Difference between Lipstick and Lip Balm

Key Difference: Lipstick and Lip balm are two different products that are applied/worn on lips. Lipstick is basically a cosmetic product that women apply or use as a protection on lips. On the other hand, lip balm is usually applied by people to get a relief from dry or chapped lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores.

Lipstick and Lip balm are two different terms, which are usually used for different purposes. People may feel that the terms are related to lips, so they must have the same meaning, but they are different from each other.

Lipstick is the most preferable thing or cosmetic product, when a woman thinks about makeup. A lipstick is a simple way to add a sense of polish to women’s face. Lipsticks are available in different shades like red, pink, brown, violet, green etc. The most preferable and the popular colors worn by women nowadays are red, brown, maroon and pink. Women usually select shades according to their skin color. They also come in numerous flavors of fruits like strawberry, cherry, grapes, and many more.

Lipstick is one of the most needed products that one can see in almost each woman’s handbag. Ancient Mesopotamian women were possibly the first women to invent and wear lipstick. During 19^th century, the dark red lipstick became very popular and after that the different colors came into existence, but with limited number of shades.

Lip balm, on the other hand, is a medicated gel, which is mainly applied by people who want to get relief from dry lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores. Lip balm is basically a waxy cream, which when applied, provides relief instantly. Different brands contains different varieties of ingredients such as dyes, flavor, fragrance, menthol, phenol, salicylic acid, and sunscreens.

Lips are the most sensitive part of human’s skin, and one needs to take care of it. For this reason, lip balms are produced. Climate changes, dry air, cold temperatures and many other reasons cause a drying effect on skin, by drawing moisture away from the body. Lip balms are available with different styles, i.e., they can be applied directly by fingers, or can also be used as a lipstick-style tube that can be applied directly.

Comparison between Lipstick and Lip Balm:

	Lipstick	Lip Balm
Definition	Lipstick is a crayon-like oil-based cosmetic used in coloring the lips, usually in a tubular container.	Lip balm is usually applied by people to get a relief from dry or chapped lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores.
Origin	Ancient Mesopotamian women were possibly the first women to invent and wear lipstick.	Lip balm was first marketed in the 1880s, Charles Browne Fleet.
Shades	Brandy, hot pink, chocolate, Plum, cappuccino, blush, spice, red, etc.	Orange, fruity jelly, baby pink, etc., however, each shade will usually only give a shining look.
Flavors	Flavored lipsticks are very recent trend in the makeup industry. Chocolate flavor Caramel flavor Bubble-gum flavor Etc.	Chocolate lip balm Orange lip balm Beer lip balm Menthol lip balm Etc.
Types	Moisturizing lipstick Sheer lipstick Mattle lipstick Forested lipstick Long-wearing and transfer resistant lipstick	Petroleum jelly Medicated lip balm Protecting lip balms such as aloe and Vitamin E
Ingredients	Lipstick contains wax, oils, antioxidants and emollients.	Lip balm contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients.
Benefits	Lipstick is not just applied for color, but it is also worn by women for protection.	Your skin heals faster. You avoid the embarrassment of chapped or dried lips. Contains SPF protection. Protect the natural health and beauty of the lips.
Disadvantages	Lipsticks usually dry lips – it tends to crack leaving your lips unattractive too. Applying lipstick is more time consuming as compared to lip balm. Beware of lipstick; bad ingredients might also give you cancer.	Lip balms are made of low quality ingredients harms the lips. Lip balm addiction. It can damage the natural color, softness and glow of the lips. Some lips balm may dry out the lips instead of moisturizing.