Blistex
Blistex was founded in 1947 by Charles Arch in Oak Brook, Illinois, and remains a privately held family-owned company. The brand is best known for its medicated lip care products and is one of the top-selling lip balm brands in the United States. Many Blistex products contain active drug ingredients like dimethicone, octinoxate, oxybenzone, and padimate O, positioning them as both cosmetic and over-the-counter drug products. The inclusion of chemical sunscreen filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate in lip products is particularly notable because these ingredients are directly ingested. Blistex also uses petroleum-based ingredients and synthetic preservatives across much of its product line.
Products Analyzed
Flagged Ingredients Found
Who Owns Blistex?
IndependentParent Company
Blistex Inc.
Parent Industry
Lip Care
Blistex Inc. was founded by Charles Arch in 1947 and remains a privately held, family-owned company operated by the Arch family. It is one of the few major lip care brands still under independent family ownership.
Corporate ownership does not automatically mean a product is unsafe. It means ingredient and sourcing decisions are influenced by a parent company whose primary business is lip care. Consumers deserve to know who profits from their purchases.
Products by Blistex
Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment
Blistex
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Organic Lip Balm
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm SPF 15
Blistex
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Organic Lip Balm
Blistex DCT (Daily Conditioning Treatment)
Blistex
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Organic Lip Balm
Blistex Silk & Shine
Blistex
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Organic Lip Balm
Blistex Simple & Sensitive
Blistex
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Organic Lip Balm
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Flagged Ingredients in Blistex Products
We found 18 different ingredients of concern across Blistex's product line. Each one links to a full safety analysis with details on health risks, regulatory status, and which other brands use the same ingredient.
Parabens
A class of synthetic preservatives used to prevent microbial growth in cosmetics and personal care products. Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, raising concerns about endocrine disruption and links to breast cancer.
Petroleum / Petrolatum
A semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum refining. Widely used as a moisture barrier in lip balms, lotions, and ointments. When inadequately refined, it can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are linked to cancer.
Camphor
A waxy, aromatic compound used in lip balms and medicated products for its cooling sensation and mild analgesic properties. Camphor dries out lips with repeated use, creating a cycle of dependency.
Phenol
A caustic organic compound used in some lip products as an exfoliant and antiseptic. It chemically exfoliates the outer layer of lip skin, creating temporary smoothness but causing irritation and dependency.
Synthetic Fragrance
An umbrella term that can hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Under US law, companies are not required to list individual fragrance components, which may include phthalates, musks, allergens, and sensitizers.
DEA, MEA & TEA (Ethanolamines)
A group of amino acid-based emulsifiers and pH adjusters. Ethanolamines can react with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, which are potent carcinogens. DEA itself is also linked to organ toxicity and developmental harm.
Octinoxate
A chemical UV filter used in sunscreens and SPF cosmetics. It absorbs UVB radiation and is one of the most common sunscreen ingredients worldwide. Like oxybenzone, it is an endocrine disruptor and harmful to coral reefs.
Mineral Oil
A colorless, odorless oil derived from petroleum distillation. Used extensively in cosmetics and skincare as an emollient and solvent. Like petrolatum, cosmetic-grade mineral oil may contain impurities if insufficiently refined.
Artificial Colors
Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum or coal tar, used to give cosmetics vivid colors. Many are contaminated with heavy metals and have been linked to behavioral issues, allergies, and potential carcinogenicity.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG Compounds)
A family of petroleum-derived compounds used as emulsifiers, thickeners, solvents, and penetration enhancers. PEGs themselves are relatively low-toxicity, but they are frequently contaminated with ethylene oxide (a known carcinogen) and 1,4-dioxane.
Menthol
An organic compound derived from mint or synthesized artificially. Like camphor, it provides a cooling sensation in lip products but acts as an irritant that can dry out and damage the delicate lip barrier.
Paraffin Wax
A white or colorless soft solid wax derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. Commonly used in lip balms, lipsticks, and candles to add structure and a smooth texture.
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
A synthetic antioxidant closely related to BHA, used to prevent oxidation in cosmetics and food. Less studied than BHA but shares some endocrine disruption concerns.
Octisalate
A chemical UV filter that absorbs UVB radiation and is commonly used as a secondary sunscreen agent to boost SPF values. Octisalate also acts as a solvent for other UV filters like avobenzone.
Dimethicone
A silicone-based polymer widely used in cosmetics and skincare for its smoothing, water-repellent properties. Not toxic in itself, but creates a synthetic barrier that can trap impurities, clog pores, and is not biodegradable.
Lanolin
A natural waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to waterproof their wool. Lanolin is an excellent emollient used in lip balms, nipple creams, and moisturizers, but it is a common allergen and may contain pesticide residues from sheep dipping.
Phenoxyethanol
A glycol ether used as a preservative in cosmetics, often marketed as a 'safer' alternative to parabens. At regulated concentrations (up to 1%), it is generally well tolerated, but higher concentrations can cause irritation and are toxic to infants.
Polybutene
A synthetic polymer derived from petroleum, used as a thickener, binder, and viscosity-increasing agent in lip glosses, lipsticks, and other cosmetics. Polybutene has low direct toxicity but is a petroleum-derived synthetic with environmental persistence concerns.
