DVG declares…My lips have been chapped and dry – which causes me to do the worst thing for them: I 
unconsciously bite at them when they are chapped. I have tried several lip balms and is it possible that they can cause my lips to dry out more than moisturize them? I’ve tried these: Nivea Moisture and Burt’s Bee’s balm in a tin. Both drying.
Can you help me find one that is truly moisturizing? Thank you!
Left Brain’s Lippy Reply
Lip balm is an individual thing. One type may work for one person but not for you. I personally love Carmex Lip Balm. During winter, I can’t get enough!
But on to your question. Perhaps if we look at the ingredients of ones you tried, we can figure out what is going on and steer you towards another type that might give you better results.
Common Lip Balm ingredients?
First, you should ask yourself which ingredients are common. Maybe the effect is caused by a common ingredient. The only common ingredient between the Burt’s Bees and Nivea formulas is Beeswax, and Nivea doesn’t contain much. So, it’s not likely that a single ingredient is responsible for your dryness. More 
likely it is one of the oils (peppermint oil) in Burt’s Bees and something from the fragrance in the Nivea.
Since a common ingredient doesn’t solve the mystery, it’s best to try different types of lip balm. Right Brain had previously written about the 6 different types of lip balm. Let’s see which kinds you tried.
Lip Balm type
The Nivea Moisture Lip Balm is based on Microcrystalline Wax. It contains a variety of other ingredients to make it feel nicer, spread more easily and taste better.
Microcrystalline Wax, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetyl Palmitate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyglyceryl 3 Diisostearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Coco Glycerides, Pentaerithrityl Tetraisostearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), C20 40 Alkyl Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera (Camauba) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Panthenol, Beeswax, Water, Fragrance
Since this didn’t work for you, other Microcrystalline wax formulas may not work. If it’s the fragrance or one of the natural oils, then you might try Neutrogena lip balm.
The Burt’s Bees balm contains the ingredients following ingredients
Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Sweet Almond Oil, Peppermint Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Lanolin, Comfrey Root Extract, Rosemary Extract
You are most likely reacting negatively to the Peppermint Oil. So, some alternative beeswax based product 
you can try is Aveeno Lip conditioner. But if beeswax is the problem, you might consider the following two options.
1. Petrolatum based balm
One thing missing from both of the balms you tried was one of the best moisturizing ingredients on the planet, Petrolatum. To soothe your sore puckering projectors, try Vaseline Lip Therapy.
2. Petrolatum Plus
If the taste or feel of Vaseline doesn’t suit you, try my favorite Carmex Lip Balm. It is based on a Petrolatum / Lanolin blend.
Either of these options should help with your problem.
Addicted to Lip Balm
You may be interested in this post we did on lip balm addiction to see why your lips dry out when you apply lip balm. It turns out the immediate moisturizing effect sends a signal to your skin to stop producing fresh skin cells which results in drier lips once the lip balm wears off. The whole thing could actually lead to a psychological addiction.
Beauty Brains bottom line
Which lip balm you should use is not a question that has a single answer. Only through trial and error will you be able to tell which one works for you, doesn’t dry out your lips and tastes right. Just pick ones that have different ingredients until you find what works. I love Carmex but Sarah hates the stuff!
What kind of lip balm do you like and why? Leave a comment and let the Beauty Brains community know.
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I had severely dry and cracked lips that would bleed all the time. After years of trying tons of products with no success, I tried the blue tube Chapstick – Chapstick Moisturizer, and I am cured of dry lips (the squeeze tube version doesn’t work as well). Its ingredients are different than regular Chapstick. I get worried they will discontinue it some day:(
Wait, you like a lip balm which contains menthol, camphor and phenol?!
Hello! Yes, coconut oil is perfect for lip balms. Everybody knows how impressive virgin coconut oil (VCO) is for taking care of our skin, and that includes our all-important lips of course.
Just my two cents.
Cheers,
CoconutOilGuy
http://www.coconut-oil-central.com
Your Drugstore in a Bottle
@patientia – yeah, love it! Is that wrong?
