Best Lip Care Products
Lucas' Papaw Ointment
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Not sure if the ingredients have changed as they wont respond to emails and its been over a month. I have been using this for years but not longer, its disgusting and toxic Show details
Looselips Lip Lifter
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When I applied it for the first time, it gave me a tingling sensation that made my lips feel plumper, similar to when you eat spicy food. When I… Read more
reapplied it, there was no more tingling, it just felt like a normal lip balm. I got a cold sore and stopped using it until it healed (it took me way too long to get rid of it). After two months, I used the balm again, and the cold sore came back the next day. Now I know why I got it in the first place. Definitely chucking it in the bin.
Propovir Coldsore Ointment
Best product so far for cold sores – Wow this product is Great ! It’s an ointment and really works , l don’t like the creams and think they too thin to apply but this ointment is… Read more
soothing and helps with the burn feeling , l won’t use creams again after trying as this , it has really helped and soothed my cold sore my cold sore was past tingling and it still stopped it from getting worse highly recommend 10 stars best product lve used in a long time
Dynamiclear Rapid
Cold sore worsened instead of healing. Not only the product didn't deliver on its promise, but i feel robbed. Show details
Burt's Bees Lip Balm
I was hesitant in buying this lip balm the squeezy tinted balm, I’ve been using a Nivea one for as long as I can remember, but I will continue… Read more
getting this lip balm. When ever I’ve had issues with dry lips I would just apply my Nivea one with cracks lips and persevere with the problem, I feel like on the first day after but this amazing product, I will never turn back and get anything other than this lip balm. My lips aren’t hurting like they normally do. I can apply it every 2 hours I can already feel my lips being repaired by the ingredients in this lip balm. Thanks for your amazing lip balm. I highly recommend it.
My go to Balm – Been using this little yellow tube of goodness for a few years. Has so many uses. Love its not filled with mineral petro chemicals like the other ones on the market. I always have one in handbag, in my gym bag, on my desk and near the kitchen sink Show details
MooGoo Cowlick Lip Balm
Ordered from the Moogoo website for the first time after hearing good things about their products and already having tried their deo. My order… Read more
consisted of 2 lip balms and 1 deo. I wanted to try out a cleanser but thought I’d leave it for an other time. To my surprise I was gifted a full sized cleanser in my order when it arrived today! I was absolutely stoked! What a kind, thoughtful bonus! I’ll definitely be buying many more moogoo products!
Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Cold Sore Cream
Cold sore favourite – Great product. Use several times a day when feeling like a cold/sun sore is eminent! Rapid healing if you already have a cold sore. Can't be without this cream. Show details
Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm
Have used this for years – Carmex lip balm has a little tingle in it that I love when it touches my lips! It keeps my lips super moisturised and I’m addicted to lip balm! I… Read more
have used this product for years it’s always handy. It’s inexpensive too. If you don’t like using your finger in lip balm jars there is also a squeeze tube version.
DU’IT Tough Lips
A handbag staple – For such a long time this lip balm has been a staple in my handbag. It feels comfortable to wear and keeps my lips soft and hydrated. This lip balm is great value and so effective! Show details
The Body Shop Hemp
Used to be the best hand cream for my very dry hands. New packaging, new cream. No bees wax in it that's what's changed. Now it's vegan. Horrible, doesn't work anymore more. Hands are so dry and rough now.Please change it back Show details
Lip-eze Lip Balm Regular
Herron lipeze unavailable but irreplaceable – Lip-eze 30+ Has saved my lips for years, but has become unavailable. Why Herron, why? What is going on? Why can’t I ask Herron directly? What a shame to loose this great product line. Show details
MooGoo Tingling Honey Lips
Irritating – Wasn't sure what to expect with the tingling description, I found it irritating and uncomfortable. Probably because it contains menthol, this lip balm certainly didn't suit me, was very disappointed. Show details
Ego QV Face Lip Balm SPF 30+
This lip balm is awesome – I had rough lips and after using this product for two days. The roughness of my lips has been disappear . I would like to suggest this product to my family and friends. Show details
Zovirax Cold Sore Cream
Rip off packaging – So disappointed with the packaging of this cream. Same sized box with 2g cream in the tiniest tube. Same absorbidant price. I won’t be buying again… Read more
on principle.. if you are going to give only half the product at least reduce the packaging accordingly.
