What Should a Good Lip Balm Actually Do?

Lip balm seems simple.

You swipe it on when your lips feel like they need a little extra care and move on with your day.

But behind that little tube is a balance of waxes, butters and oils that determines how the balm feels, spreads and stays on your lips.

So what should you actually expect from a good lip balm?

For us, it comes down to a few things: conditioning, protection, comfortable wear and a formula you'll actually want to keep using.

It Should Leave Your Lips Feeling Conditioned

This is the obvious one—but also the most important.

A lip balm should leave your lips feeling softer and more comfortable after you apply it.

That's where ingredients such as shea butter and plant oils come into the picture.

These ingredients act as emollients, helping soften and condition the lips while contributing to the feel of the finished balm.

But simply adding more oil isn't necessarily better.

The balance matters.

It Should Create a Protective Layer

That's one of the jobs of beeswax in many BennyBee balms.

Beeswax helps give a balm structure, but it also contributes to the layer the product leaves behind on your lips.

Without enough structure, a balm can become excessively soft or disappear too quickly.

With too much wax, it can feel harder and less comfortable to apply.

A good formula has to find the middle.

It Should Balance Waxes, Butters and Oils

This is where lip balm formulation becomes more interesting than it looks.

Think of the major components as having different jobs:

• Waxes provide structure and staying power.
• Butters contribute richness and conditioning.
• Plant oils help with softness, spreadability and the overall feel on the lips.

Changing the balance changes the balm.

That's why two lip balms containing similar ingredients can still feel completely different when you use them.

It Shouldn't Need to Feel Heavy to Work

More isn't always better.

A balm doesn't have to leave an enormous layer of product on your lips to feel conditioning.

We prefer a balm that leaves a noticeable protective and conditioned feel while still being comfortable enough to reach for throughout the day.

That's particularly important for an everyday product.

If something lives in your pocket, purse or next to your bed, you should actually enjoy putting it on.

Not Every BennyBee Balm Is the Same

One of the things we enjoy about making lip balm is that there isn't only one way to formulate it.

Our collections let us explore different ingredients and experiences while keeping lip care at the center.

Our Essentials Lip Balms combine beeswax, shea butter and plant oils in our everyday flavored collection.

Our Calendula Infused Lip Balm incorporates calendula-infused olive oil into an unscented balm.

Our Peppermint Infused Lip Balm brings peppermint-infused olive oil into its own botanical formula.

Our Cocoa Lip Balm puts cocoa butter at the center for a different balm experience.

Our Minimal Lip Balm takes a deliberately simpler approach for people who want uncomplicated lip care.

And our Tinted Lip Balms combine conditioning lip care with a subtle touch of color.

Different formulas don't have to compete with one another.

They give you choices.

The Best Balm Is the One You Want to Use

Texture matters. Flavor matters. Ingredients matter.

And personal preference matters too.

Some people want an unscented balm beside their bed. Others want Mango in their pocket. Someone else might prefer the subtle color of Strawberry Kiss or the character of a botanical-infused balm.

That's why we don't think good lip care needs to mean one universal formula.

What matters is that the balm feels comfortable, conditions your lips and fits naturally into your day.

That's What We Want From BennyBee Lip Balm

A little tube doesn't need an enormous list of promises.

It needs a thoughtful formula.

We pay attention to the balance between wax, butter and oils because that's what ultimately determines much of the experience you get when you twist up the tube and apply it.

And then we have some fun with it—from Vanilla and Mango to botanical infusions, Cocoa and subtle tints.

Because something you use every day should do its job.

But there's nothing wrong with enjoying it, too.

Explore BennyBee Lip Balms