Frequently Asked Questions

Through the years, the lip care specialists at Blistex have answered thousands of queries from silly to serious about the care and protection of lips. You may have wondered about a few of these yourself, so here are answers to some of the most frequently asked lip care questions.

Why is lip care so important?
Why do my lips need special care?
How do I protect my lips from the sun?
Do lips need to be protected indoors?
While protection is great, what if I already have chapped lips?
Is it possible to reduce the effects of overexposure and aging on the lips?
Should lip balm be worn under or over lipstick?
Are Blistex products vegan/cruelty-free?
Are Blistex products gluten-free?
Can a person become addicted to a lip care product?
Why did my favorite product disappear from the range?


Why is lip care so important?

Your lips are one of the most sensitive areas of your skin. The skin on the lips is only 0.2 millimeters thick, which is roughly one tenth of normal facial skin. Regular lip care is therefore important, so delicate lip skin remains cared for, and protected against becoming dry, brittle and cracked. Especially in cold temperatures in winter and in dry heat in summer, you should pay particular attention to your lips.

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Why do my lips need special care?

Your lips are really sensitive. Normal body skin has sebum and sweat glands that produce a natural protective film. This is missing from your thin lip skin! Therefore, it needs natural fats such as shea or cocoa butter to stay soft and supple. These moisturizing ingredients from nature are very similar to your body’s own fats, such as sebum. With the right lip care, you will provide your delicate lip skin with moisture and protect it from drying out or becoming rough and cracked.

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How do I protect my lips from the sun?

Lips have little or no melanin, the natural skin pigment that screens out the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Sun damage can alter collagen (which gives lips body and resilience) and can even lead to melanoma. Lips should be protected from the sun with a product that contains a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or more. It is also important to remember that the sun’s harmful rays are always present whether it is July or January, sunny or cloudy.

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Do lips need to be protected indoors?

It is a good idea to work lip protection into your daily skin care regimen whether you spend time outdoors or not. Outdoor factors such as sun, wind and cold can speed up the rate of lip moisture loss. What you may not realize is that lips frequently suffer indoors from a lack of moisture in centrally heated or air-conditioned rooms in which the relative humidity is low. Dryness is also the enemy when a winter cold or flu strikes. Lip irritation can even be caused by certain types of food, cosmetics and cigarette smoke.

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While protection is great, what if I already have chapped lips?

If your lips get chapped, time is of the essence. The sooner you attend to them, the faster they will feel normal again. For seriously dry lips, Blistex recommends using a product like Blistex Lip Relief Cream, that brings a feeling of cooling relief to lips and moisturizing ingredients to rehydrate them. We also recommend to drink enough fluids (water, unsweetened teas) and to not moisten your lips with your tongue! This removes additional moisture from them through the evaporation on the skin surface.

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Is it possible to reduce the effects of overexposure and aging on the lips?

Using a lip care product with a sunscreen and effective moisturizers can help reduce the effects of two of the main contributors to an aged appearance, sun damage and moisture loss.

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Should lip balm be worn under or over lipstick?

Lip balm or cream works best when worn under lipstick, which allows protective ingredients to be in direct contact with the lips. Using a moisturizing lip care product before lipstick application will help color go on more evenly.

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Are Blistex products vegan/cruelty-free?

Blistex fully supports the elimination of inhumane animal testing. We verify the safety and efficacy of our products only on human volunteers and via in-vitro means rather than through animal testing in virtually all markets, including all of North America, South America, Europe, Australia, etc. We consider the use of product testing on animals unnecessary given the many viable alternatives available to us at this time. The only cases in which such testing may occur on our products is in the rare circumstances when another government’s regulators mandate such steps during their registration processes. But to be clear, we fully support further development of alternatives to animal testing and the continuing efforts of advocates on this issue in the hope that local authorities in those few foreign entities who continue to utilize animal testing protocols can be persuaded to change their course. To this end, Blistex is also a contributor to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) where a great deal of pioneering research has been done in the development of alternative test methods.

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Are Blistex products gluten-free?

Blistex does not test or certify any of our products to be gluten-free. Please, consult with a physician in cases of allergies and sensitivities.

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Can a person become addicted to a lip care product?

No, a person cannot become addicted to a lip care product. There is no such thing as physical addiction to lip balm. However, you may become accustomed to the feeling of having moist, comfortable lips. Lip care products provide great care and comfort for your lip skin. It goes without saying that you can quickly get used to this amazing lip feeling and no longer want to be without supple and irresistibly beautiful lips.

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Why did my favorite product disappear from the range?

We understand your disappointment when you cannot find a product you have come to love! Research in cosmetics regularly brings new improvements. Since we always want to give you the best possible care for your lips, we sometimes have to part with products or reformulate their ingredients. However, please be assured that you will feel the improved formula of your new Blistex product!

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