What's in your balm? (You might be surprised)

What’s Really in Your Lip Balm?

You’d think something as simple as lip balm would be, well, simple. But have you ever stopped to check what’s actually inside that little tube? I decided to take a closer look at what’s in those big-brand balms like ChapStick, EOS, Burt’s Bees, and Blistex. And how does Lip Service compare?

💄 ChapStick

Typical Ingredients:
Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Fragrance, Artificial Flavor, Colorants, and Preservatives

What that means:
ChapStick’s main ingredients come from petroleum — a byproduct of the oil industry. These coat your lips but don’t actually nourish or heal them. “Fragrance,” “artificial flavor,” and “colorants” are all words used in products that represent hundreds and/or even thousands of separate synthetic chemicals. If it was a simple, natural, or easy to pronounce ingredient, it would be listed. These are most likely fillers, synthetics and additives.

🌸 EOS (Evolution of Smooth)

Typical Ingredients:
Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil, Flavor, Stevia, and a long list of “natural flavor” and synthetic fragrance compounds.

What that means:
EOS looks more natural, but many of their “flavors” and “fragrances” are lab-created. Synthetic flavoring agents can irritate sensitive lips and may actually contribute to dryness over time. These ingredients were not in the “key ingredient” section when I was researching this article.  There was a separate list of the “full ingredients” hidden in the description :(

🐝 Burt’s Bees

Typical Ingredients:
Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Lanolin, Limonene, Linalool, Eugenol, and Tocopherol (Vitamin E).

What that means:
Burt’s Bees is a step in the right direction, but some of their formulas still include lanolin, which can be an allergen for some people. Limonene, Linalool, and Eugenol are specific aromatic compounds. While naturally derived and generally recognized as safe for consumption by the FDA, these components can be skin sensitizers and potential allergens, especially when they oxidize.  Side note; the parent company of Burt’s Bees is Clorox.

💊 Blistex

Typical Ingredients:
Petrolatum, Camphor, Menthol, Phenol, Fragrance, and Dimethicone.

What that means:
Blistex is marketed as “medicated,” but those ingredients work more like numbing agents than healers. Camphor, menthol, and phenol can temporarily relieve pain or give a cooling effect, but they can also irritate delicate lip tissue and make your lips dependent on constant reapplication.  Dimethicone is a type of silicone, which is a substance from heating sand and carbon at high temperatures. Again, this has “fragrance,” which pretty much could mean anything.

🌿 Lip Service

Ingredients:
Calendula infused almond oil, Castor oil, Shea butter, Beeswax, Peppermint essential oil and vitamin e

What that means:
Each ingredient serves a purpose:

• Calendula-infused oil gently heals, soothes, and protects against cracking with natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
• Castor oil deeply hydrates and locks in moisture.
• Shea butter restores softness and elasticity while nourishing the skin barrier.
• Beeswax forms a breathable shield that keeps lips protected and hydrated all day long.

No fillers. No artificial flavors. No petroleum. Just pure, plant-based care that actually heals instead of hides the problem.

💬 The Bottom Line

When it comes to your lips, simpler really is better. Lip Service is crafted with intentionally chosen ingredients. Just honest, herbal healing that lasts. Because your lips deserve better than a quick fix — they deserve service.