Lip Balm Simplified~ Ticking All the Boxes for Happy Lips

I started making lip balms early in our business venture primarily because I wanted to experiment with my preferred herbal combinations and scents. And, I've definitely gotten to do my share of that! However, as I made and used them, the use of limited ingredients has demonstrated its' value time and time again.

So let's do a little comparing....

Chapstick Brand ingredient list: petrolatum, paraffin, mineral oil, octyldodecanol, canola oil, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, arachidyl propionate, phenyl trimethicone, beeswax, carnauba wax, isopropyl myristate, cetyl alcohol, lecithin, flavor, saccharin, synthetic wax, iron oxides, isopropyl titanium triiosfearate

Wow....most are a trick to pronounce and do you really know what you are putting on your lips?? This chapstick comes in a tube with 0.15 oz of material and costs about $2.

Let's see if we can do any better....

Carmex...who didn't LOVE Carmex in the early 90's...and use it 16 times a day??

Carmex ingredient list: lanolin, petrolatum, beeswax, menthol, paraffin, salicyclic acid, benzocaine, cetyl alcohol, camphor. *0.35 oz of material for about $3

Ok...the words are more recognizable and fewer in number than Chapstick brand, but it is still heavy on the petroleum base and has actual drying ingredients that lead to short-lived moisture and the need for more and more applications to keep the lips comfortable. Some may tell you that all of those preservatives are necessary for a good shelf life...they are not!

Burt's Bees....now, this one must be clean and natural! It's Burt's Bees for goodness sake...

Burt's Bee ingredient list: beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, peppermint oil, lanolin, tocopherol, rosemary leaf extract, soybean oil, canola oil, limonene, linalool, eugenol. *0.15 oz of material for about $4

Definitely better. The ingredients are recognizable aside from the last 3. However, the quality of oils is lacking. Cheap oil is being relied upon as secondary to the advertised beeswax. The problem with that is that the beeswax is not the moisturizing part, it is instead the binder that makes the lip balm solid. Vitamin E is present in this one and is a plus for its deep tissue benefits.

EOS (Evolution of Smooth)...I add this one because of its' claims that is is 100% organic and natural.

EOS ingredient list: Sunflower seed oil, beeswax, coconut oil, carnauba wax, jojoba oil, flavor, shea butter, olive oil, peppermint oil, tocopherol, stevia stem extract, beta sitosterol, squalene, linalool1, limonene1. * 0.14 oz of material for about $3

This is downright close, in my opinion...but not quite. The ingredients are improved by the presence of shea butter and vitamin e oil. However, the carnauba wax is unnecessary as are the final five ingredients.

Feeding your lips and keeping them soft and healthy should only take a few ingredients.

Here are a few of my lip balms:

Lavender Peppermint Lip Balm: coconut oil infused with lavender and peppermint, beeswax, vitamin e, essential oils of lavender and peppermint

Healing Lip Balm: coconut oil infused with fresh lemon balm, tamanu oil, castor oil, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin e, essential oils of tea tree and peppermint

Rose Vanilla Lip Balm: sweet almond oil, coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, homemade vanilla, homegrown rose petals

My lip balms are set in 0.5oz pots with a wide mouth in order to use every little bit and are priced at $6 each. Used twice a day, they last 6-8 months.

Happy Lip Balm hunting!