— Free U.S. shipping over $36— USDA Certified Organic— Made in the USA— 4 ingredients. No compromises.— 30-day money-back guarantee— Free U.S. shipping over $36— USDA Certified Organic— Made in the USA— 4 ingredients. No compromises.— 30-day money-back guarantee— Free U.S. shipping over $36— USDA Certified Organic— Made in the USA— 4 ingredients. No compromises.— 30-day money-back guarantee
Home/Brand Safety/ChapStick
Brand safety report

ChapStick.

Ingredient safety analysis based on 5 products in our database.

Safety Score

2.8/10

Products

5

Flagged Ingredients

11

The report

Full breakdown.

ChapStick

Richmond, VirginiaFounded 1880
Safety Score2.8/10Poor

ChapStick is one of the most recognized lip balm brands in the world, originally invented in the 1880s by physician Charles Browne Fleet and later commercialized by John Morton. Now owned by Haleon (spun off from GSK in 2022), ChapStick dominates drugstore lip care shelves with dozens of variants. Despite its reputation as a simple, trustworthy product, many ChapStick formulas rely heavily on petroleum-based ingredients like white petrolatum and mineral oil as their primary moisturizing agents. The brand's widespread availability and low price point make it one of the most frequently purchased lip products in the United States, meaning its ingredient choices affect millions of consumers daily.

Products Analyzed

ChapStick Classic Original3/10
ChapStick Moisturizer Original3/10
ChapStick Total Hydration 3 in 14/10
ChapStick Classic Cherry2/10
ChapStick Classic Strawberry2/10

Flagged Ingredients Found

petroleum petrolatum(in 5 products)mineral oil(in 5 products)synthetic fragrance(in 5 products)paraffin wax(in 4 products)lanolin(in 4 products)camphor(in 3 products)artificial colors(in 3 products)menthol(in 2 products)dimethiconepolyethylene glycolphenoxyethanol
Compare with Numbrrrz
See our full Numbrrrz vs ChapStick comparison

Who Owns ChapStick?

Big Corp Subsidiary

Parent Company

Haleon(HLN)

Parent Industry

Consumer Healthcare

Parent Revenue

Approximately $13 billion (2024)

Also Makes

AdvilSensodyneCentrumTumsTheraflu

Haleon was spun off from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in July 2022 as an independent consumer healthcare company. ChapStick entered the GSK portfolio through Pfizer's consumer healthcare division, which GSK acquired in 2019.

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 consumer healthcare. Consumers deserve to know who profits from their purchases.

The line

Products by ChapStick.

View full ingredient analysis →
ChapStick Classic Original

ChapStick Classic Original

ChapStick

Ingredients18
Flagged7
Safety Score3/10
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 →
ChapStick Moisturizer Original

ChapStick Moisturizer Original

ChapStick

Ingredients14
Flagged6
Safety Score3/10
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 →
ChapStick Total Hydration 3 in 1

ChapStick Total Hydration 3 in 1

ChapStick

Ingredients28
Flagged5
Safety Score4/10
petroleum petrolatummineral oilpolyethylene glycol
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 →
ChapStick Classic Cherry

ChapStick Classic Cherry

ChapStick

Ingredients17
Flagged8
Safety Score2/10
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 →
ChapStick Classic Strawberry

ChapStick Classic Strawberry

ChapStick

Ingredients17
Flagged8
Safety Score2/10
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

Get Your Free Ingredient Safety Report

Enter your email and we'll send you a personalized breakdown of the most common harmful ingredients in your daily products.

Flagged

Ingredients of concern.

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

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 5 of 5 ChapStick 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 ChapStick 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 5 of 5 ChapStick 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 5 of 5 ChapStick 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 3 of 5 ChapStick 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 ChapStick 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 2 of 5 ChapStick 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 4 of 5 ChapStick 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 ChapStick products
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 1 of 5 ChapStick 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 ChapStick products
Questions

Quick answers.

Who owns ChapStick?
ChapStick is owned by Haleon, a consumer healthcare company that was spun off from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in July 2022. Before the spinoff, ChapStick had been part of the Pfizer consumer healthcare portfolio, which GSK acquired in 2019.
Is ChapStick made with natural ingredients?
Most ChapStick formulas are not made with natural ingredients. The flagship ChapStick Classic Original lists white petrolatum as its active ingredient and includes other petroleum-derived and synthetic ingredients. ChapStick does offer a 'Total Hydration' line with some more natural ingredients, but even those contain synthetic preservatives and fragrances.
Why does ChapStick seem to make my lips more chapped?
Some dermatologists suggest that certain ChapStick ingredients like camphor, menthol, and phenol can actually irritate the delicate lip tissue, creating a cycle of dryness and reapplication. The petroleum-based occlusive barrier may also prevent lips from naturally hydrating, leading to dependency on the product.
A cleaner alternative

10/10 safety, 4 ingredients.

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