Blistex

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm Value Pack Original

Name: Blistex - Medicated Lip Balm Value Pack Original
Brand: Blistex

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh

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Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing

Beeswax, Dimethicone + 9 more

Good evidence

What the product description says

“. . it seals in moisture to prevent dryness, and soothes irritated lips.”

Source: Walgreens

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: beeswax, dimethicone.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

BeeswaxKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~4–5.9%

DimethiconeKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish~23–34%

Isopropyl myristateKey active· EmollientEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the skin. Could be comedogenic~0.95–1.45%

Lanolin oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighSebum of wool-bearing animals (most commonly sheep). Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce the skin water loss. In rare cases could be an allergen. Not suitable for vegans~0.5–1.2%

Theobroma cacao seed butterKey active· EmollientEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect~0.15–0.6%

Cetyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together~2.2–3.3%

Cetyl palmitateKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that helps soften the skin and is used to improve product texture and stability~1.7–2.6%

Paraffin· OcclusiveEffect: LowPrevents water loss from the skin surface and thickens the product consistency~0.15–0.65%

LanolinUnder-dosedEffect: HighSebum of wool-bearing animals (most commonly sheep). Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce the skin water loss. In rare cases could be an allergen. Not suitable for vegans~0.85–1.25%

PetrolatumUnder-dosedEffect: HighOne of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss~0.2–0.75%

Paraffinum liquidumUnder-dosedEffect: HighMineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function~0.4–0.9%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

3 strong irritants: Camphor, Parfum + 1 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 5 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamateOctinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritatingHigh6.6%

Camphor—High~2.7–4.1%est.

ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~1–1.6%est.

Menthol—High~0.4–0.95%est.

Ci 15850A red colorantHigh~0.1–0.4%est.

Comedogenic

2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

2 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Isopropyl myristateAn emollient that helps soften the skin. Could be comedogenic3/5~0.95–1.45%est.

Theobroma cacao seed butterHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect3/5~0.15–0.6%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Dimethicone~23–34%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingMattifying

A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish

More about Dimethicone

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate6.6%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Sun protection

Octinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritating

More about Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate

Ethylhexyl salicylate4.4%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Sun protection

Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen

More about Ethylhexyl salicylate

Beeswax~4–5.9%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen

More about Beeswax

Camphor~2.7–4.1%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

More about Camphor

Cetyl alcohol~2.2–3.3%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together

More about Cetyl alcohol

Cetyl palmitate~1.7–2.6%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and is used to improve product texture and stability

More about Cetyl palmitate

Euphorbia cerifera wax~1.6–2.4%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Euphorbia cerifera wax

Parfum~1–1.6%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum

Isopropyl myristate~0.95–1.45%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin. Could be comedogenic

More about Isopropyl myristate

Lanolin~0.85–1.25%

Under-dosed

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingCleansing

Sebum of wool-bearing animals (most commonly sheep). Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce the skin water loss. In rare cases could be an allergen. Not suitable for vegans

More about Lanolin

Lanolin oil~0.5–1.2%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Sebum of wool-bearing animals (most commonly sheep). Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce the skin water loss. In rare cases could be an allergen. Not suitable for vegans

More about Lanolin oil

Menthol~0.4–0.95%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

More about Menthol

Methyl salicylate~0.35–0.75%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Methyl salicylate

Paraffinum liquidum~0.4–0.9%

Under-dosed

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function

More about Paraffinum liquidum

Ozokerite~0.3–0.75%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to thicken the product consistency

More about Ozokerite

Paraffin~0.15–0.65%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Prevents water loss from the skin surface and thickens the product consistency

More about Paraffin

Petrolatum~0.2–0.75%

Under-dosed

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss

More about Petrolatum

Polybutene~0.15–0.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Polybutene

Ci 15850~0.1–0.4%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A red colorant

More about Ci 15850

Theobroma cacao seed butter~0.15–0.6%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-dandruff

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function. Might have some anti-oxidant effect

More about Theobroma cacao seed butter

Titanium dioxide~0.1–0.4%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Sun protection

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

More about Titanium dioxide

Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.35%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Ingredient list view

Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Beeswax, Camphor, Cetyl alcohol, Cetyl palmitate, Euphorbia cerifera wax, Parfum, Isopropyl myristate, Lanolin, Lanolin oil, Menthol, Methyl salicylate, Paraffinum liquidum, Ozokerite, Paraffin, Petrolatum, Polybutene, Ci 15850, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Titanium dioxide, Phenoxyethanol

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$4.99

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Product summary

Judging from the ingredient list, "Blistex - Medicated Lip Balm Value Pack Original" works well for improving skin hydration

Irritation risk

We assess the overall irritancy of this lip sunscreen to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

Price

The product retails from 4.79$ up to 20.07$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.

1
Dimethicone as a protective ingredient in topical medicationsjaad.org
2
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
3
The lanolin paradox revisited Matiz, Catalina et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 64, Issue 1, 197jaad.org
4
A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oilncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5
Final report of the cosmetic ingredient review expert panel on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
6
Cocoa polyphenols and their influence on parameters involved in ex vivo skin restructuringncbi.nlm.nih.gov

BlistexMedicated Lip Balm Value Pack Original

Buy at Walgreens$4.99 Amazon

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Buy at Walgreens$4.99 Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.