MooGoo SPF 15 Lip Balm
Brilliant SPF Lip Balm. Doesn't taste like crap – This is the best SPF lip balm on the market. I have tried them all. And into the bin they usually go. This one is natural zink mineral I believe so… Read more
therefore doesn't have that sickening spf chemical taste other spf lip balms have. They litterally cause me to feel sick.. This one is pleasant tasting and after reading the bad reviews here down below, I have no idea what they are talking about.. It applies perfectly.. I love it.. Putting a stop to those potential lip lines in the future.. I purchased at a Chemist in Chermside Shopping Centre in Brisbane.. I put an image up of my mouth. I think my lips are great for 61 years old.. No fillers or botox.. I'd never go there anyway. But I have always worn lip balms and apply them over the top of my lip.. The spf just adds that extra protection from aging.
Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm
Keeps your lips hydrated all day long – this lip balm is probably one of my all time favourites because it keeps your lips feeling sweet and hydrated all day long. If you are in need of a better chapstick this is the one to go. Show details
Blistex Lip Radiance
Shimmers are not overpowering – I love this lip product so much, I find product that has SPF to be VERY elusive and this one has that. It gives me peace of mind because of its additional protection. It doesn't feel too heavy. Show details
Virasolve Cold Sore Cream
I thought my cold sore was just getting worse but ultimately realised that this product was causing more damage than it was healing. Ice helped but I… Read more
thought my lips were on fire and I was struggling to talk due to the swelling. If you are in pain maybe just halt using this in case you are having a reaction to it.
Love this product – I have extremely dry and often cracked lips and this product has made a difference. It's a little hard to squeeze out of the tube but that's because… Read more
it has a nice thick gel like coverage for your lips. Definitely worth paying a little bit more for a natural product.
Great smell and moisturising! – This lipbalm has a smooth, buttery texture & soft vanilla/olive butter smell. It effectively moisturises my lips and leaves them soft, without… Read more
feeling sticky. Its not a cheap lipbalm but it does last ages, Ive had mine for almost a year and its just gettint to the bottom of the little tin now. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in a natural and effective lip butter. great smell, smooth texture, softens lips, natural
Mecca Cosmetica Lip De-Luscious Treatment
My go to – This is my favourite go to lip hydration product, absolutely love it! I have gone through maybe 10 or 15 jars of it over the years Would recommend to everyone to use it Show details
Great if you get dry lips – I love this - a pod lasts me two days. I mostly use at night and first thing in the morning. Minty taste and smell, nice feeling on your lips. I… Read more
don’t think they’re a MUST HAVE - there are so many great RF products... but it’s just nice to pamper yourself with a bit.
Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex
Love this product – Have been using a sample of this product and it has bring so much colour and plumpness back to my lips. Its made them peal a little on first use, i… Read more
gather because it a renewal and it was getting rid of dead skin. Would recommend, will be buying the full sized product!
Love it! – Keeps your lips smooth and I love the strawberry flavour Show details
Love nearly everything – I’ll be mentioning everything I use here, not just one or two products. Baby soap. Recently got this, I’ll admit I got it because my scalp is just… Read more
awful lately and I have trouble with scents, heck I’ve reacted even to unscented products. It didn’t feel any better than their regular soaps, in fact I noticed an itch soon after and washed it out. It also left the top of my hair oily. So unfortunately this didn’t work for me.
Ocean water soap. For the hair I actually found it very good, gives me quite a bit of extra body and the hair feels good after using it, not oily. For the body it was okay, didn’t notice any benefits for my pityriasis.
Shave bar. Got given this one as a free gift when I ordered over $50. The smell has triggered me on a few occasions but that’s because it has bergamot scent and this is one of the many scents that triggers me. I found it not bad for my hair, but the ocean one wins overall. For the body it was not bad and pretty good for armpit washing.
Lip balms. Legendary honestly, they heal you up so fast like insane! And their immensely cheap for how good they are. Reacted to the paw paw one though. Have used the lip balms for chapped nose too, works a dream.
Tinted rose lip balm. Absolutely wonderful and adds a very nice red tinge to the lips, smells divine.
Baby balm. I use this on my toosh and it works very well there. Gets rid of rashes or just in general inflamed spots.
Nipple balm. Got this to test it out, found it’s use limited, the baby balm worked just as good.
Manuka skin care. I got this to try as well, extremely potent in healing super problematic things. Was going to try it on my pityriasis but I react to the smell, it’s not fragranced, but like I said I react to even natural smells. So no idea if it’s useful for skin conditions, maybe. Heals pimples and open cuts very effectively though. If I get cut, I wash it and apply this immediately.
Have just bought the goat milk soap and QLD ocean soap, so will add updates once I’ve received those and tested them. I was going to also try the deodorants but they are all scented and after a particularly bad histamine flare up that is still ongoing one month later, I decided against that. If they ever get unscented I’ll try it than. And yes I know I react to even unscented, but I’m willing to give it a go anyways.
Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm
Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm – Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm -. The tube is compact and easy to carry in my purse. The twist-up mechanism is convenient and prevents the… Read more
balm from breaking. I love that this product has a natural, beeswax-based formula. It feels incredibly smooth and creamy on my lips, providing instant hydration without feeling greasy or heavy. The balm absorbs quickly, leaving my lips feeling nice and soft. A single application can provide hours of moisture. I was extremely impressed with Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm
Little Urchin Lip Balm Tropical Pawpaw
Great lip balm, keeps my lips moist in these dry weather. It doesn't dry them out like some lip balms. When you eat food, it doesn’t come off. Has a subtle flavour that is not overwhelming. Will definitely buy again
Long lasting, smooothh – I have been using manuka honey creams and scrubs and serums for 3years now, I love how the lip balm comes in a tub and a tube, easy to place in your… Read more
purse or pocket, my lips are burnt from a fire accident and this product is the best, (I've tried a few) money well spent.
Little Fox Lip Balm
Cold Sore Lip Balm that Actually Works – Most of the time, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is (not true). Little Fox Lip Balm is the exception to this saying - it… Read more
actually does stop cold sores. You can literally feel it working when you put it on. Normally, my cold sore scabs are around the size of a five cent piece. The last time I had an attack, I used Little Fox Lip Balm and ended up with a scab that was just a little bigger than a pin head. It is almost a life changing experience. I've been using LFLB for a while now, but was prompted to write this review because earlier today a friend of mine sent me a text thanking me for putting her onto this product. Her words: 'Little Foxes Lip Balm is da bomb!'. I feel like have a moral obligation to get the word out about this product and help my fellow cold sore sufferers.
Types of Lip Care Products
Lip Balms
What does lip balm do to your lips?
Lip balm is a waxy product that you put on your lips to soothe chapped or dry lips. Peeling or cracked lips are often due to lips being chapped. This can be uncomfortable, make you feel self-conscious, or even cause pain and bleeding.
Since the skin on lips is thin, it doesn’t have much of a first-line-of-defence against cold or windy weather, or UV rays. It doesn’t take much for them to chap, Lips need a more nourishing moisturiser than a regular face cream. For some people, a lip balm provides relief all-year round, and for others, it can be a winter saviour.
What is the difference between lip balm, salve and ointment?
| Lip Balm | Lip Salves and Ointments | |
| Purpose | Made to help soothe dry, chapped lips that comes from environmental conditions or dry skin. | These are lip treatments, made to target skin conditions or treat medical concerns, such as eczema. blisters , cold sores and angular cheilitis. Lip salves and ointments often double up in their healing benefits. Some can be used for wound healing, nappy rash, or to apply to other extremely dry parts of the skin. |
| Consistency | Made with with a higher ratio of wax to oil, which gives them a harder consistency. This thickness means balms sit on top of lips, or the epidermis. | Both of these have a higher ratio of oil to wax. This softness makes it easier for them to penetrate to a deeper level of the skin (the dermis) to assist with wound healing. Salves are oilier than balms, while ointments have the highest amount of oil, so they are the most deeply absorbed into lips. They can help with wound healing and blisters. |
Lip Exfoliators
Lips exfoliators come in the form of lip scrubs. If your lips are dry and flaking, a lip exfoliator can remove dead or dull cells to help make lips more smooth and soft.
A good lip scrub is often simple, and doesn’t need many ingredients to be effective. You just need one exfoliator - a slightly abrasive ingredient that does the scrubbing, like sugar or a toothbrush - and one emollient, like oil or butter. This softens lips and fills the gap between cells where skin has come off with lipids, plumping them.
While lips can look plump and healthy after exfoliating, avoid overdoing an exfoliating ritual. Since exfoliating removes the protective outer layer of skin, when done more than twice a week, it can cause stinging, bleeding and increased sensitivity to environmental conditions, making lips more chapped and sensitive.
Lip masks
What does a lip mask do?
A lip mask is a hydrogel sheet that you apply over your lips and mouth area. They're usually sold in the shape of a rose-coloured pot, and jelly-like in feel. The ingredients inside are like a serum, and infuse active ingredients onto your lips. These can include: collagen, bio-cellulose, hyaluronic acid, and thicker butters and oils than you’d find in a regular lip balm.
Collectively, these ingredients can work together to hydrate lips, and make them look more full and plump. Some are meant to be left on for 20 minutes, whereas others are for wearing overnight.
A good lip mask can provide the intense hydration lips need if you have especially dry lips or live in a cold climate and applying lip balm throughout the day just isn’t cutting it.
Ingredients to look for in a lip care product
Butters
Butter sourced from natural ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter and mango butter contain natural fats that replenish the moisture content in your lips. They can also feel wonderfully smooth and luscious on your kissers.
