I'll admit, I had no idea what to expect from this or what it was for. I thought it was a full polish, but it's really not. I just wanted to buff up my shoes a little, but this really makes them look pretty new. It applies a soft shine that doesn't look "polished" but just takes away a lot of the worn look of them. I wear my Dr. Martens pretty much every day, at two different jobs, and also used one pair for a trek in Europe. I definitely wanted them to look a little more clean and professional, but I use them for their great function of protection and style as well. This balm is superb.