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What is Bag Balm? Bag Balm Review And The Top 10 Bag Balm Uses

SKIN CARE REVIEWS

01.11.23DISCLAIMER

Bag Balm is a multi-purpose skin moisturizer that has more uses than we can count. It’s said to not only alleviate dry skin, but also minor cuts and scrapes, soothing sunburns, treating diaper rash, softening your cuticles, and more. You can even use Bag Balm for dogs!

This may leave you wondering: what’s so special about Bag Balm? We’re going to answer this question for you by covering the formulation details, including the Bag Balm ingredients and the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skincare. We also discuss other products by this brand, the top 10 Bag Balm uses, reviews from real customers, and more.

Review of bag balm

 

What’s Inside Bag Balm?

The Original Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer has a very simple formulation of only four ingredients:

  • Petrolatum
  • Lanolin
  • Paraffin wax
  • 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate

We’ll discuss each of these Bag Balm ingredients in detail below so you’ll know exactly how they will affect your skin. 

Petrolatum
Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly or Vaseline, is the highest concentration ingredient in Bag Balm. It’s an occlusive agent that reduces the rate of water loss through skin. Since petrolatum has a melting point that is close to body temperature, it softens upon application and forms a water-repellant film around the applied area. This film prevents evaporation of the skin’s natural moisture and increases skin hydration by causing buildup of water in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin). 

Lanolin
Lanolin, also known as wool wax or wool grease, is a yellow wax secreted by the sebaceous (oil) glands of wool-bearing animals, such as sheep. In nature, lanolin’s role is to protect wool and skin from climate and the environment. It is thought that applying lanolin to human skin can help to protect against dry, chapped skin and other skin ailments. 

Lanolin is a long-chain waxy ester that contains cholesterol, and is actually very similar to the chemical structure of the oils produced by human skin. Due to its high lipid content, lanolin is occlusive, meaning it prevents the evaporation of water from the skin (transepidermal water loss). Ultimately, lanolin benefits the skin by keeping it moisturized and promoting healing. 

Paraffin Wax
Another Bag Balm ingredient is paraffin wax, a petroleum derivative, which is a soft colorless solid that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules. Paraffin wax is used in the Bag Balm formula to help bind the ingredients together.

8-Hydroxyquinoline Sulfate
The final Bag Balm ingredient is 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, which has antiseptic properties and is used in the Bag Balm formulation as a preservative. Specifically, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate is a metal chelating agent extracted from coal tar. It has the ability to inhibit the growth of imidazolidinyl urea microbes.

What is Bag Balm?

Bag Balm is a product of Vermont’s Original, a company based in Lyndonville, Vermont that has been making salve since 1899. The story behind Bag Balm is actually pretty interesting. It began when a pharmacist in Wells Rivers developed the healing balm to treat “cake bag”, a term used to describe the post-milking irritation that dairy cows experience.

As word spread of this healing balm, Lyndonville farmer John L. Norris saddled his best horse and rode 30 long miles to find out what the fuss was about. The minute he tried it on the first cow, he recognized that the balm would not only work for cow udders, but also for the dry skin conditions the people of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom experienced during the harsh winter weather.

So Norris purchased the formula and all the rights to market it — and that’s when Bag Balm was born. The company prides itself on the fact that it has been creating the product in a way that has gone unchanged since they first came into existence.

What Are The Bag Balm Products?

In addition to the Original Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer, Vermont’s Original has expanded its product line to include soaps, lotions, lip care, and more. Let’s take a closer look at each of the Bag Balm products.

Original Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer

We’ve already shared the story behind how the original Bag Balm came into existence, but what can you expect when using this moisturizer?

You’ll find just four ingredients in Bag Balm: petrolatum, lanolin, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, and paraffin wax.

Together, these ingredients create a very thick ointment (to give you something to compare it to, it’s a bit thicker than Vaseline).

And fair warning: Bag Balm has a pretty strong, medicinal scent. Many people don’t seem to mind the scent, but after reading through Bag Balm reviews, we noticed that some people find the scent too unpleasant to continue using this product.

 

Bag Balm Hand & Body Skin Moisturizer

While this product is marketed separately from the Original Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer, it actually has the exact same ingredients. Perhaps the ingredients are used in different concentrations, but we can’t say for sure because the company does not disclose this information. This product is recommended to be used to heal dry cuticles, calluses, chafed skin, cracked skin, and split heels.

 

Bag Balm Daily Moisturizing Hand Lotion

The Bag Balm hand lotion has a lighter texture than the Original Balm Balm formula, making it ideal for those who don’t like thick, greasy products on their hands. But don’t get us wrong, there are still plenty of moisturizing emollients in this formula, such as caprylic/capric triglyceride, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter.

 

Bag Balm Lip Balm

Once again, the Bag Balm lip balm has the same ingredients as the Original Bag Balm Moisturizer. The only difference is that this lip balm comes in a convenient on-the-go 0.25 ounce tube. So not only can it be used as a lip balm, but you can also use it on your hands and cuticles if you need some extra moisture while you’re out and about.

