A 34-year-old mother who could not properly kiss her husband at their wedding because of a cold sore says a £9.95 balm from Amazon has stopped her outbreaks. Georgia Ruth told The Mirror that the LipQ Liquorice Lip Balm 30g has been "incredibly healing for both my skin and my nervous system."
Georgia said she first began suffering from cold sores in her early twenties and that they were often severe. She described having multiple outbreaks every year, sometimes as often as twice a month, and said almost everything seemed to trigger them. At one point an outbreak became infected, and she was prescribed antiviral medication by her GP.
Wedding day heartbreak
She explained that cold sores interrupted every part of her life and made her feel anxious and self-conscious. She recalled that the hardest moment came the night before her wedding, when she developed a cold sore. Although her husband was supportive, she said they could not seal their vows with a proper deep kiss.
After discovering LipQ, Georgia said she finished two tins and never intends to be without it. She keeps one by her bedside and one in her car. Her last cold sore was in October 2025, and she has not had an outbreak since.
Trial results and recommendations
Skin Shop says the balm has been trialled with the Herpes Viruses Association, with 83% of users reporting faster recovery and outbreaks reduced by nearly half. Marian Nicholson from the Herpes Viruses Association said the product "has performed well with respondents showing a marked reduction in severity and duration of their cold sore outbreaks" and that the association is happy to recommend it to members.
The balm is made from natural ingredients, is free from parabens and perfumes, and is made in Britain. Skin Shop says it offers natural UV protection from Glycyrrhizic acid, which can help shield lips from sun-triggered cold sores.
Other customer reviews
On Amazon, the product has a review score of 4.4 out of five stars from over 700 reviews. One reviewer said a cold sore went in three days, another said the cream "CHANGED MY LIFE" and that cold sores were gone in 48 hours, and a third said it cleared a cold sore within a week. One user noted the balm is "quite expensive for how small it is."
Georgia concluded: "Instead of constantly living in defence mode, I've finally been able to live in repair and prevention mode. That has been incredibly healing for both my skin and my nervous system. LipQ Balm has given me my confidence back."
