Lip balm vs Chapstick: Which is Better? (You’ll be shocked!)
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Want To Know The Difference Between Lip balm And chapstick? Read This First.
We have to admit, no one really likes their lips to feel dry or cracked. People (including me) who have them knows the struggle of chapped lips that you just want to peel, but when you do, it causes bleeding. So when you need something to heal your dry, chapped lips, what do you use?
It’s quite common to see people get confused with the terms “lip balm” and “chapstick”. Many would even use them interchangeably without knowing they are different. And one of them indeed is better. Keep reading to know what’s the difference and which one is better, lip balm vs chapstick?
What is lip balm?
Lip balms are an essential skincare product that is usually used to moisturize and protect dry, chapped, or cracked lips. Aside from this, it can alleviate other lip conditions such as stomatitis or cold sores.
You may also be able to use them on other parts of the face like chapped cheeks or hands. Lip balms can be applied throughout the day for protection from wind and cold weather conditions that may dry out the skin on the lips.
They are usually made with petroleum jelly or waxes, which are occlusive ingredients that can seal existing moisture into your skin. It also protects injured or irritated skin from environmental stressors by forming a seal or barrier where it’s applied. The most common ingredients to be found in lip balms are beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, lanolin, and vitamin E.
Lip balms are typically applied to the lips by themselves or as a base for lipstick or gloss. Nowadays, you can find lip balms in all types of containers, jars, twist-up tubes, and tins. We have to admit, the packaging is growing cuter day by day! You can also find flavored or tinted lip balms in the market.
What is chapstick?
Chapstick is a brand of lip balm that has been around for decades to protect and moisturize lips.
Chapstick is made from a variety of different ingredients that you can find here, but the most active one is white petrolatum (which is petroleum jelly only). Other ingredients include Camphor, Carnauba Wax, Cetyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Lanolin, Light Mineral Oil, Paraffin, White Wax, and many more.
You may or may not this but, it is a patented formula, specially designed to soften and protect your lips without feeling waxy, sticky, or greasy.
Chapstick, just like any other lip balm can be used for a variety of reasons. Some people use it to protect their lips from harsh weather conditions or chaffing winds. Others use them to moisturize and heal their lips after they have been exposed to cold temperatures or harsh chemicals such as alcohol or cigarette smoke.
Is chapstick and lip balm the same thing?
No, lip balms and chapstick are not technically the same thing. Chapstick is a brand of lip balm that has created one of the most popular lip balms for decades, which is why people often use the term “chapstick” synonymously for the term “lip balm”.
Which is better: Lip balm vs chapstick?
Honestly, there’s no right answer to which is better, lip balm vs chapstick because lip balms from chapstick and other brands are all made up of similar ingredients since their purpose, most of the time is the same. Some lip balms like this one may only treat dry, chapped lips, while others like Glossier Balm Dotcom can be used as a universal skin salve. So you must choose a lip balm best suited for your skin type, lip condition, and budget.
(You have no idea what Glossier dupe I have found for its balm dotcom, eek!)
I personally prefer to use a lip balm with humectants and emollients in it rather than a chapstick that just has emoliients and cannot really heal or hydrate my lips. Emollients only create a layer over your lips that feels like hydration since it’s glossy whereas, when humectants are added to the mix, they can hydrate the lips by attracting water molecules to the skin and hold them there.
Is chapstick bad for your lips?
Chapstick is not necessarily bad for your lips since it has many emollients which 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.
Also, dermatologists always recommend lip balms that do not have camphor or fragrances, which, unfortunately, Chapstick’s lip balms have.
is lip balm really neccessary?
Lip balm is one of the essential skincare products you must have and use every day because no one really likes dry cracked lips. It also creates a smooth canvas for lipstick and lip glosses to go on smoothly and not look patchy.
Why do my lips peel after using chapstick?
Chapstick lip balms contain white petrolatum, which is a byproduct of petroleum oil. This can make chapped lips worse by irritating the skin for some people. Also, please don’t peel off dry peeling skin from the lips. It can cause pain, even bleeding, and make your lips super sensitive to lip care products.
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 the brands that has been creating lip balms for quite a long time, which is why people associate all lips 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.
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