I am obsessed with lip balm. I keep it in my car, by my bed and in my purse, and if I happen to be caught without it, I run to the nearest drugstore to purchase an emergency replacement. I’m not kidding when I say I experience anxiety if I have to suffer through an extended period of time with dry lips.
It turns out that I am not alone in this – when we asked for volunteers to test various lip balm sticks, we were inundated with replies. Both men and women shared their own chap stick stories and recommendations. It’s kind of like they were relieved to finally confess their addiction – to know that they weren’t alone.
This is the most in-depth product test we’ve ever attempted – Altogether, our volunteers tested 12 varieties of lip balm!
Readers, we celebrate your chap stick addictions, your need for moist lips. Enjoy the reviews!
Beverly Brahmstedt
57, Loudon, receptionist
Testing: Chap Stick Lip Moisture, SPF 15, Target, 99 cents
Preferred brand of lip balm: Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I never considered myself obsessed, but I do have chap stick everywhere . . . at work, in my purse, next to my bed and at the kitchen table.
Lip moisture: 3, you have to keep applying it
Taste: 5, good – I don’t like flavored chap stick
Application frequency: 2, some days hourly
Texture: 4, smooth
Would you use this product again? Yes.
How would you improve this product? Make it last longer between applications.
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Jerry Cote
39, Pembroke, service tech
Testing: The Merry Hempster Vegan Lip Balm, SPF 18, spearmint flavor, Concord Cooperative Market, $2.49
Preferred brand of lip balm: Carmex
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I’m not obsessed. I just keep chap stick in all of my jackets, in my vehicles, with my keys in the basket and in my medicine cabinet.
Lip moisture: 5, excellent
Taste: 3, unusual
Application frequency: 4, every three to four hours
Texture: 4, smooth
Would you use this product again? Yes.
How would you improve this product? The chap stick was perfect, other than the odd taste when first applied.
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Dellie Champagne
45, Concord, teacher
Testing: Lipjao, SPF 15, Lotions ‘N Potions, $7
Preferred brand of lip balm: Currently, Walgreens Chap Aid, SPF 4, cherry flavor
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I became obsessed with lip balm right out of college. Good thing the obsession didn't begin while I was in college as I wouldn't have been able to afford my “habit.” The obsession quickly turned into an addiction. I have lip balm in every room of my house, attached to my coats, on my key chain and a spare in my car's glove compartment. I also have a beautiful lip balm necklace that a friend made for me. It is my favorite piece of “jewelry.” I currently have 20 tubes in my house and car. That should last me through the winter. I have a friend who wants me to join Lip Balm Anonymous. It is a 12-step recovery program. I'm not quite ready. I'm sure I'm close, though.
Lip moisture: 3, but they only stayed moist for a short period of time as the product did not stay on long. (Came off easily while talking and eating.)
Taste: I prefer to rate the odor. I did not like it. Too mediciney. I would give it a 2.
Application frequency: Too often. I would give that a 2 also. Didn't stay on as long as a waxy product does.
Texture: 2 It felt too oily, hence too slippery for me.
Would you use this product again? No. I was really hoping I would like this product as I like the store it came from – Lotions ‘N Potions. Also, I usually like creams/lotions with shea butter in them (it has 34% shea butter) so I was surprised and disappointed I did not like it.
How would you improve this product? I prefer a waxy feeling lip balm over an oily one. It stays on longer and therefore provides better protection (or feeds the addiction longer). This one has too much oil in it for me. (Hmmm… I wonder what a candle would feel like on my lips??) I would also add a pleasant aroma.
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Roseanne Cota
56, Concord, shipper/receiver
Testing: Alba Pineapple Quench Lip Balm, Rite-Aid, $3.49
Preferred brand of lip balm: Chap stick original
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I use it year round, I even use it on my nose ,when I get a cold and my nose gets chapped from blowing it.(this actually heals your nose quickly) P.S. I never share my chapstick with anyone.( That would be gross)
Lip moisture: 4
Taste: 3, I am not a fan of fruity flavors, so I was turned off by the flavor.
Application frequency: 3, every three or four hours. It lasted well enough.
