Carmex
Carmex was created in 1937 by Alfred Woelbing in his kitchen in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and remains a family-owned brand under Carma Laboratories to this day. Known for its distinctive yellow jar and medicinal tingle, Carmex is marketed as a medicated lip balm for severely chapped lips. The formula contains 45% white petrolatum along with camphor, menthol, phenol, and salicylic acid, which create the tingling sensation but can also irritate lip tissue with repeated use. Carmex's reliance on petroleum as its primary ingredient and its inclusion of multiple potential irritants make it a frequently cited example in discussions about lip balm ingredient safety.
Products Analyzed
Flagged Ingredients Found
Who Owns Carmex?
IndependentParent Company
Carma Laboratories
Parent Industry
Lip Care
Carma Laboratories has been family-owned by the Woelbing family since Alfred Woelbing founded the company in 1937. It remains one of the few major lip care brands that is still privately held and family-operated.
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 Carmex
Carmex Classic Lip Balm
Carmex
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Organic Lip Balm
Carmex Daily Care Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 15
Carmex
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Organic Lip Balm
Carmex Comfort Care
Carmex
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Organic Lip Balm
Carmex Cherry Lip Balm
Carmex
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Organic Lip Balm
Carmex Healing Lip Balm
Carmex
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Organic Lip Balm
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Flagged Ingredients in Carmex Products
We found 10 different ingredients of concern across Carmex'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.
Oxybenzone
A chemical UV filter found in many sunscreens and SPF-containing cosmetics. It absorbs UVA and UVB radiation but is a known endocrine disruptor, coral reef toxin, and one of the most frequently detected chemicals in human blood and urine.
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.
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.
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.
Salicylic Acid
A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) used for its exfoliating and anti-acne properties. Beneficial in targeted skincare, but problematic in lip products where it thins the already-delicate lip barrier.
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.
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.
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.
