I’ve Been an Aquaphor Stan for Years—and the New Coconut Lip Repair Balm Is My Absolute Favorite

As a beauty director, I am always trying new products (insert praise hands emoji here). I’m always switching from one popular new skin, hair, and cosmetic product to the next. However, now and again, a celebrity standout finds its way into my everyday routine. Enter Aquaphor, a dermatologist-approved skin care mainstay that I use in a variety of applications. Aquaphor may assist with dry lips and flaky eyelids, as well as ragged cuticles, unruly brows, and even my daughter’s diaper rash. It’s my desert island selection. So when I heard there was a new coconut variation in town, I was excited to try it.

The Coconut Lip Repair Stick sample arrived just on schedule. Fall has arrived in New York, and with it comes crisper air and shorter days, which generally means chapped lips. In full disclosure, I’m a lip picker (gross, I know), so keeping my lips clean and moisturized is essential since once those flakes appear, it’s an uphill struggle all season.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick in Coconut

The 99% organically derived composition comes in a compact stick and is devoid of preservatives, colors, and scents, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a cleaner product. And, while I enjoy the large tubs and squeeze tubes, the portable stick is the easiest to store in my luggage. While the original formula contains petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and lanolin, which soften skin and form an occlusive barrier to lock in moisture, this new formula contains coconut oil and shea butter, as well as castor seed oil, beeswax, and sunflower oil, making it ideal for sensitive lips (it’s me).

I asked one of my favorite physicians, Joshua Zeichner, MD, board-certified dermatologist and head of dermatology cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital, to compare the ingredients. “This formula does not use purified petrolatum as its base, which gives it a lighter consistency and easy spreadability for areas like the lips,” the dermatologist notes.”While purified petroleum is safe and effective for use on the skin, this alternative version provides another option for those looking for all-natural ingredients.”

While I still enjoy using the original product as a thick overnight lip mask, the new coconut stick is perfect for daily usage. It’s thin yet extremely therapeutic, and it transforms my cracked lips into soft, kissable ones. Before I do my makeup, I apply a thin coat, followed by my foundation, blush, and eyes, so that when it’s time to apply lipstick, it has had time to soak in and my lips are ready for a flawless application—mwah.

If you’re concerned that the balm will have a highly sweet, coconut-like flavor similar to Bonnebell Pina Colada (my high school favorite), be assured that it’s fragrance-free. So, while I’ll continue to test all of the new lip balms that come in because, well, duty beckons, I already know which one I’ll be swiping on all season.