What's In My Jar
Carmex Medicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped Lips
Carmex

Carmex Medicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped Lips

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh
See all ingredients

Works for

Moisturizing
Lanolin, Theobroma cacao seed butter + 4 more
Works well
What the product description says
“Medicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped Lips”
Source: Walgreens

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: beeswax, limnanthes alba seed oil.

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).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: lanolin

LanolinHero· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: 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~22–34%
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~6.2–9.3%
Cetyl estersKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumHelps soften upper layer of the skin and can enhance penetration of other ingredients into the upper layer of the skin~3.6–5.4%
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~2.4–3.7%
Limnanthes alba seed oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighThis oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient~1.8–2.7%
Paraffin· OcclusiveEffect: LowPrevents water loss from the skin surface and thickens the product consistency~2.4–3.6%
Exfoliation
Side benefit · Salicylic acid, Phenol
Works well

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)~0.15–0.6%
PhenolEffect: LowA harsh exfoliant and preservative. It is banned from using in cosmetics in the EU~0.15–0.55%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
4 strong irritants: Camphor, Menthol + 2 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
Camphor—High~0.85–1.25%est.
Menthol—High~0.45–1.05%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.3–0.75%est.
Salicylic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)High~0.15–0.6%est.
PhenolA harsh exfoliant and preservative. It is banned from using in cosmetics in the EUHigh~0.15–0.55%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 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
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 effect3/5~6.2–9.3%est.
Alternatives
The closest match we found
Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Lightly Scented
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Lightly Scented
Closest match80% match
$14.92
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Lanolin~22–34%
Hero · Moisturizing
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

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
Theobroma cacao seed butter~6.2–9.3%
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
Euphorbia cerifera wax~5.6–8.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Euphorbia cerifera wax
Ozokerite~4.3–6.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to thicken the product consistency

More about Ozokerite
Cetyl esters~3.6–5.4%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften upper layer of the skin and can enhance penetration of other ingredients into the upper layer of the skin

More about Cetyl esters
Paraffin~2.4–3.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

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

More about Paraffin
Beeswax~2.4–3.7%
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
Limnanthes alba seed oil~1.8–2.7%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-oxidation

This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient

More about Limnanthes alba seed oil
Camphor~0.85–1.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
More about Camphor
Menthol~0.45–1.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
More about Menthol
Parfum~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Salicylic acid~0.15–0.6%
Key activeIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
ExfoliationAnti-inflammatoryAnti-blemishAntibacterialEvens skin tone

Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)

More about Salicylic acid
Phenol~0.15–0.55%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Exfoliation

A harsh exfoliant and preservative. It is banned from using in cosmetics in the EU

More about Phenol
Vanillin~0.1–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Vanillin
Ingredient list view

Lanolin, Theobroma cacao seed butter, Euphorbia cerifera wax, Ozokerite, Cetyl esters, Paraffin, Beeswax, Limnanthes alba seed oil, Camphor, Menthol, Parfum, Salicylic acid, Phenol, Vanillin

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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
CarmexMedicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped LipsYOUR PRODUCTElizabeth ArdenEight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Lightly ScentedBlue Lagoon SkincareLip BalmFacetheoryLipabalm Bioactive Lip Balm BM1 with Shea Butter, Raspberry Seed Oil and Vegan Petroleum-Free Natural Wax
Match—80%66%66%
Price—$14.92$29.75—
Shared key ingredients—2 of 52 of 50 of 5
Key difference—Mineral OilBisabololButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Irritancy High Low High Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Product summary

"Carmex - Medicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped Lips" is a well-rounded moisturizing product.

Irritation risk

This lip product contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this lip product 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 for 106.40A$ in Australia and from 5.49$ up to 8.79$ 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 8 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    The lanolin paradox revisited Matiz, Catalina et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 64, Issue 1, 197jaad.org
  2. 2
    Cocoa polyphenols and their influence on parameters involved in ex vivo skin restructuringncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Comparison of skin calming effects of cosmetic products containing 4-t-butylcyclohexanol or acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester on capsaicin-induced facial stinging in volunteers with sensitive skinncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  5. 5
    Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. 6
    Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
Carmex Medicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped Lips
CarmexMedicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Dry, Chapped Lips
Find on Amazon

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Find on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.