It’s the battle of the lip balm brands: Carmex vs Burt’s Bees vs Blistex vs ChapStick vs eos. Which lip balm is better? I’m casting my vote and it’s going to Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated. It’s an all-inclusive lip balm that moisturizes and protects your lips. Plus, it’s easy to apply, lasts a while and is affordable.
Your lips deserve care too and should never be excluded from your daily grooming routine. I can’t speak on your baby’s behalf but I’m pretty sure no baby wants to be kissed by dry, rough or chapped lips. Lip balm will keep your lips looking and feeling healthy all year round. Pucker up, because I’m going to help you pick the right one.
My Top Picks
- Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated
- Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm
- Blistex Medicated Lip Balm
- ChapStick Lip Balm
- eos Natural & Organic Sphere Lip Balm
Lip Balm 101
I know what you’re thinking: just how hard is it to buy lip balm? In the world of a parent, surely it can’t be anywhere near as hectic as the decisions we are faced with daily such as picking the right baby crib, pack n’ play or when to return to work. Sure, choosing lip balm might not be AS important as making those decisions but it IS still important. The wrong product may leave your lips even drier than they were before. I’ve put together this short guide to help you make the right choice.
First Things First: What is Lip Balm
In a world of lip glosses, sticks, liners, scrubs, and stains it’s totally acceptable to not be 100% sure what lip balm even is. Simply put, lip balm is a waxy substance that is applied topically onto your lips. It serves to moisturize, improve your lips’ appearance, minimize the pain caused by chapped lips and, ultimately, heal the lip tissue.
What is Lip Balm Good For?
Exposure to extreme conditions such as low temperatures, wind, and heat can dry out your lip tissue – causing them to become dry and chapped. Applying lip balm is recommended in such cases. On top of its general ability to moisturize and soothe lips, lip balm is good for treating conditions including:
Things to Look for in a Lip Balm
To make sure you pick the right lip balm, the product needs to tick certain boxes. Those boxes include the following.
Ingredients
Taking some time out to read the ingredients that make up the product is important. Certain ingredients such as Salicylic acid, menthol and peppermint are known culprits that cause further dehydration and irritation to your lips. You can play it safe by buying lip balms that are natural ingredient heavy. Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm and eos Natural & Organic Sphere Lip Balm are made up of organic ingredients.
Packaging or Format
Consider the packaging in which the lip balm comes in. Ideally, you want packaging that combines form and function. Not only should the packaging be designed to preserve the contents but it must also be easy to apply. Burt’s Bees, ChapStick Lip Balm and Blistex Medicated Lip Balm all come in a traditional tube format. Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated and eos come in round containers. From my experience, you want lip balm in a format that is not only easy to apply but easy to finish – with tube lip balms it’s often difficult to completely finish the product.
Texture
The texture of the lip balm determines whether the product allows for smooth application or not. Also, the texture determines how quickly the product will be absorbed into your lips. Carmex Classic and Burt’s Bees have thick consistencies so they’ll stay on your lips for long. Blistex is also designed to glide smoothly over your lips to provide you with full coverage. ChapStick Lip Balm is unlike anything else as it is incredibly thick – which means it’ll leave your lips moisturized for hours without reapplication but it can be difficult to apply. eos has a much thinner consistency so it too can be difficult to apply and doesn’t offer anywhere near as much coverage as the other brands.
Flavor
The beauty of lip balms is that they are available in any flavor you can think of – from Coca Cola flavor to a subtle vanilla flavor and every flavor in between! Simply pick the flavor that appeals to you most. Do you prefer a strong flavor with a heavy scent? Or a subtle flavor with hardly any fragrance? Burt’s Bees 100% Natural is available in four flavors: original beeswax, strawberry, vanilla bean and coconut with pear. eos Natural & Organic comes in tropical mango, apricot, chamomile, strawberry sorbet and sweet mint flavors. Carmex Classic and Blistex Medicated both have subtle scents and no definable flavor – with the former consisting of beeswax and the latter containing cocoa seed butter, menthol, camphor and beeswax. ChapStick is available in green apple and classic original flavors.
