I’ll file this one under “Stuff I never thought I’d do – not in a million years.”
Cross the border to buy a $3 lip balm? Yeah, I’ve done that.
Here’s the scoop: Readers will know that I have a *slight* addiction to lip balm. Don’t believe me? Read here and here. The truth is, I love sharing Best Beauty Bets with my readers, especially ones that keep your lips kissably smooth. And one of the products I’ve been dying to talk about – one of my most trusted ways to keep lips pampered and moisturized – was until recently, not available in Canada.
Yes, I drove to Target in Niagara Falls, Buffalo in 2004 specifically to purchase a $3 Carmex lip balm. And then again, in 2007.
The good news? I’ll never need to do that again. Canadians – Carmex is now available in Canada!
Celebrating 75 years, Carmex lip balm perfectly protects against a range of conditions and moisturizes lips beautifully. Made of a unique blend of ingredients, including natural moisturizers such as cocoa butter and lanolin, the emollients provide healthy-looking lips by restoring lost moisture to prevent dryness and chapping. In short, they turn ravaged lips into kissable ones – quickly.
Now if you’ve heard of Carmex before, you’ll know that there are self-professed Carmex addicts. It’s true – you can Google it. Tens of thousands of women need a daily fix, often multiple times per day. There are even online support groups. OMG.
So what has everyone addicted? The Carmex special formula provides something extra – the “Carmex Tingle” – when applied, so you know it’s working. Camphor and menthol provide a cooling effect and help relieve the irritation of rough, chapped lips – encouraging a healthy appearance that feels as good as it looks. It also comes with a gentle salicylic acid that acts as a mild defoliant on the lips, getting rid of dead, dry skin. You’re left with nothing but the softest, most supple lips imaginable.
(My husband will kill me for saying this, but he’s addicted too! He has a pot in the bathroom, in the car, in his briefcase… It’s no wonder that Carmex has become one of the world’s most loved lip balms, with over 138 sold every minute!)
Good to Know:
– Carmex products are NOT tested on animals and are preservative free.
– The lip balm is available in the classic 7.5g jar and 10g tube formats across Canada.
– Pharmacists in the US have ranked Carmex the #1 recommended lip balm for 14 years.
The extreme cold weather is slowly rolling in and chances are that you’ll be looking for much needed relief from dry, chapped lips caused by the elements. Be sure to pick up a few of the iconic pots – Carmex should be in every beauty bag as part of your winter wellness routine.
(TIP: Carmex lip balm also makes a perfect moisturizing topcoat for lipstick. It is especially good for some matte lipstick formulations, which can be a challenge for dry lips. Carmex creates balance and lends a hint of shine.)
I will have to see if I can find it here, I have tried everything for my poor lips but I have not found my go to product yet.
It’s readily available at Walmart and pharmacies, so I hope you can try it out Debbie!
lip gloss is one thing, but is their hand cream available here? that stuff is the BOMB.
Ooooh…. I must try! Thanks for the tip Michelle!
wow never heard of it! i will have to keep an eye out
Yes, please do! The stuff is amazing – Love Carmex!
I was sure I used to buy it all the time…but I haven’t seen it in awhile. I love the smell!
Me too :) Often, people either love it or hate it (my husband hates it). But, it works so well he doesn’t care!
i cant believe they didnt have carmex in canada!!
I know, right? We were TOTALLY missing out.
Used it for a year now…it sure beats the crap out of chapstick LOL!
Hahaha hey there! Play nice… though is IS better, LOL.
I’ve never tried it, but I’m sure excited to now! :)
YES! Try it Nicole, it’s so awesome.
I’ve heard quite a lot about this but I’m always worried about the “tingly” sensation though
Oh, don’t worry! The tingle is just from menthol, and there are a lot of lip glosses on the market now that have followed suit. I don’t believe that camphor or menthol would be an irritant unless you had severely dry/inflamed lips.
This is the only lip balm my husband will use and now he has my sons addicted as well!
Haha – Carmex Addicts Unite!
Never heard of this lip balm before but I do have a habit of picking my lips especially when they are chapped in the winter months. So, I think its worth a try and who knows – may be I’ll like it and get addicted to it too. Thanks for the tip Lena.
You’re welcome! Please try it – especially if you pick at your lips.
I LOVE Carmex!!
Me too!
This looks like a good replacement for Vaseline…they used to make something like this and then…I couldn’t find it anywhere!!??
You’re likely thinking of the Blistex medicated lip balm which was close… but no cigar. Nothing compares to Carmex!
Sounds like its something I’ll have to try. Where can it be found?
Walmart, Shoppers, Rexall – you name it!
My lips must try this, I’ll look for it next time I’m at Walmart or Shoppers.
Please do – the lip balm is awesome. Totally awesome.
Maybe they didn’t have it in your part of the Canada?
