Superb Everyday Lip Balm
Because this old man has used lip balms since age 11, I can, at least, claim to be experienced. My use of lip balms serves a singular purpose: to prevent my lips from drying out and cracking (like many whose finger tips around the nails will crack, especially in the winter, if one does not keep the hands well lubricated).<br /><br />To me there are three types of lip balms by texture: waxy - the traditional Chap Stick made by Wyeth; oily or greasy - Lypsyl, especially the versions distributed in Canada and Europe made by Lornamead; and those variously in between - e.g. Chap-Ice made by Oralabs. To me each has a place: waxy - maximum retention; oily - best for billing and cooing (youngsters may have to ask their grandparents about that one); and everyday use.<br /><br />Apart from the texture, a second equally important characteristic is flavoring which yields, of course, flavored an unflavored (essentially) products. One question (or its variants) always on my mind is, "Do I want to use an exquisite Pinot Noir as a chaser for my lip balm?" No! Because I use lip balms round the clock, I tend to avoid flavored products that will contribute to the flavor of food and drink.<br /><br />A third characteristic of lip balms is whether or not they are medicated; specifically, do they contain camphor, menthol, phenol, (e.g., Blistex, Carmex.) or, in the case of sunscreens, octyl methoxycinnamate (perhaps the most widely used sunscreen ingredient today, replacing PABA).  I do not care about this characteristic one way or another except as it contributes to texture and flavoring as noted above.<br /><br />I tried Chap-Ice because of its cost: at $0.64 per 0.15 oz tube it is the least expensive I have found. If "1" is greasy or oily and "10" is waxy, I would classify Chap-Ice at about a "6." The Beeswax Lip Balm variety that I purchased (about which this review refers) contains: Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Castor Oil, "N&A Flavors," and Corn Oil. It also contains butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) which is a fat preservative. When smelled or first applied, there is an aroma - a flavor - that dissipates very quickly; it also imparts a slight warm sensation.<br /><br />In a word, I like Chap-Ice. It has enough body (no so greasy) so that it lasts a reasonable length of time for me; the aroma/flavoring and sensation of warmth dissipate quickly so as not to contaminate food or drink, or otherwise be on my mind; and, at $0.64 a tube, it is an exceptional buy (after it arrived and I tried it, I went back to Amazon and purchased their remaining stock; no fear, however, they immediately posted that they would have a new supply in 3 days).<br /><br />Nonetheless mindful that one person's food is another's poison, I think lip balm users will find Chap-Ice a most satisfactory, everyday lip balm. Given that it is not entirely waxy, I suspect that it would serve nicely for protracted billing and cooing; sadlly, I have no one my immediate circle with whom to test my theory.
Rating: 5 stars