As an avid snacker, I probably go through lip balm more quickly than people who eat less frequently. Side note: I’m not sure how people go on the OMAD (one meal a day) diet. My stomach would protest too much, methinks. I’m constantly wiping it off before I start eating, then reapplying after I’m done eating, only to have to wipe it off again when I inevitably get a rumbly in my tumbly again. Maybe that’s why I can’t help buying lip balms when I see them in the store. I like to try different ones, too. My most recent purchase was Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm, which appealed to me because it was slightly different from just plain old Vaseline in a tube. Let’s take a closer peek at the ingredients and see if my dad thinks this is any better than just regular petroleum jelly.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm ingredients
My Dad the Chemist’s Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm review vs. plain Vaseline
My dad recommends the Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm over regular Vaseline for a few reasons. One is that petrolatum on its own can feel rather sticky and pasty. This lip balm also contains other moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, castor oil, and shea butter. Plus, the addition of microcrystalline wax and carnauba wax help make it easier to apply. All of that translates into a better lip-moisturizing experience overall.
Since this formula contains water, whereas regular Vaseline does not, I figured that they also had to add some sort of preservative. It turns out that since this product does not contain much water, it didn’t need a preservative:
So even though Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm contains some water, it doesn’t contain enough to require any additional preservative. This is good news for those of us with sensitive skin! Interestingly enough, my dad mentioned that glycerin can also be used as a preservative if it makes up at least half of the formula by weight.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm review
I love using regular petroleum jelly as a moisturizer right before bed, particularly on dry, flaky patches of skin that need a lot of love. But on my lips, it can feel just a tad too greasy in the daytime. I’ve used Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Mini in the past, which is basically just like Vaseline in a cute, mini tub, with some red and yellow dye added to slightly tint your lips. Although that product definitely did help protect my lips from winter dryness, I didn’t like having to dip my unwashed finger in the tub and then smearing it on my lips. As someone who lives in NYC, if my hands just touched a subway pole, I don’t really feel comfortable smearing those same hands over my lips just to moisturize them. A tube is much more convenient and mess-free for on-the-go use anytime, anywhere. And I like that it won’t leave my lips looking super greasy because it’s easier to apply just the right amount (instead of accidentally dipping my finger too deep in the tub and applying more than I actually need). Plus, unlike Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Mini, it doesn’t list “flavor” in the ingredient list.
This tube of Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm helps deliver the moisturizing benefits of petroleum jelly in a daytime-friendly format. Basically, that means it can make your lips look glossy instead of oily. A subtle but important distinction, methinks. Compared to other lip balms, this particular balm is not as firm or waxy. It’s more like a stick of wax that melts almost instantaneously when you press it against your lips.
All in all, if you’re looking for a moisturizing, fragrance-free lip balm, Vaseline Lip Therapy Original Lip Balm is worth a try.
Other lip balm reviews
- Blistex Lip Vibrance SPF 15 review: A glamorous, everyday lip balm
- Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated review
- Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 review
- eos Cucumber Melon Lip Balm Review: It’s like candy for your lips
- Save or Splurge? ChapStick Lip Moisturizer SPF 12 vs. Harmon Face Values Lip Balm SPF 15
- Best zinc oxide-based sunscreen lip balms: Burt’s Bees vs. Sprouts
- Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 20 review
- Best sunscreen lip balms: A somewhat comprehensive guide
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- Save or Splurge? Aquaphor Healing Ointment vs. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
- Why I love using Vaseline on extremely dry skin
- Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips Mini Review: Your secret to soft, rosy lips even in the winter
- Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion review
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