I am devoted to Kiehl’s. It has no scent or flavor. I buy tubes in bulk and hand them out to people who complain about needing lip balm. They should be paying me commission for the number of people I have hooked.
My favorites are
Kiss My Face – beeswax based, but no peppermint oil
Chap Stick Naturals – the avocado one is nice
Nuxe – extremely moisturizing and long-lasting, not widely available in the US, and still comes in a glass tub, which is problematic
Prada – almost as moisturizing as the Nuxe, and comes as a pack of 10 mini-squeeze tubes, expensive though
My favorite is the Burt’s Bees with pomegranate oil. Has just the right texture.
Try Mercola’s Natural Lip Balm. It’s virgin coconut oil, beeswax, and other natural oils. This is the only thing my daughter could tolerate to get rid of her constantly chapped lips.
The BEST lip balm ever is Karite Lips- made with shea butter- I have been loyal for 10 years now, and have converted many to this product. It is the perfect product.
My new favorite is Dr Bronner’s lip balm. It comes in several flavors but I like peppermint the best. I also like the short list of ingredients: organic avacado, beeswax, jojoba, hemp, and peppermint oils, and natural tocopherols.
My fave lip balm is Anita Grant’s Lippy Pucker. It leaves my lips so very moisturized and supple. The Organic Chocolate is made of real Fair Trade Organic Chocolate from Green & Blacks.
The best imho lip balm nothing else does it for my lips. Best thing is it doesn’t have beeswax which is great!
Hi all!
Figured I would share…
I looooove lip balm partly cause I have a terrible habit of biting my lips when I am thinking. I don’t think addiction is my problem – the nibbling is! I try to stop but it is so hard since they are right there.
I use a variety of products. Sometimes I just carry around a little container of shea butter in my purse which is a great, 1 ingredient treat for hands and lips.
My company also makes probably one of the most unique balms on the market – Lip Elixir. It is a liquid roll-on balm and after 2 years there is still no other product out there quite like it. The folks that like it best are those really devoted to naturals, as it doesn’t have an overpoweringly sweet strawberry flavor or anything – very subtle, essential oil based flavors. It is designed to soak in and stimulate faster cell renewal from within the skin, and you can even layer it with other lip products.
We’ve got our share of devotees for it.
*blessings and happy lips!
Hey brains, just letting you know that the link to the “are you addicted to lip balm” article doesn’t work. (there seems to be extra stuff in the beginning)
My favorite lip balm is Blistex. I’d tell you what kind specifically, but the label fell off and I don’t see it on their website (although it could be just their plain lib balm…) Blistex makes my lips extra supple, and doubles as a lip sunblock. It goes on smoothly, but does have a tendency to liquefy if I keep it in my pocket.
I don’t like Chapstick because it doesn’t go on as smoothly. I’m not a fan of the the all-natural-blended oil kind because it seems like I’m coating my lips in oil without any actual moisturizing effect.
My favorites are Rosebud Salve and Clinique Repairwear lip balm
I like Burt’s Bees Honey lip balm because it has more staying power than the other two varieties, plus it smells nice and doesn’t have any peppermint or “tingly” stuff in it.
I have this old squeeze tube of Chapstick Medicated which is the only thing that seems to help me when I have really chapped lips.
I have also been down the same road, and only by ‘trial and error’ can you determine what works best.
Also I have sensitive skin and get blister after eating – spicy/oily such as sharp cheese
My three faves are:
avon basics care deeply balm
blistex medicated (blue jar) – I put this on before bed everynight
rosebud salve- strawberry
Those that have bothered me are:
neutrogena- the taste is horrible, like ink or chemical
got a blister with burt bee’s strawberry lip gloss.
This is the right time to use lip balm. the season makes our lips dry. be sure you use natural lip balm.
I hate lip balms that only leave my lips feeling drier when they wear off…as of now, my favorite balms are peter thomas roth pink balmshell, korres lip butter, regular chapstick, and the body shop cocoa butter lip balm.
Wow! Thank you Beauty Brains and the wonderful readers for all these great suggestions. I have tried a few and so far my favorite is the Chapstick 100% Naturals Lip Butter: goes on smooth, absorbs quickly and keeps me moisturized without a waxy feel. Plus there is no peppermint oil in it. I think I have found my new favorite.
