3-Star Photo Review of Carmex Lip Balm - Original Stick 4.25g

I don't think Carmex should be marketing itself as an everyday balm or even a balm for people with dry lips when it's pretty intense stuff, but I suspect they don't want to make themselves look like a niche product. Yes, it does fix very dry, cracked, chapped lips well through its formula, which is something not a lot of balms can do. But it is too harsh to put on okay lips with the expectation it will make them look and feel better- it can actually be drying/damaging. A lot of people are jumping to its defence is fine enough because it clearly does A Job really well, just not what you would expect. The packet recommends slathering it on "liberally" and often (even though the formula is thick, just so you use up the tube faster and get another one...) and recommends it for general moisturisation and lipstick prep, neither of which sound too appealing. The distinct tingling, numbing sensation is probably, as others have pointed out, to create such a difference between application and the drying of the balm to make you feel like you need to apply again. I may keep a tube around for when my lips have a really bad moment but I would use this stuff carefully and don't really like how it presents itself misleadingly, and have decided on a low-ish rating because of that even though it's a decent balm for very damaged lips.Less