 

Bag Balm Mega Moisturizing Soap

This moisturizing bar soap can be used as a hand soap and also as a moisturizing body wash. It contains many of the same ingredients as the Original Bag Balm Moisturizer, such as petrolatum and lanolin. The soap ingredient that the brand chose is sodium palmate, the sodium salt of fatty acids of palm oil. Sodium palmate can be drying, which is ironic since this soap is claimed to be a moisturizing soap. The formula also contains fragrance, which could lead to sensitization and irritation.

 

Bag Balm Full Spectrum CBD & Arnica Rub

This Bag Balm product was created to temporarily relieve minor symptoms such as, muscle aches and pains, strains, back pain, stiffness, bruising, and swelling. The formula includes key ingredients like 300mg organic full-spectrum CBD and organic arnica oil.

CBD is known to help alleviate aches and pains associated with muscle and joint soreness and inflammation.

Arnica oil is included in this formula to help relieve soreness, bruises, and pain. Arnica oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, and has also been found to be helpful in treating insect bites and sprains.

What Are The Top 10 Bag Balm Uses?

Unlike most skin care products, Bag Balm can be used for a variety of purposes, from treating diaper rash to moisturizing dry skin. Below we’ll briefly describe the top 10 best bag balm uses:

  1. Moisturizer for dry, rough, chapped skin on elbows, hands, feet, or anywhere on the body
  2. Reduce sting or burning sensation after minor burns including sunburn
  3. Treating cuts, scrapes, or other minor wounds
  4. Treating diaper rash in babies
  5. Keeping the nails and cuticles healthy
  6. Softening and moisturizing lips
  7. Treating skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and sore skin
  8. Healing relatively recent scars and skin discolorations
  9. Tattoo aftercare
  10. Pet care (use Bag Balm for dogs dry, cracked paws and nose)

Is Bag Balm Safe?

Since Bag Balm contains petroleum-derived and animal-derived ingredients, you may be wondering: is Bag Balm safe?

Petroleum-derived ingredients like petrolatum (the key ingredient in Bag Balm) are generally considered to be safe. In fact, petrolatum is an FDA-approved skin protectant.

The concern with petrolatum and other petroleum-derived ingredients is that they can generate 1,4-dioxane, a substance known to potentially contribute to some cancers.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that these ingredients are highly purified prior to being used in cosmetics.

The other Bag Balm ingredient that has the potential to be unsafe for some people is lanolin. Lanolin is generally considered to be safe for intact skin (no cuts, scrapes, or other damage). However, lanolin products are typically designed to be used on healing skin (eczema, burns, cuts, scrapes, etc.), not normal and intact skin.

When lanolin enters the bloodstream through the damaged skin, it can cause an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, the incidence of lanolin allergy is rising.

A 2017 study evaluated more than 1,000 children with eczema and found that 66% of them reacted to lanolin alcohol.

Thus, if you have a lanolin allergy or aren’t sure if you have a lanolin allergy, it is best to stay away from all lanolin products.

Where to Buy Bag Balm Products?

Bag Balm is sold on the company’s website, as well as third party online retailers like Amazon and eBay. Bag Balm is also a staple in pharmacies, general stores, pet retailers, and farm supply retailers. The company has a store locator on their website so you can find a location that stocks their products near you.

Is Bag Balm Cruelty Free?

Bag Balm is a cruelty free product.

Bag Balm Reviews

Bag Balm reviews on the brand’s website are overall very positive, however, there aren’t many customer reviews. For example, there are only 15 reviews for the Original Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer, with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Positive Bag Balm reviews confirm that it works well for a variety of purposes, such as dry skin, cuts and scrapes, diaper rash, eczema, and even a latex allergy.

The only negative Bag Balm reviews are concerning the smell, which some customers find to be a bit odd.

There are quite a few more Bag Balm reviews for the Original Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer on Amazon.com. Currently, this Bag Balm product has an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars after more than 9,000 customer reviews.

Positive Bag Balm reviews rave about the effectiveness of this salve for multiple conditions, even athlete’s foot and plantars warts.

Our Verdict

Overall, we think that Bag Balm is a good option if you have severely dry, cracked skin, or if you’d like to use Bag Balm for one of the other uses we listed above.

Pros

  • Bag Balm ingredients are very good occlusive emollients
  • Many positive Bag Balm reviews
  • Many different Bag Balm uses
  • Bag Balm is cruelty free

Cons

  • Some customers find the scent to be odd and unpleasant

 

 

References:
Contact Dermatitis 2017 Mar;76(3):151-159.

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  • Sandra Original review: Jan 11, 2023. Reply

    I have been using Bag Balm for years, works wonders on my dry skin. I have tried many products, nothing worked as well as Bag Balm. I highly recommend thi product for its many uses.

  • Mary Original review: Nov 08, 2022. Reply

    Was wondering if Bag Balm would help with deep wrinkles around the mouth and is effective around the eye area?
    Thank you for your answer!

