A Product Review

Lip Balm. Natural Ice, Chapstick, Carmex or Burt’s Bees Wax?

Natural Ice Lip Balm

Natural Ice Lip Balm

Why should I do a review on Lip Balm? Well, because after smashing my lips against a piece of hard steel for the better part of my life, I'd have to say I qualify as a bit of an expert. Unless, you too, are a trumpet or brass player, you might ask why someone would choose to spend their life putting their lips through this torture. If I haven't just answered your question, I suggest you refer to my article on, Read Naturally. The important thing to know is that being a trumpet player has made me a chronic lip balm user. Those of you who are just occasional lip balm users, may not agree with the information presented here and I will explain why later. For many brass and reed players, lip balm is a way of life. You will notice them as the guys or gals always having a stick of lip balm or ChapStick in their pockets. Long after I gave up playing the horn, I still need to have a stick of lip balm with me at all times during the day as well as by my bed side at night.
The other thing is that I noticed is that nobody else seems to be doing reviews on Lip Balm these days. Why not?  We may not all be trumpet players, but we all have lips, right? Perhaps it is something that is taken for granted or regarded as a personal preference, but I will say from my own personal experience that there may be a better lip balm than the one you are currently using.  A trumpet-playing college roommate convinced me of this when he introduced me to one that I had never tried, but became my lasting favorite ever since; Natural Ice.
If lip balm is something that you use infrequently for chapped, dried or cracked lips, just use whatever heals them the quickest and move on. For the rest of us who are obsessed with the way our lips feel at all hours of the day and night, it is important to find a lip balm that is not too sticky, not too waxy; doesn't burn the lips or smell like a medicine cabinet. There is a time and place for extreme treatment and protection, but every-day lip balm has to make our lips feel, well...normal. So, with our criteria for this review set as, 'normal-healthy-feeling-lips', let's discuss three of the most popular brands; ChapStick, Carmex, Burt's Bees Wax and compare them to my favorite, Natural Ice.

ChapStick

ChapStick has been a trademark name for lip balm for as long as I can remember. It goes back to at least the mid-70's when an Olympic skier, Susie Chaffee (nicknamed Susie Chapstick), starred in commercials advertising the product. One word describes ChapStick: Waxy. As long as you're putting wax on your lips, they're not going to feel smooth, soft and normal. ChapStick is the worst one I've tried. Not only is its texture waxy, but it contains Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene and Oxybenzone. At least one, if not all of these ingredients make my lips itch. Not everyone has this reaction to ChapStick, but those who do, know what I am talking about. ChapStick? No thanks, Susie.

Carmex

Before I discovered my favorite back in college, I used Carmex. Carmex is less waxy than ChapStick and far better at keeping my lips moist. However, it has one annoying quality. Carmex contains Camphor, Menthol and Phenol. One or more of those ingredients come on a little too strong, not only on the lips but the nose as well. Carmex tries too hard to please and as a result comes off a bit arrogant and obnoxious. Lick your lips and go on to the next one.

Burt's Bees Wax

Burt's Bees Wax gave my long-time favorite a run for the money the first time I tried it two years ago.
It was wrapped along with some other Christmas gifts to me from my daughter, who presented it as a 'Very Fine, High Quality Lip Balm'. I put it on and was instantly impressed. It felt cool, soothing, yet moist and warm at the same time. Not overly brash or obnoxious like the Carmex. Wow, I thought that perhaps I had finally found a new favorite. My new found joy was short-lived, however, upon taking a glimpse in the mirror and seeing that my lips were completely white. It looked like I had just attempted to put a powdered-donut in my mouth and missed. Burts Bees Wax does contain real wax from bees and hives as well as lanolin, coconut oil, sunflower oil. No where on the listed ingredients, though, do I see powdered donuts sugar, so why does it make my lips look that way? I found myself rubbing the balm off to remove the whitish-looking freak lips, but that sort of ruins the purpose of a lip balm, doesn't it? For that reason alone, Burt's Bees Wax is for the birds.

Natural Ice

As its name implies, Natural Ice goes on very naturally. It feels cooling and soothing without being overbearing, obnoxious, pretentious and rude like Carmex. It leaves very little wax buildup on your lips and unlike Burt's Bees Wax, doesn't make you look like a clown. Natural Ice was not only known by that name. Years ago, when I first discovered it, it was called Mentholatum stick. As its name once implied, it contains menthol. Natural Ice has only changed by name and it remains my favorite today.
Let's rank them:

Lip Balm Ratings

ChapStick: 70
Burt's Bees Wax: 80
Carmex: 82
Natural Ice: 90

Lip Balm Conclusions

Okay, I realize that the other brands are popular for a reason. Also, I realize there are about 6,524 other brands which I have not mentioned or even tried. I'm not a snob about Natural Ice, it just happens to be what's best for me. In fact, I've saved you some time and found where you can buy your favorite brands on eBay below. By the way, this is one of the few places, you can still find Natural Ice. Choose the one you like best.

