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Home/Brand Safety/Blistex
Brand safety report

Blistex.

Ingredient safety analysis based on 5 products in our database.

Safety Score

3/10

Products

5

Flagged Ingredients

18

The report

Full breakdown.

Blistex

Oak Brook, IllinoisFounded 1947
Safety Score3/10Poor

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

Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment1/10
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm SPF 151/10
Blistex DCT (Daily Conditioning Treatment)1/10
Blistex Silk & Shine4/10
Blistex Simple & Sensitive8/10

Flagged Ingredients Found

petroleum petrolatum(in 4 products)artificial colors(in 4 products)mineral oil(in 3 products)camphor(in 3 products)synthetic fragrance(in 3 products)lanolin(in 3 products)parabens(in 3 products)bht(in 3 products)paraffin wax(in 2 products)phenol(in 2 products)dimethicone(in 2 products)polybutene(in 2 products)dea mea teapolyethylene glycoloctinoxateoctisalatementholphenoxyethanol
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See our full Numbrrrz vs Blistex comparison

Who Owns Blistex?

Independent

Parent 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.

The line

Products by Blistex.

View full ingredient analysis →
Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment

Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment

Blistex

Ingredients23
Flagged13
Safety Score1/10
petroleum petrolatummineral oilparaffin wax
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm SPF 15

Blistex Medicated Lip Balm SPF 15

Blistex

Ingredients15
Flagged12
Safety Score1/10
petroleum petrolatummineral oilparaffin wax
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
Blistex DCT (Daily Conditioning Treatment)

Blistex DCT (Daily Conditioning Treatment)

Blistex

Ingredients11
Flagged10
Safety Score1/10
petroleum petrolatummineral oilcamphor
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
Blistex Silk & Shine

Blistex Silk & Shine

Blistex

Ingredients9
Flagged4
Safety Score4/10
petroleum petrolatumpolybutenephenoxyethanol
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead
View full ingredient analysis →
Blistex Simple & Sensitive

Blistex Simple & Sensitive

Blistex

Ingredients5
Flagged1
Safety Score8/10
polybutene
Numbrrrz Organic Lip Balm

Numbrrrz

Organic Lip Balm

Ingredients4
Flagged0
Safety Score10/10
Organic Coconut OilOrganic BeeswaxOrganic Jojoba OilVitamin E
Shop Numbrrrz Instead

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Flagged

Ingredients of concern.

18 different ingredients of concern across Blistex’s product line. Each links to a full safety analysis.

8

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.

In 3 of 5 Blistex products
Carcinogen LinkedHormone Disruptor
7

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.

In 4 of 5 Blistex products
Carcinogen Linked
7

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.

In 3 of 5 Blistex products
7

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.

In 2 of 5 Blistex products
7

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.

In 3 of 5 Blistex products
Hormone Disruptor
7

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.

In 1 of 5 Blistex products
Banned in EUCarcinogen Linked
7

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.

In 1 of 5 Blistex products
Hormone Disruptor
6

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.

In 3 of 5 Blistex products
6

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.

In 4 of 5 Blistex products
6

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.

In 1 of 5 Blistex products
6

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.

In 1 of 5 Blistex products
5

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.

In 2 of 5 Blistex products
5

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.

In 3 of 5 Blistex products
Hormone Disruptor
5

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.

In 1 of 5 Blistex products
Hormone Disruptor
4

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.

In 2 of 5 Blistex products
4

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.

In 3 of 5 Blistex products
4

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.

In 1 of 5 Blistex products
3

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.

In 2 of 5 Blistex products
Questions

Quick answers.

Does Blistex contain sunscreen chemicals?
Yes, several Blistex products contain chemical UV filters including octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate), oxybenzone, and padimate O. These chemical sunscreens are applied directly to the lips and inevitably ingested through eating and drinking. Oxybenzone in particular has been flagged as a potential endocrine disruptor and has been found in breast milk and blood samples.
Is Blistex medicated?
Many Blistex products are classified as over-the-counter drugs because they contain active ingredients at concentrations recognized by the FDA for specific therapeutic claims. Common active ingredients include dimethicone (as a skin protectant), octinoxate and oxybenzone (as sunscreens), and menthol or camphor (as external analgesics). The 'medicated' designation applies to specific products in the line, not all Blistex products.
Why does Blistex burn my lips?
The burning or tingling sensation from Blistex products is typically caused by ingredients like menthol, camphor, and phenol, which are counterirritants. These ingredients create a mild inflammatory response on the lip tissue that feels like tingling or warmth. While some people find this sensation soothing, it can indicate irritation and may contribute to a cycle of dryness and reapplication.
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