Natural oils
Sourced from nature’s garden, oils contain fatty acids that lock in moisture. They also contain antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals in the environment caused by pollution and smoke. Top nourishing picks include: jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, castor oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and avocado oil.
Waxes
Lip balm contains around 15% wax, while salves and ointments contain some, too, but less. The most common wax and traditional wax used in lip care products is beeswax. Beeswax is naturally very sticky, so adheres to lips well. However, there are plenty of other effective waxes if you find yourself irritated by beeswax. It can be an allergen or irritant for some people - especially if you have a honey or pollen allergy. Plant-based alternatives include carnauba wax and candelilla wax.
What are bad ingredients in lip balm?
Chemicals
While not all chemicals are bad, a good number of them often make your lips even drier. When put onto lips, chemicals can rub off and be ingested throughout the day.
Here are some chemicals to avoid.
- Parabens: these are potentially endocrine disruptors, as they mimic oestrogen, throwing hormones off balance and potentially even causing disease.
- Petrolatum: including petroleum jelly and mineral oil, which are all derived from petroleum. The refining process is harsh and often involves using synthetic chemicals that can irritate skin.
- BHA and BHT: Used as preservatives, these chemicals cause multiple health concerns, including irritating your respiratory system, disrupting hormones and causing organ system toxicity.
- Phenol, menthol and alcohol: These dry out the skin, making them counterproductive additions to a lip balm. Phenol and menthol can also remove the outer layers of lip skin, making it more prone to becoming chapped.
- Chemical sunscreens: While opting for a lip balm with SPF is a great idea for sun protection, chemically-based sunscreens can cause irritation and dryness. These include oxybenzone, avobenzone and cinnamate. Opt for mineral-based sunscreens instead, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Lip allergens and irritants
These can be either chemical (such as benzocaine) or natural. They can include citrus, mint, tea tree, eucalyptus, beeswax, camphor, menthol, lanolin and salicylic acid.
Even natural lip balms have ingredients that can be allergens, such as lanolin, beeswax and Vitamin E.
Fragrances are often unspecified in terms of what they contain, but they’re often made with phthalates that disrupt hormones and trigger asthma. Even more natural fragrances like cinnamon and vanillin can irritate sensitive lips. Scents can also dehydrate lips.
Vegan lip balm
If you’re looking for a vegan lip balm, it can be annoying to find a seemingly perfect pick in a natural lip balm - then realise it contains ingredients derived from animals. Here are some ingredients to avoid if you’re on the hunt for a vegan lip balm:
- Lanolin: This greasy emollient comes from sheep’s wool.
- Beeswax: Also called cera alba, beeswax is used by bees as a building material to make honeycomb cells in a hive. These cells are where they store honey, nectar and pollen,(their food source). To get beeswax, the honeycomb cells must be removed.
- Honey: Honey is a bee’s food source for the colder months, and is used as a humectant in lip balms to attracts moisture and exfoliates lips. Shea butter and cocoa butter (which contains glycerine) are both vegan humectants.
- Carmine: This is more likely to be found in lipsticks, but is made by crushing cochineal bugs to use their shells in bright-red pigments for lip colours.
Other things to consider when buying a lip balm, salve or ointment
Packaging
A lot of lip balm tubes are made from plastic packaging. If you prefer a lip balm stick, choosing a tube made from a recyclable material is more eco-friendly. If you’re more a fan of a hearty pot of balm, glass pots are environmentally friendly.
Taste
No matter how evenly/ well you apply your lip balm, there’s bound to be some that ends up on your tastebuds at some point. Chemical lip balms, or lip care products with added flavours or scents can be more unpalatable when accidentally ingested.
Smell
This is a matter of personal preference. Belying the craze of the Lip Smackers (and your teenage years), many lip balms these days are unscented - especially natural lip balms.
Having a fragrance in your lip balm may be pleasant, though just be mindful that if you have sensitive lips, a product that contains an artificial fragrance is more likely to irritate skin.
Shine and tint
The level of shine and tint in a lip balm are moreso cosmetic concerns. However, if you’re layering your lip balm under a lipstick or other cosmetic lip product, you might prefer it not to be overly shiny.
However, if you’re going for a bare balm look, you could fancy your lip care product to have a bit of colour included, to add a rosy glow to lips. In this case, a tinted lip balm may get your lips smacking.
Value for Money
Some lip balms or salves seem really pricey for the small amount of product that you get. Value for money also depends on: how often you re-apply a lip balm throughout the day, and its longevity once applied.
The only way to really know how long a lip balm lasts on your lips is to try it - or to read feedback from reviewers who’ve already tried a lip care product before and are keen to share their experiences.