Yes, I am a clown with Chapped Lips. Get me some Burt's Bees Wax.
LOT of 6 Burts Bees Items
LOT of 6 Burts Bees Items
Paypal   US $7.99 		Lot of 5 BURTS BEES Beeswax Lip Balm New Sealed
Lot of 5 BURTS BEES Beeswax Lip Balm New Sealed
Paypal   US $8.50 		30 ASSORTED BURTS BEE LIP BALMS
30 ASSORTED BURTS BEE LIP BALMS
Paypal   US $25.40
BURTS BEES HONEY LIP BALM
BURTS BEES HONEY LIP BALM
Paypal   US $2.25 		BURTS BEES LIP BALM X 10 NEW SEALED
BURTS BEES LIP BALM X 10 NEW SEALED
Paypal   US $15.00 		BURTS BEES LIP BALM x 15 4 pc LIP STASH PACK NEW
BURTS BEES LIP BALM x 15 4 pc LIP STASH PACK NEW
Paypal   US $9.99

I'm a hardcore user. I need that strong-smelling Carmex you talked about.
Carmex Lip Balm Stick Moisture Plus Spf 15 12x07oz
Carmex Lip Balm Stick Moisture Plus Spf 15 12x07oz
Paypal   US $33.60 		Carmex moisturizing lip balm 8 sample packets
Carmex moisturizing lip balm 8 sample packets
Paypal   US $.99 		Carmex Click Stick SPF 15 3 tubes sealed
Carmex Click Stick SPF 15 3 tubes sealed
Paypal   US $.99
6 X CARMEX Lip Balm 4 original and 2 cherry
6 X CARMEX Lip Balm 4 original and 2 cherry
Paypal   US $2.25 		CARMEX LIP BALM 12 JARS 25oz EACH
CARMEX LIP BALM 12 JARS 25oz EACH
Paypal   US $15.00 		CARMEX LIP BALM TOTAL OF 4 ALL TOGETHER
CARMEX LIP BALM TOTAL OF 4 ALL TOGETHER
Paypal   US $7.00

My lips are made of plastic. I need wax and lots of it. Susie ChapStick Rules.
Banana Boat Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 45 X10
Banana Boat Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 45 X10
Paypal   US $.99 		06 AVON CHAP STICKS LIP BALMS w LANOLIN Pineapple
06 AVON CHAP STICKS LIP BALMS w LANOLIN Pineapple
Paypal   US $4.40 		ChapStick Classic Spf 4 Original Lot of 4 Sticks SEALED
ChapStick Classic Spf 4 Original Lot of 4 Sticks SEALED
Paypal   US $2.79
A TOUCH OF HONEY LIP BALM5chapstick beeswax VANILLA
A TOUCH OF HONEY LIP BALM5chapstick beeswax VANILLA
Paypal   US $4.50 		A TOUCH OF HONEY LIP BALM5chapstick beeswax Cherry
A TOUCH OF HONEY LIP BALM5chapstick beeswax Cherry
Paypal   US $4.50 		Bees Wax Olive Oil Chapstick Lip Balm Natural Honey
Bees Wax Olive Oil Chapstick Lip Balm Natural Honey
Paypal   US $1.50

I play the horn and need my lips to feel smooth and silky. I'll take the Natural Ice.
NIB NATURAL ICE LIP PROTECTANT SUNSCREEN SPF 15 12 PACK
NIB NATURAL ICE LIP PROTECTANT SUNSCREEN SPF 15 12 PACK
Paypal   US $9.99 		Mentholatum Natural Ice Original Lip Balm box of 6
Mentholatum Natural Ice Original Lip Balm box of 6
Paypal   US $6.99 		Mentholatum Natural Ice Original Lip Balm single
Mentholatum Natural Ice Original Lip Balm single
Paypal   US $1.39
Mentholatum Natural Ice Sport Lip Balm single
Mentholatum Natural Ice Sport Lip Balm single
Paypal   US $1.39 		Mentholatum Natural Ice Sport Lip Balm box of 12
Mentholatum Natural Ice Sport Lip Balm box of 12
Paypal   US $12.39 		Mentholatum Natural Ice Original Lip Balm box of 24
Mentholatum Natural Ice Original Lip Balm box of 24
Paypal   US $23.50
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Posted under Health & Fitness

This post was written by Rob on January 27, 2009

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2 Comments so far

  1. Babaquabscark March 10, 2009 1:31 pm

    Hello, I can’t understand how to add your blog in my rss reader
    ————————
    internet signature: http://joneri.ru/

  2. Heartburn Home Remedy April 15, 2009 6:43 am

    The style of writing is quite familiar . Have you written guest posts for other blogs?

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