Precautions for Using Lip Balm
Lip balm is such a popular product because it is generally considered safe to use. However, there are a few precautions to be aware of when applying lip balm to your lips. For starters, don’t overuse lip balm. The old adage “moderation in all things” rings true here. Using lip balm excessively might end up doing your lips more harm than good and could lead to increased dehydration and increased chipping. You also need to be wary when applying lip balm on cold sores as so many do to relieve itchiness and discomfort. It’s perfectly safe to use lip balms to treat cold sores as long as it contains natural analgesics to avoid further aggravating the condition.
How to Make Lip Balm
In case none of the products I introduce you to today do it for you, all hope is not lost. You can easily whip up your own lip balm using your preferred ingredients that are available at almost all local drug stores. You can use any kind of oil, essential oil or butter that you’d like but I prefer original beeswax lip balms which is made using beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, mica powder and a drop or two of whatever essential oil I have handy. The process is incredibly easy and can make for a fun activity to do with older kids.
- Set a saucepan on the stove on a medium heat.
- Combine beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil and add the ingredients to the saucepan.
- Stir the mixture continuously until it melts before adding a drop of essential oil for fragrance (if desired).
- Add mica powder for color (if desired).
- Pour into your ideal container. I find that empty lip balm tubes or pots work best.
- Cool at room temperature for a few hours, apply, and enjoy!
1. Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated
Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated is designed to soothe, heal and protect dry and chapped lips. The product has a thick consistency so you won’t need to reapply it as frequently as you would with other brands. This lip balm works particularly well if you have cold sores and it keeps your lips soft and moist. You can expect to feel a mild tingling sensation soon after application which many people find soothing. Best of all, it’s one of the most affordable lip balms from my top picks.
2. Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm
Burt’s Bess 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm‘s strength lies in its moisturizing abilities. Made of natural ingredients, this lip balm will leave your lips feeling soft and refreshed. The balm itself also gives off a soothing tingling sensation similar to the Carmex lip balm just discussed. The thick consistency means that you don’t have to continuously reapply the product. It comes in an assortment of delicious smelling and tasting flavors.
3. Blistex Medicated Lip Balm
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm is also known for its moisturizing abilities. It’s designed to lock in moisture to prevent your lips from drying out. The lip balm also protects your lips from sunburn. The smooth balm is easy to apply and offers complete coverage. It has no particular scent but some people swear it smells like sunblock – whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is up to you to decide.
4. ChapStick Lip Balm
People who prefer subtly flavored lip balms will love the ChapStick Lip Balm. The ChapStick brand is so well known that many people refer to lip balm as chapstick! The product is packed with 11 ingredients to form an ultra-hydrating formula, making it the ideal lip moisturizer. It also features SPF-15 so that’s one less thing to worry about. The balm is easy to apply in its more traditional format and stays on your lips for hours.
5. eos Natural & Organic Sphere Lip Balm
I’ll conclude my list with this eos Natural & Organic Sphere Lip Balm that’s not only made up of 100% natural ingredients but smells and tastes delicious. It is specially formulated to seal in moisture and hydrate cracked lips. This certified organic product is totally hypoallergenic and has been derma-tested.
FAQ
What’s the shelf life of lip balm and can you use expired lip balm?
This depends on the brand in question. But for most brands, when unopened, lip balm can last for up to five years and three once opened. Using expired lip balm isn’t advisable as it can worsen any conditions and cause irritation. This is especially true for lip balms comprised of natural ingredients as they tend to “go off” resulting in an unpleasant smell, taste and texture.
What is a medicated lip balm?
Despite its somewhat misleading name, a medicated lip balm has nothing to do with doctors or prescriptions. A medicated lip balm is simply a lip balm that has the ability to restore, repair and protect your lips as opposed to simply moisturizing them.
Conclusion
Different people react differently to lip balm brands. And the one you pick is ultimately a matter of preference. For me, I prefer Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated. I like the ease and convenience of the container and how easy it is to apply the product. I also like that it lasts long so I don’t need to reapply it countless times throughout the day. If you happen to develop cold sores, this lip balm will provide you with relief. You can use it all year round. How’s that for an all-rounder?
Last update on 2024-10-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API