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Your pout’s in distress, and the cavalry has arrived! But wait… is that a tube of lip balm or chapstick, and are they any different?
Have you ever found yourself at the cosmetics aisle, blankly staring at the ocean of lip care products, unable to decipher the difference between lip balm and chapstick?
Or are you the type who just grabs a stick because, let’s face it, it’s for your chapped lips, and cold turkey is never a skincare option?
So, let’s shut it for once and duke it out in the name of a single cause: Your Kissable Lips. 💋
Fact or Fiction: Lip Balm and Chapstick Are One and the Same?
You’ve heard the terms used interchangeably. But newsflash: it’s like saying an umbrella is the same as a parasol—or a hot dog is just a sandwich. Both lip balms and Chapsticks are in the race, sure. But they’re running in different lanes—with their own unique formulas and secret superpowers.
So basically, the major difference between chapstick and lip balm is that ChapStick is actually a brand name that’s become so popular, it’s often used to refer to all lip balms. Kind of like how we say ‘Kleenex’ instead of ’tissue’.
Different lip balms contain different ingredients. Some, like ChapStick, are designed to seal in moisture, while others contain moisturizing butters and oils that work to hydrate your lips.
What’s the difference between lip balm and chapstick?
- Ingredients: Lip balms often tout natural and organic elements, like beeswax or shea butter, that nourish your pout. Chapsticks, on the other hand, famously contain white petrochemicals like white petrolatum or paraffin, which basically seal in moisture.
- Purpose: Lip balm leans more towards long-term lip care and repair, while Chapstick’s quick-fix formula ideal for those ‘oh-no-my-lips-are-dry’ moments.
- Cultural Clout: Chapstick is one of those brand names that’s become synonymous with the generic product (just ask for a Band-Aid or Q-tip!). Lip balm, however, conjures images of the holistic lifestyle crowd that caters to treating your dry and chapped lips.
Is lip balm or ChapStick better?
In my opinion, the more advanced lip balms that we have today (with all those ceramides, oils, and other hydrating ingredients), lip balms are actually much better than chapstick. The latter basically just adds a thick layer on top without doing much.
Also, chapsticks are more of a teenager thing hence they are so cheap, whereas lip balms are a sophisticated version of that for hot girls with hot skin problems. 😉
Is chapstick bad for your lips?
Chapstick is not necessarily bad for your lips since it has many emollients that can soften and protect your lips without feeling waxy, sticky, or greasy. However, those ingredients can only seal existing moisture into your dry chapped lips temporarily. It cannot heal or hydrate your lips as it does not have any humectants.
Is lip balm really necessary?
Let’s talk facts. Your lips don’t have the luxury of sebaceous (read oil-producing) glands. They depend entirely on external conditions and your stock of lip-loving products for hydration and protection. So, yes, balm is necessary.
Why do my lips peel after using chapstick?
Ever find your lips feeling drier after applying Chapstick? No, it’s not your lips rebelling against the stick. Sometimes, ingredients like camphor or menthol, while providing that minty-fresh cooling effect, might lead to counterintuitive dryness.
5 best lip balms for dry, chapped lips
1. burt’s bee lip balm
This is seriously a life-saver! It’s a beautiful lip balm with moisturizers/humectants to hydrate the lips and emollients to seal the moisture in them. This natural lip balm is free of parabens, phthalates, petroleum, and SLS. A big yes for its price and effectiveness!
2. laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
My absolute favorite, this lip mask delivers intense moisture and antioxidants while you sleep with its Moisture Wrap technology. It is one of such lip balms that actually heal the lips from within so that you don’t have to reapply lip balms again and again. Free of parabens and phthalates, you have to try this for long-lasting hydration.
3. Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment
Another awesome lip balm I’m a fan of is this one. It immediately relieves dryness and soothes chapped, cracked lips, and provides long-lasting moisture to them. It has different types of humectants like glycerine and panthenol, antioxidants, as well as emollients which sound like magic for lips!
4. ChapStick Classic Lip Balm
With this best-selling lip treatment, your extra-dry lips are moisturized for up to 24 hours. It may be a little expensive, but you won’t regret buying it after seeing the results. It is clinically proven to repair the look of damaged lips, after all, it is jam-packed with all the good humectants, antioxidants, and emollients!
5. My DIY lip mask with vaseline
This is my secret recipe for an effective lip mask that you can create at home. While doing my skincare, I’ll apply my moisturizer over the lips which act as a humectant. And then top it off vaseline which is a good emollient. Voila, I get my very own lip mask!
You can use any lip balm with petroleum jelly in it to create a barrier on the lips.
final thoughts on lip balm vs chapstick
Chapstick is one of the brands that has been creating lip balms for quite a long time, which is why people associate all lip balms with chapstick. Apparently, all chapsticks are lip balms, but all lip balms may not be chapstick just because there are a ton of other brands that make nice lip balms.
Now that you know the difference between lip balm and chapstick, you can choose the best lip balm for your lips. So basically, everybody wins in this battle of lip balm vs chapstick.