  • Dawn Original review: Oct 17, 2022. Reply

    This is such an awesome product! I used a new product on my face it had my face raw , peeling and red ! I used lotion which made it worse! I remembered about my bag balm I immediately applied it to my raw burning face it was stinging for about 1 minute than I noticed it started to work leaving me happy and relieved! I tell you this product is awesome!!!! I feel great ?

  • Rose Original review: Aug 01, 2022. Reply

    I have had very dry lips for 20 years or so. 9 years ago on a cruise to Bay Harbor and saw the Bad Balm tin. It looked cute and saw a sign saying for Lobster fishermen. I bought the tin. I bought the tin used it every once in a while. 3 years ago I took a old chapstick tube. It is not as round as most sticks. I have been putting Bag Balm in the stick and apply about 4 times a day. Keeping my lips from not burning. Finally have found something to help me and my lips!

  • William Coleman Original review: Jul 25, 2022. Reply

    I have used Bag Balm for years but ran out about a year ago thereabouts, it actually worked for me in treating cuts dry skin and cracked skin on my feet, as soon as I can I am going to be getting more because it works really good in keeping my skin healthy.

  • SB Original review: Mar 28, 2021. Reply

    Tried Bag Balm for the first time and was extremely disappointed. Although it did make my feet feel smooth, it is hard to get over the smell. Also, the bottom of my feet turned bright red, like a tomato. Left phone messages and email for customer service and NEVER heard back. No excuse for poor customer service. Would not recommend.

  • Hoarse Original review: Nov 27, 2020. Reply

    I have extremely dry skin on my legs and forearms. They get so itchy and sometimes it feels like they’re on fire, especially in drier winter weather. Bag Balm soothes my skin and takes away the itchiness and burning sensation. I also get cracked skin on my hands in the winter. Bag Balm solves that problem, as well. It can be pretty messy, though, because it doesn’t absorb into the skin. That’s not a problem on my legs but on my hands and forearms it is, so what I do is I apply it, and thoroughly work it into the skin, then I wash off the remaining residue with soap and water.

  • Dolores Wilson Original review: Jul 20, 2019. Reply

    Love the product Use especially in very cold weather, also in heat. Son had terrible rash told him about it and worked fine. My daughters also use it. I highly recommend it. Thanks for the product. Dolores

  • John McComb Original review: Apr 01, 2019. Reply

    I have used this product for close to 20 years now and it has worked miracles on my dry skin. As an avid hockey and baseball player I always required proper skin lubrication and this product has gone over and above my expectations ! I actively use Bag Balm once and day and will never go a day without it in the future. Congrats on the product it has really made my life more comfortable !!

  • Sabrina L Langston Original review: Feb 21, 2019. Reply

    Yes i use it twice a week on my scalp for dry itchy scaly scalp and it helps soothe it

  • Barbara Original review: Oct 22, 2018. Reply

    I cant say enough good about Bag Balm.
    For a variety of animal needs, people of all ages needs, its the best. I wish my Dr would prescribe it so it can be a medical deduction. Instead of the dinky tubes of various prescriptions she does prescribe. Because I’m frequently complimented on my skin Im asked what I recommend for the face. Bag Balm. !!!

  • Kimberly Original review: Apr 18, 2018. Reply

    I have a problem with dry, thick, peeling and cracked skin on my fingertips. I received noticeable results upon the first morning after I began applying Bag Balm to my hands at bedtime, and wearing loose fitting exam-type gloves overnight. After only one night I could tell a softening of the rough scaliness. It has now been four nights and the results are amazing! I will continue using Bag Balm and gloves overnight for several more nights, then use the method periodically for a spa treatment to keep my fingertips soft. No more uncomfortable, snagging everything fingertips for me! I’ve found relief! Thank you Bag Balm!

  • Mary Original review: Jan 21, 2018. Reply

    Can u use it on your scalp? would really like to know. My husband has eczema on his scalp and we tried everything I’ve talk to a few people and they told me about this Vermont original bag balm . But i was wondering if it could be applied on to the scalp.

  • Judy Original review: Dec 29, 2017. Reply

    Bag Balm is the first product actually healing my severely chapped/ wind burned lips, sore nose, and wind burned face. I have tried a half dozen products and nothing has worked before this. I do have a mild sting when I first apply, last about ten seconds, and then the healing is very noticeable. I can move my mouth again!

  • Jean Original review: Oct 08, 2017. Reply

    Hi there, my friend told me about this, because I had a terrible case of foot blisters all over them. I tried it on one of my feet, and the next day, the same foot swelled up, and two of the 20 blisters on my feet turned into monster blisters. It was extremely painful, because the pressure within the blister was so strong. I drained the blister, and the blister would fill up on minutes. Perhaps this is good for minor issues, but definitely not for the skin complication that I had. My other foot, to which did not have the cream applied, was doing better. Not recommended for my case!

  • Julie dent Original review: Nov 11, 2014. Reply

    Can I use bag balm on my scalp? Can use bag balm on head for thinning hair?

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