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Carmex

Lip balm.

Carmex Lip balm
Lip

About this product

A medicated lip balm in a tube applicator, formulated with petrolatum and botanical extracts to moisturize and soothe dry lips.

Best for

Dry skin
Lip

The Guru Index verdict

65%

Mixed

~Mixed · 65%
2Reviewers
1Approved
0Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

One expert finds it hard to fault, it works as well as pricier alternatives and needs no messy finger application, though the round applicator could be sharper. However, a dermatologist cautions that while Carmex feels soothing at first, the camphor, menthol, salicylic acid, and phenol can irritate delicate lip skin over time, triggering a cycle where people reach for more to ease the returning dryness. That means anyone prone to chapped lips or sensitive skin may want to patch-test first or consider gentler options.
Synthesized from 2 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Salicylic acid (BHA)Fragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Camphor, White Petrolatum, Lanolin, Beeswax, Cetyl Esters, Paraffinum Liquidum, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Menthol, Salicylic Acid, Phenol, Vanillin, Flavor

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"I'm currently back on the yellow tube Carmex. Back on the Carmex, hard to go wrong with the Carmex. The only thing I don't like about Carmex is the round applicator, because it still got the round one. I would like a triangular shape. I've tried the expensive ones, I've tried the very expensive ones for this, but like a cheap Carmex does the job. It's pretty much the same. I don't want to put my finger in an expensive pot. I just want to put it on and it's done."
All 2 takes from Caroline Hirons
S2 Ep15: Charlene White
"I'm currently back on the yellow tube Carmex. Hard to go wrong with a bit of Carmex. The only thing I don't like about Carmex is the round applicator because it's still got the round one. I would like a triangular shape so it hits the lip very detailed. I've tried the expensive ones, I've tried the very expensive ones, but a cheaper Carmex is pretty much the same. I don't want to put my finger in an expensive pot. I just want to put it on and it's done."
Glad We Had This Chat - Charlene White
"I'm currently back on the yellow tube Carmex. Back on the Carmex, hard to go wrong with the Carmex. The only thing I don't like about Carmex is the round applicator, because it still got the round one. I would like a triangular shape. I've tried the expensive ones, I've tried the very expensive ones for this, but like a cheap Carmex does the job. It's pretty much the same. I don't want to put my finger in an expensive pot. I just want to put it on and it's done."
Skip
"Carmex has ingredients that are soothing like camphor phenol but also irritating. It feels soothing, it feels like your lips are soft because it is moisturizing, but then you get that irritation that develops and several hours later you're like oh my lips are chapped again so you reach for more Carmex. It's a vicious cycle."
All 2 takes from Dr Dray
How To Get Hydrated Lips FAST | Dermatologist Tips
"Carmex has ingredients that are soothing like camphor phenol but also irritating. It feels soothing, it feels like your lips are soft because it is moisturizing, but then you get that irritation that develops and several hours later you're like oh my lips are chapped again so you reach for more Carmex. It's a vicious cycle."
Drugstore Skincare Gems You Need To Know About!
"Carmex is a notorious product for causing irritant dermatitis because while it's got the white petrolatum, it also has camphor, menthol, salicylic acid, and phenol which feel really soothing going on but then are super irritating to the delicate lip skin. And so then an irritation develops, so what do you do? You reach for more Carmex and the cycle repeats itself."
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