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Ariana Grande is the founder of r.e.m. beauty, and on Nov. 7, 2026, a promotional Instagram Reel for the brand featured a lip-product guessing game that circulated widely over the weekend. This guide skips the gossip and focuses on the products: what the video confirmed, what the brand says about Glossy Balm, how it differs from Blur Butter, and where drugstore shine alternatives fit. This guide is researched from published reports and the brand’s own pages, not hands-on wear tests.
Quick answer
- The video is a marketing piece for Grande’s own brand, not an independent review.
- Glossy Balm is the only product named for the first round (E! News, People, TMZ).
- Blur Butter is named as what the first product was not. It is a soft-matte balm, not a gloss.
- Holiday Mélange was teased as unreleased. We found no public listing, so there is nothing to shop yet.
- Drugstore options such as NYX and e.l.f. give a glossy look, but their formulas differ and none is a dupe of a specific r.e.m. shade.
What’s confirmed (and what isn’t)
Three outlets covered the video on Nov. 7, and the brand’s product pages supply the product details.
| Claim | Status | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| A Nov. 7 Instagram Reel promoting r.e.m. beauty used a “What’s on my lips?” challenge with Ricky Alvarez | Confirmed | E! News, People, TMZ (Nov. 7, 2026) |
| Glossy Balm was correctly identified in the first round | Confirmed | E! News, People, TMZ (Nov. 7, 2026) |
| Blur Butter was named as what the first product was not | Confirmed | E! News, People (Nov. 7, 2026) |
| Two further rounds were guessed correctly | Confirmed that they happened; product names not confirmed | E! News, People (Nov. 7, 2026) |
| A bonus-round product called Holiday Mélange, described as not out yet | Confirmed as what was said on camera; no public listing, price, formula or shade confirmed | E! News (Nov. 7, 2026) |
| Products are “made in Italy” | Reported by E! as a remark in the video; manufacturing not independently verified | E! News (Nov. 7, 2026) |
| Glossy Balm list price $20 and brand formula claims | Confirmed on the brand site | rembeauty.com (checked Nov. 7, 2026 ET) |
| Blur Butter list price $24; waitlist on the brand site | Confirmed on the brand site | rembeauty.com (checked Nov. 7, 2026 ET) |
| The exact shade Grande wore | Not confirmed | Not stated in any source |
| Whether a given Amazon listing is an authorized r.e.m. beauty seller | Not verified | Check seller, condition and expiry yourself |
What the Nov. 7 video actually showed
According to E! News and People, Grande opens the Reel by saying, “This is a challenge called, ‘What’s on my lips?'” Alvarez, with a beanie over his eyes, replies, “Or what’s on my girlfriend’s lips, really.” In the first round he says, “That’s not Blur Butter,” then names Glossy Balm, and Grande tells him he is right. People also reports that she started by applying Glossy Balm.
He then guesses two more rounds correctly, but neither E! nor People names those products. In a bonus round he guesses “Holiday Mélange” and adds, “I don’t think that one’s out yet.” E! reports that he remarked the products are made in Italy, and that Grande highlighted the comment. People says the Reel ran on the brand’s Instagram; TMZ credits @arianagrande, so we are not linking one post. His spicy-ramen and “tingle” remarks are on-camera comments, not product claims.
Essential Drip Glossy Balm: what the brand says
On rembeauty.com, the Essential Drip Glossy Balm is listed at $20 (checked Nov. 7, 2026 ET). Every claim below comes from the brand, not from our own use.
- What it is: “a nourishing lip treatment that doubles as a high-shine tinted gloss.”
- Formula claims: hyaluronic acid and super-fruit antioxidants; the brand also calls it non-sticky, with a subtle vanilla scent.
- Applicator: a double-sided wand, with a paddle side for even application and a contoured side for the lip line.
- Color and wear: a sheer tint across 10 shades, meant to be reapplied through the day.
- Not a plumper: the brand FAQ says it is not a lip plumper and points to a separate plumping gloss collection.
The brand also says it improves lip texture and strengthens the skin’s barrier. Treat that as marketing language. Customer ratings on the brand page are high, but they are not a substitute for seeing how a formula feels on your own lips.
How it differs from Blur Butter
The two have different finishes, which is why Alvarez could tell them apart on camera. The r.e.m. beauty Blur Butter Lip Balm is described by the brand as a lip balm first, with a “soft-focus, lightweight matte finish” and “not a high-shine gloss finish.”
- Finish: Glossy Balm is high-shine and sheer. Blur Butter is soft-matte and buildable.
- List price: $20 for Glossy Balm and $24 for Blur Butter on rembeauty.com (checked Nov. 7, 2026 ET).