But I must admit I have a few others I want to try like the Neutrogena and the Kiehls for comparison purposes.
Thinking about my skin and its sensitivities (which I didn’t include in my post) it was probably the peppermint oil which was irritating/drying my lips. Most fragranced lotions, soaps irritate my skin and I wasn’t connecting it.
Thank you again!
Hi All,
Don’t you think someone who actually uses their lips for a living might have an informed opinion on lip balms? I’m a professional trumpet player.
In fact, I got so frustrated with the usual brands, I created my own called ChopSaver. The website (www.chopsaver.com) has tons of information about it and where to get it. But I couldn’t DIS agree more about petroleum being a great moisturizer. And Carmex is over 50% petroleum with camphor and menthol which are DRYING agents. That’s why you have to keep putting it on!
Please check out chopsaver.com. We have converted lots of ChapStick, Burts Bees and Blistex users!
Best,
Dan the ChopSaver Guy
Thanks for the information Dan.
Your experience certainly gives you a good idea of what works for your lips, but everyone is different. Your suggestions aren’t going to work for everyone.
And there is no science that supports your assertion that petroleum is drying. Unless you’re familiar with some scientific study that I haven’t read. We’d love to review the study if you can point us in the right direction.
my lips have chapped and dried which causes me to do worst for them when they are chapped. I have tried several lip balms and is it possible that they can cause my lips to dry out more than moisturize them? I’ve tried these: Nivea Moisture and Burt’s Bee’s balm in a tin. Both drying.
Can you help me find one that is truly moisturizing? Thank you!
Palmer’s cocoa butter stick!! The best!
I’ve tried lots and lots of Lip Balms. Cheap ones, expensive ones, hard to find ones…
Cheap ones: you get what you paid for
Expensive ones: work for lips, bad for the wallet
Hard to find ones: says it all “hard to find”
The one and only true love right now is “Lypsyl” with pure Swedish beeswax. Easy to find, at any CVS or any drug store, cheap, only about $2 – 3. Absolutely love it!
i find that even thought it’s a little expensive and it has patrolatum in it, Kiehls’ LIP BAlm #1 is really good, and it smells great (just an added bonus)
I love Blistex white cream but its not easy to buy in my country. So now I gotta try a new one. T__T
My favorite is: Dior’s Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm
You’re not alone, Left Brain–I’ve been using Carmex since my college days ::cough::-odd years ago. I love the mild menthol, especially when I have a cold!
I’m also a huge fan of Carmex and actually the menthol, camphor and phenol are good ingredients to have in a healing chapstick. Menthol kills germs and sooths irriated, chapped lips. The camphor acts similarly to menthol and relives burning that could come from cold sores. The phenol is more like a natural exfoliant, it helps remove some of the dry skin and relives pain associated with chapped lips.
Check out the Urban Girl Squad blog for some of our favorite chapsticks!
i once had really cracking lips for so many days so i used cinamen lip butter it was so good. That could help u. Other options that is very good is nivea hydro care it is great. Also try burt bees lip balm… it is the best.
Hope that helps you
Thanx Xxx =)
I said I liked the Aquafina brand lip balm. They also make a lip oil that I didn’t like. Too greasy. Just wanted to let you know that you can get the Aquafina brand at Walmart and Walgreen’s.
I like the Aquafina brand. It goes on smooth, moisturizes great, and is long lasting. Blistex I have to put on several times an hour. Aquafina I only put on a few times a day.
Burts Bees is the best hands down. They actually have a new scent now too. How the heck did I become such a Bees fanatic!?
I’ve been using Made from Earth’s lip balm for about a decade now and I’ve always loved it. It tastes, smells, and feels great on my lips.
I’ve tried the other variations of their lip balm such as the blueberry, spearmint, and citrus. the citrus one is a bit too feminine for me. So I’ve come back to the original vanilla flavor and I’ll probably stick with it for awhile. The cooling instantly sooths my dry lips while the beeswax and oils leave my lips feeling soft and moisturized. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should. Bottom line: There’s a reason people swear by this stuff. Give it a shot.
