La Mer The Lip Balm Versus Paula's Choice Lip & Body Treatment Balm

La Mer The Lip Balm Versus Paula's Choice Lip & Body Treatment Balm

This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Petrolatum and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips.

This barrier-repair lip moisturizer is formulated around Ricinus Communis Seed Oil and Petrolatum to strengthen the lip barrier and hydrate lips.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Petrolatum

Octyldodecanol

Cera Microcristallina

Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2

Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaoleate

Phenyl Trimethicone

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract

Algae Extract

Malachite

Tourmaline

Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder

Medicago Sativa Seed Powder

Helianthus Annuus Seedcake

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal

Sodium Gluconate

Copper Gluconate

Calcium Gluconate

Magnesium Gluconate

Zinc Gluconate

Tocopheryl Succinate

Niacin

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Glycine Soja Oil

Phytosphingosine

Trehalose

Polybutene

Tocopheryl Acetate

Cholesterol

Glyceryl Distearate

Water

Glycerin

Menthyl PCA

Oleic Acid

Palmitic Acid

Sodium Saccharin

Sorbitan Sesquioleate

CI 77220

Sodium Bicarbonate

Parfum

Benzyl Benzoate

Limonene

Linalool

BHT

CI 42090

CI 19140

Petrolatum, Octyldodecanol, Cera Microcristallina, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaoleate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Malachite, Tourmaline, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Phytosphingosine, Trehalose, Polybutene, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Distearate, Water, Glycerin, Menthyl PCA, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Saccharin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, CI 77220, Sodium Bicarbonate, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene, Linalool, BHT, CI 42090, CI 19140

Euphorbia Cerifera Wax

Lanolin

C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters

Cera Alba

Ozokerite

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Copernicia Cerifera Wax

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

Jojoba Esters

Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil

Bisabolol

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Trihydroxystearin

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Petrolatum, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax, Lanolin, C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Cera Alba, Ozokerite, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Jojoba Esters, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Bisabolol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Trihydroxystearin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.

This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.

Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.

The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.

Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.

Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.

It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.

This ingredient is also known as castor oil. It is a skin conditioning ingredient.

The star component of castor oil is ricinoleic acid, an unusual fatty acid that makes up ~80-92% of its composition.

In skincare, it is an emollient that dries down to a solid film with water-binding properties. This helps keep skin hydrated and helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

A 2026 dermatology review pulls together its broader uses:

Human clinical testing found this ingredient to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.

Because castor oil contains fatty acids in the C11-24 range, this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

At this time, the literature does not support castor oil in regrowing hair. A 2022 systematic review found no strong evidence that it supports hair growth and only weak evidence that it improves hair shine.

Castor oil itself carries "perfuming" and "masking" function tags according to the official CosIng database. This is because of its mild odor and odor-dampening properties.

Tocopheryl Acetate is a stable, shelf-friendly form of vitamin E.

Formulators love it because plain vitamin E oxidizes quickly once it hits air. This acetate version stays stable and resists going off, helping to extend a product's shelf life.

It's actually inactive on its own and works like a slow-release "storage" form; the enzymes in your skin called esterases gradually convert it into active vitamin E over time.

One in vivo study showed 5% of the acetate in the living layer of the epidermis converted to vitamin E after 5 days of application. This study also found the skin gained protection against UV damage even though the conversion was slow and small.

Once converted, vitamin E acts as a skin's main fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect skin from damage.

Topical vitamin E generally boosts the skin's photoprotection, and it reduced UV-damage in animal models.

This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.

Overall, it has a pretty solid safety profile and has been found to be non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Allergic reactions may happen but stay rare due to how widely the ingredient gets used.

The concentration will vary depending on the formula; industry data shows 0.1% in baby lotions, 3% in lipsticks, and 5% in foot powders. You can also find this ingredient at 100% in a pure vitamin E oil.

Most leave-on skincare keeps it at the lower end, often between 0.5-1%.

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