- Availability: at our check, the Blur Butter page showed “notify me when back in stock.” Stock changes, so look again before planning around it.
- Shades: the brand FAQ names Cherry Cola and Ciao Cacao for warm everyday tones, Pinkies Up and Dusty Pink for a soft flush, and Ruby Red and Velvet Wine for bolder color.
- Brand study: the brand cites a 37-person independent study for Blur Butter. Read it as a small, brand-reported result, not proof.
If you want shine, Glossy Balm is the product the video confirmed. If you prefer a blurred finish, Blur Butter is the brand’s matte option, though published reviews of it are mixed.
How to shop the lip products
The simplest route is the brand’s own site, where the full shade range and current stock appear. Amazon listings can be convenient, and we link several below. At our Nov. 8, 2026 check those four Glossy Balm pages showed as sold by r.e.m. beauty and shipped by Amazon, but sellers can change, so confirm the seller, condition and expiry at checkout.
Do not go looking for Holiday Mélange yet. It was described as unreleased in the video, and we found no listing, price or shade for it in the sources we checked. Any page claiming otherwise is unconfirmed. Because Blur Butter showed a waitlist at our check, we link only the official page for it and have no Amazon button.
Drugstore shine alternatives
If you want a glossy lip for less, two widely sold lip oils are worth a look: NYX Professional Makeup Fat Oil Lip Drip and e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil. Their formulas, textures and shade ranges differ from Glossy Balm, so they are finish alternatives, not dupes of a specific r.e.m. shade.
The products
These four Glossy Balm shades appear on Amazon listings. None is confirmed as the shade Grande wore.
Skinny Dipped is one Essential Drip Glossy Balm shade listed on Amazon.
r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Skinny Dipped
Check price on Amazon
Cherry Cola shares its name with a Blur Butter shade, so confirm you are buying the glossy balm.
r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Cherry Cola
Check price on Amazon
Cosmo is another named Glossy Balm shade on Amazon.
r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Cosmo
Check price on Amazon
Juicebox rounds out the four shades we found listed.
r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Juicebox
Check price on Amazon
A drugstore lip oil with a glossy finish; the formula differs from r.e.m. beauty.
NYX Professional Makeup Fat Oil Lip Drip
Check price on Amazon
A second drugstore lip oil option, also a different formula.
e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil
Check price on Amazon
| Product | Finish | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Skinny Dipped | High-shine, sheer tint (brand) | Glossy, light color | View on Amazon |
| r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Cherry Cola | High-shine, sheer tint (brand) | Glossy, light color | View on Amazon |
| r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Cosmo | High-shine, sheer tint (brand) | Glossy, light color | View on Amazon |
| r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm — Juicebox | High-shine, sheer tint (brand) | Glossy, light color | View on Amazon |
| r.e.m. beauty Blur Butter Lip Balm | Soft-matte, blurred (brand) | A cushiony, non-glossy finish | Brand site |
| NYX Professional Makeup Fat Oil Lip Drip | Glossy lip oil | Drugstore shine | View on Amazon |
| e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil | Glossy lip oil | Drugstore shine | View on Amazon |
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- KATSEYE’s Megan, Rare Beauty and Warby Parker
FAQ
Is the video a paid or promotional piece?
It is promotional. Grande is the founder of r.e.m. beauty, and E! News and People describe the Reel as promoting her brand’s lip products. It is marketing content, not an independent review.
Which product was confirmed?
Glossy Balm, for the first round, per E! News, People and TMZ. The two later rounds were guessed correctly, but the sources do not name those products.
Is Holiday Mélange out yet?
Not as far as we can tell. Alvarez said, “I don’t think that one’s out yet,” and we found no listing in the sources we checked. We will not guess at a price or shade.
Is Glossy Balm the same as Blur Butter?
No. The brand describes Glossy Balm as a high-shine tinted gloss and Blur Butter as a soft-matte balm. They are priced differently on the brand site too: $20 and $24 respectively.
Does Opeau sell r.e.m. beauty?
No. Opeau does not sell products and has no relationship with Ariana Grande, Ricky Alvarez or r.e.m. beauty.
Sources
- E! News, Paige Catton, Nov. 7, 2026
- People (via AOL), Desiree Anello, Nov. 7, 2026
- TMZ Staff, Nov. 7, 2026
- r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm, checked Nov. 7, 2026 ET
- r.e.m. beauty Blur Butter Lip Balm, checked Nov. 7, 2026 ET
Last updated: November 8, 2026. Written by the Opeau team, published by GENAZ PTE. LTD., Singapore. Product availability changes; check the retailer before you buy.