lip balm Archives - Jen is on a Journey

What Makes Carmex Tingle?

August 7, 2012 by The Mom Jen 31 Comments

Don’t neglect your lips when you’re out in the sun, Carmex can help! Ever wondered what’s in those little tubes that make them feel so good? You know what I’m talking about…the “tingle.” What makes Carmex tingle?

Menthol — Kills germs and relieves discomfort
Menthol also has anesthetic properties and helps soothe the discomfort of dry, chapped lips and the pain associated with cold sores. Menthol elicits a cool, refreshing sensation.
Camphor — Alleviates pain
Acts as a mild local anesthetic and antimicrobial agent against germs. Camphor is also one of the ingredients that provide relief for the burning, itching and pain associated with cold sores.
Phenol — Kills germs, exfoliates and anesthetizes
In Carmex,phenol helps reduce the itching and burning associated with dry chapped lips and cold sores. The phenol in Carmex lip balms also help to gently remove old, dry and peeling skin on very chapped lips.
Lanolin — Softens, lubricates and protects
Lanolin protects lips from the elements by locking in hydration and restoring softness and elasticity to tender lips.
Cocoa Seed Butter — Moisturizes and protects
Because of its pleasing fragrance and excellent emollient qualities, cocoa butter is a popular ingredient in many cosmetic and skin care products. .
Salicylic Acid — Gently exfoliates and relieves pain
Salicylic acid can be found in many skin care products such as cleansers, facial
creams and lotions.
Aloe Butter — Helps heal and soothe
Research shows aloe also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial qualities.
Vitamin E — Reduces damaging free radicals
Vitamin E helps heal wounds faster and also increases the efficacy of other active sunscreen ingredients.
Shea Butter — Penetrates to soften dry, cracked skin
Shea Butter is a plant lipid that is used as an emollient in cosmetics to moisturize and soften skin.
Petrolatum — Reduces inflammation and helps heal
Topical application of petrolatum can reduce inflammation and help the skin’s outer
layer recover from damage (e.g., chapped lips, minor cuts and burns).

My 3 kids and I all love Carmex, even my son who wears it at night. We received the new Ultra Smooth lip balm in the pomegranate scent and it works wonderfully like the rest. That sweet scent added with the tingle that just assures you it’s working is a wonderful summer combination. I don’t wear lipstick but I do like having a slight shine to my lips during the day and when I go out, this satisfies that need. Plus living in California, even our doctors say we need sun protection every day of the year and Carmex Ultra Smooth offers SPF 15 with 80 minutes of water resistant sunscreen.
Product provided for honest review.

Carmex Lime Twist and Vanilla Click Sticks Review

August 23, 2011 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

We are constantly buying lip protection for the kids in our family. I’m not sure, but I think they are eating it! Okay, I’m kidding, but it goes so fast, I know that we all just want smooth lips! With sunburn, weather changes, and when my kids have colds, I see their lips take the brunt each time! When lips get chapped, they peel, burn, and feel terrible when you laugh or even talk! I have a terrible habit when my lips are chapped to peel the skin off with my teeth, strange right? I need some protection that I won’t have that desire again!

Carmex has been around over 80 years and those little yellow tins are sold everywhere, it’s a household name. Where it all started:

Always curious, always inventive, Alfred Woelbing, a a buyer at a Chicago department store with a home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, decided to create a home remedy for a pesky condition that he’d often suffered: cold sores. After much experimentation over a hot plate, Alfred created Carmex, and then proceeded to sell it to pharmacies by going door to door. If they weren’t interested in purchasing his product, he gave them a dozen jars for free—along with a post card for a re-order.

Two of Carmex’s newest flavors are the Lime Twist and Vanilla Click Sticks. With delicious flavors and scents, the lip balmalso includes a SPF 15 and all the moisturizing ingredients of the traditional line with three additional moisturizers not found in any of the other products!!

Our Take: My son is currently dealing with a summer cold and has raw burning lips. Perfect timing for the Lime Twist click stick. The scent was fine for him, more masculine than a perfume-like scent. He immediately felt a tingle like a sting, but I assured him it was working! The balm was a bit shiny, he wasn’t thrilled to keep it on for school, so he blotted it a bit to tone the shine down. That night he reapplied and by morning he already felt a change and his lips appeared much less chapped! My oldest took the vanilla click stick and also felt the tingle, enjoyed the scent, and appreciated the slight shine of the balm. Both click sticks lasted a long time, they didn’t dry up quickly like other chap sticks.

I tested out the Moisture Plus ultra hydrating lip balm and found out that the clear gloss finish was pretty and could be worn over lipstick easily. I too felt that tingle of the balm adding moisture to my lips, though the clear wasn’t scented, rather it had a more medicinal scent. I’d prefer to purchase the berry or plum for a more pleasant scent and added tint of color!

We were sent product from the makers of Carmax and provided us with product for honest review and giveaway. All opinions are our own.