Leftie-
I too am surprised that you are so devoted to Carmex being that it’s loaded with irritants like Camphor and Menthol, but as you mentioned, what works for one may not work for the next. Just seems strange to call out Peppermint Oil for it’s irritating qualities when Menthol & Camphor have similar concerns- sends a bit of a mixed message
BTW Lauren, you may be interested in this post over at Cosmetics Cop where Paula explains a bit about how Camphor, Menthol & the like work as “counter-irritants”. They don’t actually reduce or relieve irritation, they just cause irritation elsewhere to trick your body into ignoring the initial irritation…so not really helpful, it seems. Anyway, I found it enlightening:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/422/counter-irritant.aspx
My favorite lip treatment is a fragrance-free petroleum and aloe based cream with skin-specific Jojoba oil and triglycerides, and the antioxidant super-combo Vitamin E and Vitamin A. So soothing & best of all? It’s only $6- for 4 ounces! Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream. Seriously.
I’ve tried SO many lip balms over the years (okay, over the past 10 years, I’m 20 years old right now lol) As it used to be a trend in middle school, who could have the coolest lip balm. My mom always stuck with plain ol Blistex and I hated it because it was boring and had no cool scent or flavor. When I was 17, I could NOT get rid of my chapped lips for the world!! (I also suffer from cold sores quite frequently) I decided to give Blistex another try. I’ve now been using it for the past 3 years and it has yet to disappoint me! I hate to admit it, but my mom was right. Again. I apply Blistex, then apply whatever else I want, whether it’s lipstick or gloss, Blistex creates a nice base. The only thing I use before Blistex is lip stain, because that way it actually stains my lips and not just the balm. Blistex is also nice to have because it can tame flyaways in your hair, and protect a small crack on your hand from drying due to winter or whatever, and it works nice if you buy a lip stain that is too bold for your lips and want to dilute it for a hint of color instead of full impact: just apply Blistex THEN stain. I’m definitely NOT a fan of Carmex, it’s waxy and gross and dries out my lips. I like the instant effect when I put it on, it’s all smooth, but after 10 mins, it’s already gross. Same with Burt’s Bees. Sorry this is so long, but good luck everyone with your lips!! Also, try youtube-ing DIY lip exfoliant, I’ve found some good vids on there: sugar scrubs, washcloth and water, etc. and exfoliating once a week or so really REALLY helps!!
For those of you that won’t read my longer post above, I’ll shorten it:
haha
BLISTEX, BLISTEX, BLISTEX!!!! Just the plain one!!!
also, EXFOLIATE ONCE A WEEK!!! Then apply BLISTEX!!
For those of you with really dry lips, create a scrub by mixing white sugar and olive oil (small amounts of both) to soften and remove the dry skin on your lips. That way you are starting with a ‘clean’ surface before using the balms. I do it once a day when my lips are really bad and then I’m not likely to pick or chew on my lips which often makes them worse. Hopefully that will help.
I make my own, no lip balm in the market can beat that one I make myself with ingedients picked especially to suit my taste and lips. But I have a question for you, left brain, hope you answer me because this looks like an old post. Why did you say that is most likely to react to peppermint oil? I been wanting to add some peppermint oil to my lip balm because when I use it with my toothpaste, that I suppose it actually contains peppermint oil, my lips got super cool, plump and red, and that’s one effect I surely want for my lips, mostly the plump and red part. I read in the site of a supplier something like this “Menthol (the constituent of peppermint) produces a sensation of coolness which the body reacts to by producing its own warming effect, with as blood flowing to the area of application.” If I’m not wrong, the blood flowing is the key, right?
I want your opinion, should I add some peppermint oil to my lip balm anyway?
Thanks!
said*
Peppermint oil works as you described because it’s a mild irritant. If you use too much of it too often it’s not good for the delicate skin on your lips. But every once in a while it’s a nice treat!
The best ones I have used are made by a company called Badger. They are organic and work great.
http://www.badgerbalm.com/c-27-lip-balms.aspx
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