Why We Like It
- It skips the petroleum jelly most lip balms lean on — the base is beeswax, honey and olive oil.
- The beeswax and the honey both come from the collective's own forest honey operation, not an anonymous supplier.
- Four things in the pot, three of which you could name blindfolded.
- Made by women of a Nilgiris producer co-operative, and every purchase pays into their wages.
Ingredients
Beeswax
Forest-gatheredThe base. Gathered through the collective's own honey operation. It forms the breathable barrier that holds moisture in.
Honey
Their ownFrom the same Nilgiris honey operation. Softens and hydrates. It is also why this is not vegan.
Olive oil
ConditioningKeeps the balm soft enough to apply and carries the other two.
Honey
FlavourClosest to the base itself, barely flavoured.
Vanilla
FlavourSoft and warm.
Chocolate
FlavourThe one children reach for.
Mint
FlavourThe only one with a cooling finish.
Lemon
FlavourSharp citrus.
Orange
FlavourSofter citrus.
Strawberry
FlavourSweet. The other children's favourite.
Mango
FlavourRipe and sweet.
Pineapple
FlavourSharper tropical.
Pomegranate
FlavourTart.
Aadhimalai Beeswax Lip Balm versus other lip balms
| What to compare | Purepicked | Regular lip balm |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Beeswax, honey and olive oil | Often petrolatum or paraffin, from petroleum |
| Wax | From the co-operative's own forest honey operation | Bought in from the trade |
| Additives | None beyond the flavour | May carry synthetic colour, parabens or BHT |
| Pot size | 5 g, ten flavours on one base | 4 g stick is the usual format |
| Who gets paid | Fair wages to the co-operative | Wages sit inside a contract manufacturer's cost line |
Is It For You?
Good for
Dry or chapped lips
Anyone avoiding petroleum-based balms
Children, with the sweeter flavours
Buying with the maker in mind — the money reaches the collective
Avoid if
Vegans — it contains honey and beeswax
Anyone sensitive to flavoured or fragranced balms — patch-test first
Anyone wanting a tinted balm or one with SPF
How to use
Press onto lips whenever they feel tight, and again before bed
Use it as a base under lipstick
Warm the pot in your hand for a second if it has firmed up in the cold
A 5 g pot lives easily in a pocket or a small bag
What to look for in a Lip Balm?
A short ingredient list is the point. A waterless balm needs no synthetic emulsifiers and no preservatives; anything with water in it usually does.
Petroleum jelly and paraffin are the cheap balm bases. Beeswax and plant butters cost more and do the same job without the petrochemical.
'Fragrance' or 'parfum' covers a blend the maker never has to break down. A named flavour or essential oil tells you what is actually in the pot.
A lip balm sits on your mouth, so small amounts get swallowed over the day. A short list matters more here than almost anywhere else.
A pot lets you take what you need; a twist-up stick usually leaves the last of it stuck in the tube.