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C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick
C.O. Bigelow

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick

Efficacy75/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Cera microcristallina, Caprylic/capric triglyceride + 5 more
Works
What the product description says
“Lips stay moist and protected while peppermint oil gives breath long-lasting freshness.”
Source: Skinstore

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

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).

Cera microcristallinaKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighHelps to soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss from its surface and create a thicker product consistency~4.8–7.2%
Caprylic/capric triglycerideKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~4–6%
Cera albaKey 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~2.7–4.1%
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~1.9–2.8%
Butyrospermum parkii butterKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~1.6–2.4%
Cocos nucifera oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic~0.4–0.9%
Myristyl myristateUnder-dosedAn emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic~0.95–1.45%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
3 strong irritants: Mentha piperita oil, Mentha arvensis leaf oil + 1 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 6 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Mentha piperita oilUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.4–0.9%est.
Mentha arvensis leaf oilUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.65%est.
Menthyl lactateUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.3%est.
Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~4–6%est.
Cera albaForms 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 allergenMedium~2.7–4.1%est.
Myristyl myristateAn emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenicMedium~0.95–1.45%est.
Comedogenic
4 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
4 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
Hydrogenated coconut oil—3/5~23–34%est.
Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals3/5~1.6–2.4%est.
Myristyl myristateAn emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic3/5~0.95–1.45%est.
Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~0.4–0.9%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Hydrogenated coconut oil~23–34%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
More about Hydrogenated coconut oil
Microcrystalline wax~5.6–8.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Microcrystalline wax
Cera microcristallina~4.8–7.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss from its surface and create a thicker product consistency

More about Cera microcristallina
Cera microcristalline
Not recognized
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~4–6%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Beeswax~3–4.5%
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
Cera alba~2.7–4.1%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingCleansing

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 Cera alba
Beeswax~1.9–2.8%
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
Butyrospermum parkii butter~1.6–2.4%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals

More about Butyrospermum parkii butter
Polyethylene~1.4–2.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to thicken the product's texture

More about Polyethylene
Myristyl myristate~0.95–1.45%
Under-dosedComedogenic 3/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient. Is not recommended for acne-prone skin as it can be comedogenic

More about Myristyl myristate
C18-70 isoparaffin~0.6–1.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about C18-70 isoparaffin
Mentha piperita oil~0.4–0.9%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha piperita oil
Cocos nucifera oil~0.4–0.9%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil
Mentha arvensis leaf oil~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha arvensis leaf oil
Echinacea purpurea root extract~0.15–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Echinacea purpurea root extract
Menthyl lactate~0.05–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Menthyl lactate
Sodium saccharin~0.05–0.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Sodium saccharin
Ingredient list view

Hydrogenated coconut oil, Microcrystalline wax, Cera microcristallina, Unknown, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Beeswax, Cera alba, Beeswax, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Polyethylene, Myristyl myristate, C18-70 isoparaffin, Mentha piperita oil, Cocos nucifera oil, Mentha arvensis leaf oil, Echinacea purpurea root extract, Menthyl lactate, Sodium saccharin

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
C.O. BigelowMentha Lip Balm StickYOUR PRODUCTDr. Barbara SturmLip BalmDelaromLips Protecting BalmVita CitralTR Very Repairing Lip Balm
Match—35%35%35%
Price—$53.23—$6.02
Shared key ingredients—4 of 75 of 74 of 7
Key difference—Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2Meadowfoam Seed OilMineral Oil
Irritancy High Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 1 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Efficacy of barrier creams in comparison to skin care products in dental laboratory technicians--a controlled trialncbi.nlm.nih.gov
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick
C.O. BigelowMentha Lip Balm Stick
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