Is Carmex tested on animals?

Only the ones we’re related to. Seriously, we never test on animals. We don’t need to, because we’ve got so many Woelbing family members to use as test subjects. Our products have got to be good enough for our lips before they ever get to yours. Of course, all Carmex products undergo thorough chemical analysis and testing before they ever leave our facility.

What does SPF mean?

“SPF” stands for Sun Protection Factor and is a measurement of ultraviolet (UVB) protection. The higher the SPF number, the greater the protection. The SPF alone should not be used to decide how long you can stay safely in the sun. The amount of safe sun exposure depends upon not only the length of time you spend in the sun but other factors including the time of day, geographic location, and weather conditions.

What’s this I hear about Carmex and supermodels?

Carmex lip balm has been the best-kept secret of models in the United Kingdom for many years. In addition to scarfing down natural diuretics like pineapple juice to slim their tummies, they’re using Carmex under their color to keep their lips moist and pouty.

Is Carmex a threat to homeland security?

Nope. All Carmex products are TSA-approved, so you can carry them with you on airplanes.

Why does Carmex tingle when you put it on?

Carmex contains camphor and menthol. These ingredients give Carmex a cooling effect and help relieve the irritation of rough, chapped lips.

Is Carmex addictive?

No, there’s nothing in Carmex that’s addictive. As required by the Food and Drug Administration, all ingredients in Carmex products are listed on the label.

Does Carmex contain gluten?

Nope, not even a speck. There is no gluten in any of our ingredients. We do not use flour in our manufacturing process, so there’s no chance of any trace of it on our conveyor belts.

Help! My Carmex stick went through the wash, and now I have stains all over my clothes. What do I do?

We recommend spot-treating first with Era® Plus laundry detergent or Dawn® dish soap. Rub some in and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then launder as usual. You might have to repeat this process a couple of times, but it usually works. The next more aggressive treatment is to take it to a dry cleaner and tell them that the stains are grease-based: petrolatum, lanolin, cocoa butter, beeswax and paraffin.

Is there a difference in the formulas for the various forms of Carmex?

Although they are all based on our original formula from 1937, the products are slightly different. To make the squeeze tube, we included a small amount of mineral oil to keep the product soft enough to squeeze out in cold weather. The stick contains a bit of botanical wax with a higher melting temperature for the exact opposite reason—to keep the product from melting while being carried in a customer’s pocket. Some of our products also include sunscreens for sun protection.

Does Carmex include an ingredient made from sperm whales?

You may be thinking of spermaceti, which is also called cetyl ester. It’s a synthetic wax made in a laboratory—NOT the wax which was years ago derived from whales.

Has Carmex changed formula recently?

No, the Carmex formula has not changed. It remains faithful to the Alfred Woelbing’s 1937 original formula.

Alum was eliminated several years ago from the original formula. Alfred included it because he thought that it would help to eliminate the runniness associated with cold sores. Alum was not dissolvable in Carmex’s anhydrous (waterless) formula so there never was more than trace amounts in the formula. We made the decision to have the ingredients list more accurately match the finished product.

Carmex is made in batches and many of its ingredients are natural so the scent and color of each batch may vary slightly; its effectiveness should not.

Differences in firmness between products of the same form are usually related to the temperature of the product, i.e. if it is cooler it will be harder and if it is warmed up it will become softer.

We always work to include the highest quality ingredients in our formulas. The purity and consistency of the ingredients that are available to us now are in some instances better than what they were years ago. In some cases, the increase in quality has changed some of the original characteristics of the ingredient. For instance, lanolin of years ago was darker and sometimes smelled like sheep. Now our lanolin is a light yellow and almost odorless. This in turn shapes Carmex's fragrance.

Also, we now use a food grade flavor rather than fragrance in the ingredients because flavors are superior to fragrances when it comes to things that may be ingested. That said, we try to match the expected scent and texture of the original jar.

The tubes start out with the jar formula to which a bit of mineral oil is added to make it thinner (so you can get it out of the tube). The sticks also start with the jar formula but include a wax with a higher melting temperature so that the balm can hold its shape.

If you purchase a Carmex product that you are not 100% satisfied with, we want to hear about it. We are also happy to replace any product which does not meet your expectation or send you a refund if you provide us with proof of purchase.

Has Carmex Changed Ownership Recently?

No, Carmex is still owned and actively operated by the Woelbing Family. Eric & Paul Woelbing, grandsons of Carmex inventor Alfred Woelbing, own 100% of the company with no outside investors.

The Woelbing family remains dedicated to not cutting corners and strives to bring you the most effective products available.