
They’ve all been designed with multitasking wear in mind, but the finish varies between shades to give you some flexibility based on your mood or makeup style.
Let’s get specific and see some swatches!
Naked Sundays SPF50 GlowBalm Mineral Peptide Stick in “Pink Pop”, $38.00
Shop: Naked Sundays SPF50 GlowBalm Mineral Peptide Stick in “Pink Pop”, $38.00
Pink Pop is a cool-toned pink inspired by the brand’s best-selling Rosé shade.
It has just enough shimmer to give the cheeks a subtle iridescent glow- but nothing too glittery- just that perfect radiant flush.
This shade surprised me by being the top pick in a poll I ran- but I can see why after applying it.
Image: “Pink pop” applied to the apples of my cheeks, layered over shade “bronze”
It’s vibrant but balanced, and works beautifully across a range of skin tones because of the depth in the colour.
I’ve been wearing it layered with the Bronze shade, but I can’t wait to try it solo for a blush only look.
Naked Sundays SPF50 GlowBalm Mineral Peptide Stick in “Dusty Rose”, $38.00
Shop: Naked Sundays SPF50 GlowBalm Mineral Peptide Stick in “Dusty Rose”, $38.00
Dusty Rose is completely shimmer-free and pulls mauve on most skin tones.
The glow comes from the hydrating finish, but it can easily blend in to be a natural flush.
I feel this is the most versatile of the three shades.
On deeper complexions, it softens into a vintage rose hue that looks classic.
For me, it’s the perfect “blonzing” shade.
In this try on, I used it on my lips and paired it with a brown lip liner.
Image: Applying “Dusty rose” on my lips with my fingers
For super pale skin tones? You could use this as a contour or blush, it’ll be lovely.
PS: have you seen the recent trend of using the Revlon lipstick in “smokey rose” as a contour?- this shade is almost identical.
It provides definition without feeling heavy. Wonderful.
Watch my swatch reel here:
Naked Sundays SPF50 GlowBalm Mineral Peptide Stick in “Bronze”, $38.00
Shop: Naked Sundays SPF50 GlowBalm Mineral Peptide Stick in “Bronze”, $38.00
The Bronze shade is the most pigmented and shimmery/pearly of the trio.
Why the extra shimmer and richness?
Likely because of the glowy shimmer through the formula and to be a bit extra blendable for the multitasking nature of this shade.
Image: Applying “Bronze” on my cheeks (unblended!- it bends gorgeous)
That helps make it ideal to swipe over the eyelids, and being 100% mineral filters, you don’t need to worry about travelling or eye sting.
I did use the bronze sparingly at first, but the pigment layers up really well even though it’s a bit creamier.
Watch me apply the GlowBalms here:
Final Thoughts
The GlowBalms aren’t a sunscreen replacement (they’ve never claimed to be), but they are an excellent way to build in additional protection and peptides where you’d already be applying makeup.
The texture, tones and thought behind the formula make them a really smart daily staple.
So far, Dusty Rose is my personal top pick. But honestly, all three have their place depending on the kind of look you’re going for.
Let me know which one you’d try first.
You can shop them as a Glow Balm Trio, $91.00 from nakedsundays.com
