I have known about Carmex for ages – it is hard to miss. The red and yellow packaging is very distinctive and you see loads of people with it on their desks or using it out and about. The packaging always stands out on displays in stores as well and I guess the colours and the retro design are very Instagram-friendly.
I had never used it until recently, instead preferring my favourite Swedish Defence Force Salve. But my local supermarket was clearing out their shelves and had them on sale for almost nothing so I bought a little pot of it about six months ago.
I finally got to trying it out a few weeks back and I love it. It does about the same job on my lips as the defence force balm but I absolutely love the slightly medicated taste. I am not one for flavoured lipbalms, glosses, or lipsticks. I actively dislike them. But the taste of Carmex is comforting and slightly addictive. A little like the smell of Vicks. I love the smell of Vicks and for a time I used to dab a bit under my nostrils if I could not sleep. The smell was calming and soothing somehow.
Some people seem to have permanently dry lips, though I have heard that lip balm can make this worse if you use it too much. I am lucky to only have chapped lips when the weather is bad or I have a cold. Generally I put on lip balm at night before I go to bed. Just a dab. It has become a habit. I put on hand cream and lip balm after I get into bed.
How about my readers – what lip balm you use? Do you love the smell of Vicks? What are your bedtime rituals?