NCL is getting ready to launch their new L-Lysine with Monolaurin Balm - a lip and skin balm formulated using the same two popular ingredients found in the award-winning capsule formula. The journey took over a year of R&D, with three contract labs and at least seven versions of the formula.
The Balm at a Glance:
- Two award-winning ingredients now in a topical: L-Lysine and Monolaurin, the combo NCL has sold in capsules for nearly a decade, now in a balm for lips and skin
- A year in the making: three contract labs, seven formula iterations, and a year in development
- Torture-tested: samples placed in the oven, freezer, and spent weeks in the sun to ensure it can stand up to anything
- Lips and skin: the new formula is packaged in a jar making it easy to apply anywhere the skin feels dry or rough
- Clean balm base: no petrolatum, mineral oil, parabens, or synthetic dyes
Damon Sununtnasuk, Founder & CEO of NCL, walks through a year of balm R&D.
Why We Made a Balm: Your health, Inside and Out
For years, L-Lysine with Monolaurin has been one of the most popular products in NCL’s lineup. Customers loved the clean label formula, the research supporting the individual ingredients, and the quality and transparency behind the manufacturing process.
In a 2025 survey, customers told NCL that a topical formula was the #1 most requested new product they hoped for. In 2026, we are delivering on that request with the monolaurin and l-lysine balm.
"The balm taps into our two most popular ingredients – monolaurin and lysine – and combines them with natural plant oils in a clean formula and offers a novel delivery method for those who already know and trust the capsule counterpart,” said Damon Sununtnasuk, Founder & CEO of NCL.
One Year, Three Labs, Seven Iterations Later
"It's hard to believe, but we've spent literally one year developing our very first monolaurin and lysine balm. I could not be more excited about this product."
- Damon Sununtnasuk, Founder & CEO of NCL
The oldest sample is from early 2025. For over a year, the team has worked with three different laboratories and produced more than seven different versions of the formula.
Each round experimented with a new combination or concentration of ingredients, all in the pursuit of producing the perfect, most soothing and calming balm we could manufacture.
Balm Torture Tests: Oven, Freezer, and Weeks in the Sun
A balm has to survive the trip from the lab to the warehouse to your door. Packages sit in hot delivery trucks in July, get left behind in hot cars, and wait in mailboxes all afternoon. So the team stress tested samples to ensure the balm could hold up to the challenge: some went into an oven, some went into the freezer, and some sat out in direct sun for several weeks.
Several samples had handwritten notes like "sun" on the labels. "Why would it say sun? Well, because we put it in the sun for several weeks to see what would happen to the formula," Damon explained. The team documented how each sample reacted and used the results to improve the next iteration.
Selecting the Perfect Scent
The original balm formulation started as a plain oil base with no scent. After we nailed the consistency, glide, and texture, we moved on to finding the perfect scent. The team tested four naturally fragranced options side by side:
- Natural Almond: a little sweet and a little nutty
- Sweet Orange: sweet, with a citrus edge
- Vanilla: a little like dessert
- Coconut & Shea Butter: naturally fragranced, with shea butter
Damon admits it was a hard call. In the end, coconut won, so the finished balm is lightly scented with a natural coconut note.
All Body, All Purpose Balm
"There's a reason why this product comes in a jar and not in a ChapStick-type tube. A jar is for all body," Damon explained. Lips are the obvious place to start, but the balm is made for any dry or rough patch, like elbows, ankles, and areas that see a lot of friction. It moisturizes, softens, and conditions, and leaves skin feeling and looking great.
The balm feels very firm in the jar, but once warmed up on the skin has a silky touch and a nice glide. It does not leave an overly oily or sticky residue. The plant-based base of grape seed oil, hazelnut seed oil, and shea butter help the balm to feel light, absorb fast, and provide ongoing moisturizing for your skin. In addition to the active ingredients of L-Lysine and Monolaurin, the formula also includes tea tree leaf oil for healthy looking skin. The balm is made in the USA with globally sourced materials.
The balm comes in three convenient sized jars for travel and home. Simply apply a small amount with a fingertip or cotton swab as needed on lips or skin, and keep it away from the eyes. The label is discreet and can easily be left out on your desk or counter. The balm will be available in three options:
- 0.25 oz travel size for a pocket or bag
- 1 oz jar for the office or on the go
- 2 oz jar to keep at home
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it greasy?
No. The base uses light, fast-absorbing plant oils and shea butter, so it glides on without an oily or sticky feel.
Where can I use it?
On your lips and anywhere on your skin that feels dry or rough, like elbows and ankles. Avoid the eye area.
Does it have a scent?
Yes, a light natural coconut scent. It's lightly scented rather than strong.
When will it be available?
Soon. Join the waitlist to hear about it first.
What's Next
The Monolaurin and L-Lysine Balm is the first non-capsule product in a newly planned topical lineup, with more exciting topical solutions on the way. If you already take the capsule, this is the other half of the routine.
For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. If irritation occurs, discontinue use.
