Stiftung Warentest takes a close look at lip care
14.12.2023
Translation: machine translated
In a laboratory test, both inexpensive and high-priced products were put to the test. Two thirds of them are free from mineral oils.
Stiftung Warentest tested 30 lip balms and creams for critical ingredients: The focus was on mineral oil hydrocarbons such as moah, mosh and similar substances. These can enter the body via the lips and mucous membranes and accumulate in organs.
20 out of 30 care sticks were convincing
The result of the laboratory test: 20 test objects did not contain any of these harmful substances and were classified as "recommendable". The other ten were declared "not recommended" by the foundation. Some of the products that passed the tests are also available in our shop. These include well-known names such as Bebe, Labello and Kneipp.
Lip balms
Quantity discount
CHF3.60 per piece for 4 units CHF409.09/1l
Labello Original
Care pencil, 11 ml
Many natural cosmetic products also showed a positive result:
According to the test, the products from Vichy and Dr Haruschka are more expensive but also free from mineral oils. In contrast, Balea Sensitive emerged as the price winner alongside Aveo. According to Stiftung Warentest, it is also "recommendable" in terms of ingredients.
Better to avoid these products and ingredients
All in all, the current test showed a positive development compared to 2017, when the foundation had already scrutinised lip care products. Back then, over half of the products tested contained mineral oil hydrocarbons. Incidentally, the ten products that were also found to be negative in 2023 include lip balms from Neutrogena, La Roche Posay and Vaseline.
If your lip balm was not among those tested, it is worth taking a look at the ingredients. According to Stiftung Warentest, critical substances are often hidden behind the following names:
- Paraffin
- Paraffinum liquidum
- Petrolatum
- Cera Microcrystallina/Cera Microcristallina/Microcrystalline Wax
- Synthetic Wax
- Ozokerite
- Isohexadecane
- Polyethylene
- Polybutene
- Hydrogenated polyisobutene
- Polyisobutene
- Hydrogenated Polydecene