But Carmex has been readily available in Toronto since ~1997. I know cause that’s when my craze for it started! However the prices for them are dirt cheap in the US compared to Canada. I bought tubes of it on sale for $1 when I was in Chicago for a visit. I made sure to stock up xD
What we do need is the ones other than the reg and cherry. They apparently have lime and orange in the US! Need to remember to check that out the next time I cross the boarder :P
The lip balm was available in limited supply but not across Canada. I’m from the GTA but only started seeing it recently! So if you found it in certain markets in TO, you’re lucky! And LIME and ORANGE?? I’ll have to remember to stock up on that too!
LOVE LOVE, it has no clue it was cheaper across the border will have to stock up next time I go.
I’ve never heard of it – will have to pick some up on our next trek to the States.
whoops! I guess I won’t have too..lol
Haha enjoy!
i’m gonna have to try this. sounds great. i dont go out in the cold wind too much in winter because of the kids but the dry air from the heater is quite bad lol.
You’ll love it Francine!
I have a slight lip product addiction too, but have tried Carmex before. I have tubs of glosses, lipsticks and such in the bathroom but also have a tube stashed in places all my house. Basement, office, bedroom etc. because you never know when a craving will hit! :o
Ha! It’s so true – I have the same mentality; MUST have lip balm within reach at all times!
Thanks for the Lip Tip! Lips are part of surrounding your teeth and make up your smile ☺ So believe me I am all about that!
Hahaha love it! Enjoy the product!
that’s hilarious Lena! i should have written you before I went to the States to find out your must-have drugstore buys! funnily enough, i bought a tube of strawberry Carmex for under $2 and was thrilled! i love the stuff as well! now if only you could share the secret to avoiding dry chapped hands. i’ll wait for that post! xoxo
Too funny Lara! Trips to the US are STILL in our future, though, as Carmex makes hand cream that is only sold by in the US! SO many of my states-side friends swear by it: http://mycarmex.com/skin-care/healing-cream Check out the reviews, people swear by it!
darnit! i wish i had bought some when i was there! my chapped bleeding hands want to strangle me! :)
carmex is my favorite
Mine too :)
I really enjoyed this informative article about Carmex. Where to buy, what it does, who buys it and why people buy it, when it works best and how it can be used with lipstick, too. Covered it all for me. Sold me, I definitely have to try this product now. Thank you for this great article, L2L.
Thanks Michelle!
We have a Target coming to our city and I can’t wait to check it out. I’ve never heard of Carmex but after reading your review I am definitely going to be on the lookout for it. The price is perfect (although it may be a little higher in Canada). I have to use lip balm everyday because I like the moisturizing feel on my lips. Thanks for the review.
NP Lee! I know you’ll adore Carmex!
I want to try Carmex lip balm! Heard lots of rave reviews!
Try it – you won’t be disappointed Maddy!
Yay this is the best news ever!! thanx for sharing~
YW Jenn!
Great news! So glad to know Carmex is cruelty free.
:) It IS good to know!
I get really dry lips in the winter months and I tried Carmex and I loved it, you could say Im a Carmex addict! lol Love their lip balm !!
Yay! Camex Addicts Unite!
I used Carmex for over a decade, but have switched to a product called Lansinoh Lanolin. It’s a bit heavy for daytime use, but perfect for night. I find it to be a bit more moisturizing than Carmex. I use Dr Harris lip balm during the day.
How did I miss this?! FINALLY!
I think that I have seen this at Wal-Mart and Shoppers here in Victoria, BC. I am using Burt Bees Balm at the moment but when I finish with that I will give this a try.
I’m an addict as well, although I’ve been recently devestated . . . Back in 2008 I visited Montana and purchased – several – coveted mint flavoured Carmex twist-up tubes. I discovered this horrible taste when I applied the lip balm. Despite the amazing smell, there wasn’t a familiar “tingly” sensation. If the product accidently touched my tongue I would have this horrible taste in my mouth for hours. I had to throw away the tubes . . . Fast forward to last Janaury. I was in Palm Springs with a girlfriend and I purchased six regular-scent twist-ups. Every one of them has that offensive taste! The product itself doesn’t have the same smell and is less “waxy” then the tubes I have purchased in Canada (yes, my pharmacist in Calgary carries them in his hole-in-the-wall shop downtown). The packaging is also slightly different. I can’t use them so I’m going to mail them to Carmex and will ask for a replacement. So sad . . .
I am originally from the states and have been trying to find products that I could get in the states over in Canada but have not been able to find half the stuff and Carmex is one thing I’d like to get for my mother-in-law my daughter and myself
Carmex has been my favorite for years but I could only find it in the pot. I am loving the new tube!
I love the carmex, they are great.
I’m just coming back to let you know that it now comes in a solid slim stick. They have nice patterns on the packaging too so they look quite fashionable!