Texture: 3, very creamy. It felt very smooth and did hold the moisture feeling.
Would you use this product again? Honestly, I doubt it.
How would you improve this product? The product itself was great, I had an issue with the flavor.
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Janis Hansen
39, Concord, computer operator
Testing: Badger Organic Lip Balm, pink grapefruit flavor, Concord Cooperative Market, $2.49.
Preferred brand of lip balm: Chap Stick or Vaseline
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I can go a day without chapstick, but try not to, especially in the winter. I don't know that I would call it an obsession. I have one in the car, one at home, one at work, and one in my coat. This way, if I need some, I'm covered.
Lip moisture: 3, although they didn't necessarily feel moist, it did a good job at preventing my lips from chapping.
Taste: 3, it smelled just like pink grapefruit, but didn't really have any taste to it.
Application frequency: 3, I had to apply it every 2 hours or so
Texture: 2, soft and sort of oily
Would you use this product again? Maybe. It would depend on the options available at the time.
How would you improve this product? I would make it be not be quite so soft. During the first few uses, little pieces will actually come off when you apply it. Also, I would make it taste like it smells.
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Ed Orlowski
51, Strafford, director of residential services for Child and Family Services
Testing: Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, Target, $2.99
Preferred brand of lip balm: The Giving Earth Ultra Moisturizing Lip Balm (vanilla mint)
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I admit it, am a Stick addict. If there was an chapstick anonymous group, I should be in it. It started as many addictions do, I was a teen, hanging out without much to do. A friend turned me on to cherry chapstick and from then on it only got worse. I now carry a stick with me, have one in each car, one in each office and actually use them till they are gone. I am an avid outdoors person, enjoying snowboarding, rock climbing and anything outside. Why suffer with dry lips when modern chemistry has the answer. I have tried many brands, and my preference are for those that have a less wax and more moisturizer. Mint is the best flavor I my opinion.
Lip moisture: 3
Taste: 4.
Application frequency: 3, reapplication needed every couple of hours
Texture: 4, a little too waxy
Would you use this product again? I have at least one tube in my collection
How would you improve this product? Increase the moisture factor.
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Jessica Aguilar
26, Weare, Bernina Sewing Machine retail and education
Testing: Obie Kissed, mochaccino flavor, Concord Chamber of Commerce, $3
Preferred brand of lip balm: Vaseline
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: Well, to put it simply…God, My husband, CHAP STICK! No, I can't go a day without it! Chap stick has always made me feel better…nobody wants dry, cracked lips. 😉 I would probably say my chap stick obsession started at an early age when I discovered flavored chap sticks like lip smackers!!! Specifically strawberry and watermelon! YUM!
Lip moisture: 5, I wouldn't say “moist”…it has more of a waxy texture that stayed around an hour of so if I didn't eat or drink anything.
Taste: 3, it left my mouth with that BLAH feeling . . . not to mention the SMELL.
Application frequency: 0, honestly I only used it 2 or 3 times because the smell made me a bit sick to my stomach.
Texture: 5, waxy . . . went on pretty smooth but thick feeling
Would you use this product again? No thanks!
How would you improve this product? Change the flavor or don't have one at all. It was too waxy . . . make it lighter and moister.
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Pam Morrone
30, Concord, homeschool parent
Testing: Nivea Sun Protection Lip Care, SPF 30, Target, $2.49
Preferred brand of lip balm: Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer, shade: watermelon
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: There is a lip balm in nearly every room in my house as well as my car. I like to re-apply often.
Lip moisture: 1, my lips were more chapped using this product than going without. I could not wait for the 48 hour test period to be finished.
Taste: 4, although I did not taste it, the smell reminded me of lemon meringue pie.
Application frequency: 2, I found myself re-applying this constantly with no luck in keeping my lips moist.
Texture: 2, the product went on very smooth. However, it left a white film on my lips, which was not very attractive.
Would you use this product again? I will positively not use this product again.
How would you improve this product? Scrap the whole formula and start again. Well, keep the lemon meringue pie scent.
