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Home/Brand Safety/Carmex
Brand safety report

Carmex.

Ingredient safety analysis based on 5 products in our database.

Safety Score

3.2/10

Products

5

Flagged Ingredients

10

The report

Full breakdown.

Carmex

Milwaukee, WisconsinFounded 1937
Safety Score3.2/10Poor

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

Carmex Classic Lip Balm2/10
Carmex Daily Care Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 153/10
Carmex Comfort Care8/10
Carmex Cherry Lip Balm1/10
Carmex Healing Lip Balm2/10

Flagged Ingredients Found

petroleum petrolatum(in 4 products)lanolin(in 4 products)paraffin wax(in 3 products)camphor(in 3 products)menthol(in 3 products)phenol(in 3 products)salicylic acid(in 3 products)octinoxateoxybenzoneartificial colors
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See our full Numbrrrz vs Carmex comparison

Who Owns Carmex?

Independent

Parent 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.

The line

Products by Carmex.

View full ingredient analysis →
Carmex Classic Lip Balm

Carmex Classic Lip Balm

Carmex

Ingredients12
Flagged7
Safety Score2/10
petroleum petrolatumparaffin waxcamphor
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 →
Carmex Daily Care Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 15

Carmex Daily Care Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 15

Carmex

Ingredients15
Flagged4
Safety Score3/10
petroleum petrolatumoctinoxateoxybenzone
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 →
Carmex Comfort Care

Carmex Comfort Care

Carmex

Ingredients13
Flagged0
Safety Score8/10
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 →
Carmex Cherry Lip Balm

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm

Carmex

Ingredients14
Flagged8
Safety Score1/10
petroleum petrolatumparaffin waxcamphor
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 →
Carmex Healing Lip Balm

Carmex Healing Lip Balm

Carmex

Ingredients12
Flagged7
Safety Score2/10
petroleum petrolatumparaffin waxcamphor
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.

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

8

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.

In 1 of 5 Carmex products
Hormone 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 Carmex 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 Carmex 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 3 of 5 Carmex products
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 Carmex products
Hormone Disruptor
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 3 of 5 Carmex products
6

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.

In 3 of 5 Carmex 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 1 of 5 Carmex 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 3 of 5 Carmex 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 4 of 5 Carmex products
Questions

Quick answers.

Is Carmex really medicated?
Carmex is classified as an over-the-counter drug by the FDA because it contains active ingredients camphor (1.7%) and white petrolatum (45.3%) at concentrations that qualify as skin protectants. It also contains menthol, phenol, and salicylic acid as inactive ingredients. However, 'medicated' can be misleading — the camphor and menthol provide a tingling sensation but can also irritate the lips with chronic use.
Is Carmex addictive?
While Carmex is not chemically addictive, some dermatologists describe a 'dependency cycle' caused by its irritant ingredients. Camphor, menthol, and phenol can irritate the lip tissue, causing mild inflammation that feels like dryness, prompting more reapplication. This cycle can make users feel like they cannot go without Carmex, even though the product itself may be contributing to the problem.
Does Carmex contain petroleum?
Yes. White petrolatum is the primary ingredient in Carmex Classic, comprising 45.3% of the formula. Petrolatum is a petroleum byproduct that acts as an occlusive barrier but provides no nutritional benefit to the lips. Carmex also contains paraffin, another petroleum-derived ingredient used as a thickening agent.
A cleaner alternative

10/10 safety, 4 ingredients.

Numbrrrz lip balm with only organic, food-grade ingredients.