This weather is so cold it numbs my face to the point I think I know what Extreme Botox feels like. ...
This weather is so cold it numbs my face to the point I think I know what Extreme Botox feels like.
Member since:27.06.2003
Reviews:101
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A few months back I thought I had a serious vitamin deficiency; my lips were severely chapped and the corners of my mouth were very red and sore and starting to crack - I was too scared to smile incase my face split open. I then realised that the change was down to the building managers turning our heating down low and our air conditioning high which meant my mouth was drying out and as lips do not have oil glands I was licking my lips every few minutes which as you should know is not a good thing to do as it just makes them dry out even faster.
I kept on applying one of those solid wax stick balms but this was having no beneficial effect, infact I think it was making my lips drier. I then dug out my old favourite pricey lip balm which was in a squeezy tube but as it smelt like something had crept in there and died I decided a new lip balm purchase was in order and as I was on a budget I would not be spending more than £3 on it.
I mooched into my local Boots chemist and whilst checking out the plethora of lipbalms on offer I saw the mustard yellow
capped pot of Carmex. Hmm, I'd heard good things about Carmex - don't models and top make-up artists use it?! With that idea in mind I went off to pay the £2.75 for my little 7.5g pot of magic not before unscrewing the lid first just to check someone else hadn't dunked their finger in the pot as this balm isn't covered with security wrap or sticky tags to prevent it being opened and prodded by other shoppers.
On leaving Boots I unscrewed the lid again and wiped my index finger over the solid golden yellow balm and applied it to my lips. I then yelped as my lips began to feel incredibly cold and tingly - this I found was down to the product containing menthol and my lips being severely chapped. I persisted with the balm as the tingly sensation whilst unusual was not unbearable and I found that after one day of applying the balm several times a day my lips were looking better and after three days of applying balm every two hours or so, my lips were now the picture of health, smooth, fuller looking and pink as opposed to flaky, thin and haggard and no, I didn't take before pics I looked far too awful!!
Good Points • Very moisturising. • Not heavy or waxy so doesn't just sit on the surface of the lips. • Balm melts on contact with lips and spreads easily. • The smell - well, I like it! • Compact, fits in most pockets and easy to find in your handbag due to the bright yellow metal lid. • Product lasts a long time. • Gives the slightest sheen to lips so can be used by guys too. • Reasonably priced. • Available in Boots, Superdrug and independent chemists. I've also seen this in Oasis clothes stores although in there it is currently £3.00. • Not tested on Animals.
Bad Points • If your lips are very chapped when you first apply this, it will tingle a lot. • You need to apply using your digits so if you have nails, product goes under them and then if you touch your eye/s (or anywhere else sensitive!), boy, it WILL hurt. • The lack of security tape on the product to prevent other shoppers opening it. • As it is popular it can sell out. • I imagine it'll be tricky to get the balm out of the pot when it starts to run low……
~ Ingredients ~
I know you aren't supposed to list ingredients as you can go to the shops and check the product out yourself, however, some of the ingred's sounded a bit bizarre and in need of further investigation, so here goes:-
Petroleum - Makes skin creams smooth. Lanolin - Greasy substance extracted from wool. Once been through the process of purification is used in creams, lotions & potions. Cetyl Esters - Wax mixture made up of fatty alcohols and fatty acids. Theobroma oil - Cocoa butter. Beeswax - What comes out of a bee when it's squished. OK, that's not true. It's actually sweated from the abdomen of bees once they've gorged themselves on sugar or honey. Proving even bees have no self control when it comes to sweeties. Paraffin wax - A component of crude mineral oil. Camphor - An online Wilkipedia says that this is a ".. waxy crystalline solid with a strong penetrating, pungent, aromatic odour". That explains the smell then. Menthol - Made from peppermint oils. Explains the cool, tingly sensation. Salicylic acid - Used as an antiseptic and helps to dry out cold sores. Vanillin - Flavouring agent made from the black bean pods. Fragrance - Niff.
Hmm, some of these sound pretty nasty but I suppose if you were to investigate the ingredients of any cosmetic or shampoo, most would repulse you!
~ Warnings ~ Not to be used by children under three years of age.
**** I checked out the Carmex website and found that Salicylic Acid is closely related to Aspirin, so if you have an allergy to Aspirin, best avoid this balm incase of any reaction. ****
~ A little bit about the Company ~
In 1937 Alfred Woelbing started to develop a treatment for his chapped lips cold sores, this product was called Carmex. During Word War II the product of Carmex had to be limited due to Lanolin (one of its ingredients) being required by the military for rust prevention and lubrication of military equipment.
Alfred and his wife produced Carmex from their home and Alfred went out selling the little jars of balm from the boot of his car. As with all good products, word spread and in 1957 the company was so successful - without spending a penny on advertising - that they finally took production to a facility in Wauwatosa.
The company carried on growing and in 1976 they had to move into a bigger facility in Franklin, Wisconsin - where they are to this day.
In 2001 Alfred Woelbing sadly passed away at the ripe old age of 100 but the company is now in the hands of his son and grandsons, following on in the family business.
Carma Laboratories, Inc. 5801 West Airways Avenue Franklin, Wisconsin 53132
www.carma-labs.com
~ Would I recommend? ~ Yes. I love this balm so much I bought a second one and keep it in my car glove box. Buy it, it works and you never know - you might enjoy the tingle!
Pictures of Carmex Lip Balm
Little pot of magic
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I bought some of this stuff on holiday - didn't know you could get it over here now!
giantpanda21 22.03.2006 12:54
This was a great review i will probably buy this now cos i suffer a lot with chapped lips
putsy 20.02.2006 16:34
This really is an exceptional review, what more can I say :) I love the style, easy to read and funny too, all the important details and much more -you've really done some time consuming research for our benefit! Great personal style. thank you, will definetely try Carmex as I always suffer from sore and dry lips.
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of models, Carmex is now a must-have for the fashion conscious. This lip salve is a top seller in America where it's no-nonsense appeal and effectiveness have earn...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: In Stock
Carmex Click Lip Moisturiser with SPF15. Carmex Lip Balm - for many years the best-kept ... more
secret of models in the UK is now a must for all deemed fashion conscious. A top seller in America where it?s no-nonsense appeal and effectiveness has earned it som...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: In Stock
Carmex Lip Salve moisturises and protects your lips. For many years the best-kept secret ... more
of models, Carmex is now a must-have for the fashion conscious. A top seller in America where it's no-nonsense appeal and effectiveness has earned it cult status.
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: In Stock
Carmex cools and soothes dry, chapped lips leaving a tingling sensation once rubbed in. ... more
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Advantages: No nonsense packaging, nice smell, nice tingly feeling Disadvantages: More expensive than normal lipsalves, and not really any more effective
Pumpkin 04.12.2003 (03.02.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Carmex Lip Balm
Advantages: Makes lips soft, lasts for a long time, SPF 15 and easy to find in your bag! Disadvantages: Fortunately for Carmex I can't think of any...Perhaps not good if you don't like a light menthol?
Jan 11th, 2006
exceptional by (22%):
very helpful by (74%):
helpful by (3%):