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Gail Gilman
32, Concord, legal secretary
Testing: Watch Your Mouth Shea Butter Lip Balm, SPF 45, Bath and Body Works, $5
Preferred brand of lip balm: Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: “Obsession” is a pretty strong word. However, I will admit that there’s always a tube or two of lip balm within reach.
Lip moisture: 5, not only were they moist, and well protected from the elements, but this lip balm isn’t sticky like some others I’ve used.
Taste: 4, I couldn’t quite pinpoint the taste – almost like a lemon poppyseed muffin perhaps. But it was light and fresh and not medicinal at all.
Application frequency: 4, I applied every 2-3 hours whether I really needed it or not. I do have to say that it stayed on pretty well overnight. My lips still had some balm on them when I got out of bed in the morning.
Texture: 5, wonderfully smooth, no graininess at all.
Would you use this product again? Absolutely! I love the fact that it’s SPF 45. Most lip balms that have sun protection are only SPF 15.
How would you improve this product? The flavor was nice but I wouldn’t mind a little variety. Perhaps strawberry or grape. And I know what store this lip balm comes from and the price is a little hefty. That could certainly be improved upon.
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Karen Savage
47, Henniker, senior manager
Testing: Jenness Farm All Natural Lip Balm, summer creamsicle flavor, Lotions ‘N Potions, $2.49
Preferred brand of lip balm: Blistex Complete Moisture
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: Once the weather cools off, it’s a daily thing.
Lip moisture: 4
Taste: 1, didn’t have any taste and didn’t have a smell.
Application frequency: 3, even though my lips were covered, I felt like still had to reapply.
Texture: 5
Would you use this product again? Probably not. It was similar to what I usually use, but not enough to make me change.
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Cassie Pappathan
24, Manchester, slave to The Insider
Testing: Chap-Ex Tropical SPF 15, Tahitian tangerine flavor, Family Dollar, $1 for two
Preferred brand of lip balm: Regular ol’ Chap Stick brand in the “original” flavor.
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: Doing this issue I quickly learned my chap stick obsession is unparallel to the majority of our readers. I mean, I was quite impressed by how passionate our readers got about this very important issue. That being said, I wouldn’t say I have so much of an “obsession.” I would call my relationship with chap stick a very healthy one. Chap stick and I have been together for a long, long time and it is always there when I need it. It protected me in my youth, and made my teen years slightly less awkward. It appears in my glove compartment during distant drives, and rests on my nightstand while I slumber. Chap stick is by my side at work, and travels with me at all times, stored away in my purse. If dog is man’s best friend, chap stick is woman’s BFF.
Lip moisture: 5. I applied it right before lunch, and my lips were still moist after eating and drinking. Impressive!
Taste: 5! I wanted to eat it, but then would have had to go home sick. It tasted kind of like a creamsicle, which, in turn, reminded me of summer. Anything that reminds me of warmer days, is a win in my book.
Application frequency: 5. As previously mentioned, my lips stayed nice ‘n’ moist during a whole meal, which meant I did not have to reapply often.
Texture: 4. The first time I glided it on a small chunk broke off onto my lips, which means that it was slightly too soft and I could imagine it getting very mushy if I kept it in my pocket. However, once on it didn’t feel the least bit oily or heavy.
Would you use this product again? Sure! I still prefer Chapstick brand though in original flavor. But perhaps Tahitian tangerine can hang out in my glove compartment.
How would you improve this product? Make it slightly more solid and perhaps get rid of the orange color. Any chap stick with color to it makes me nervous. I don’t want to have orange lips.
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Susan Ware Flower
41, Hooksett, communications manager
Testing: Carmex stick, SPF 15
Preferred brand of lip balm: Kiehl’s #1
Tell us about your chap stick obsession: I’ve been obsessed with lip balm/ chap stick since I was a teenager. I always have several in my car, desk, coat pockets, every purse, tote, windowsill in kitchen, you name it. I reapply constantly.
Lip moisture: 5
Taste: 1
Application frequency: 4, I applied frequently, but I do anyways.
Texture: 5, very smooth.
Would you use this product again? No. Although it is a cult classic and I was psyched to test it, it has a vanilla-vinyl scent that doesn’t appeal to me
How would you improve this product? The scent.
