Lip balm is a wax-like substance you apply to moisturize and ease pain caused by chapped or dry lips. Due to thin skin, lips are vulnerable and usually display signs of dryness before other areas of the skin. Lip balm helps protect lips from dry air, wind, and cold temperatures. Seems simple enough, right? In reality, lip balm has both advantages and disadvantages, which you need to know!
Besides relieving chapped lips, lip balm provides other benefits. After applying lip balm you may notice a glossy effect, which many find alluring. Furthermore, lip balms come in a variety of different flavors and pleasant scents.
Like many other products, lip balm has a few significant drawbacks. First, you may notice chapped lips. Yes, believe it or not, lip balm can actually worsen lip chapping. If a brand contains an allergen, it will cause a lip rash that mimics chapped lips. In actuality, the rash is an allergic reaction; which looks and feels like chapped lips. Some lip balms contain ingredients that actually make lips drier such as phenol, menthol, and salicylic acid. If you want to avoid this effect, don’t use products with notorious lip allergens such as Citrus, Mint, Tea tree, Eucalyptus, Camphor, and Lanolin.
Additionally some lip balm products contain potentially dangerous chemicals. When you buy lip balm, be sure to read the list of ingredients on the package. Some brands contain dangerous ingredients such as paraffin, petrolatum, dyes, and phenol. Instead, try substituting these brands in favor of products containing safer ingredients.
Finally, there is a risk of possible infection. Continuous use of a product may lead to contamination. While many people apply it in a manner like lipstick, some prefer applying lip balm with their finger. This allows bacteria and germs on your hands to gain easy access to your mouth, which can affect your health. You can avoid infection by changing your products, and washing your hands before applying lip balm to your mouth. Furthermore, always switch out your product if you’ve recently suffered from a cold sore.
While people may not develop a physical addiction to lip balm in the same manner as drugs or alcohol, many develop a psychological addiction to it. This “addiction” results from an allergic reaction because lip balm contains several ingredients that can cause sensitivity or irritation. Think for a second, do you notice that you seem to need lip balm more when you use it? The allergic reaction more or less causes a never-ending cycle of application. Try hypoallergenic lip moisturizers such as shea butter or Vaseline if you want to break your habit.
If you’re worried about becoming addicted to lip balm, ask your self these questions.
If you answered “yes” to more than half of these questions, you may have an addiction. You should wean yourself off the product, or use lip balms containing different ingredients.
For more information about lip balm products and methods to reduce symptoms of dry lips, contact the experts at Short Hills Dermatology today!
Lip balm was probably one of the first beauty products you started using, and have come to realise its importance over the years. So perhaps you would agree if we say that it is an essential product in your vanity kit. A good quality lip balm can last you for the longest time, and if you are looking to invest in one as we approach the dry weather, make sure you keep these points in mind.
Read on to know more.
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Take note of the packaging
It is 2020 and we all need to do our bit for the environment. Opt for plastic-free packaging and go for small glass cases which can be refillable with DIY options. But lip balms also come in various packages like tubes, sticks, or small jars. Of these, we suggest you opt for the stick variant so that it can be directly applied to your lips without you having to use your fingers.
Go for double-duty variants
We all love our good ol’ petroleum jelly, but nothing beats beauty products that do the job of two products at once. Think of a slightly tinted rosy lip balm that could double up as a gloss, or a blush-highlighter duo. You could even go for one that has a mint flavour which could be used as a breath freshener. Don’t just settle for the basics; buy products that meet at least two of your demands at once.
Make sure it has an SPF
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While the main purpose of a lip balm is to make sure your lips don’t get chapped and rough, it is also important to note that our lips are sensitive as compared to other parts of the face. While beauty enthusiasts make it a point to apply sunscreen every day, it is important you extend the same care to your lips as well. So go for a lip balm that has at least SPF 10 or 15.
Read the ingredients
Make sure you go for a lip balm that is paraben and sulphate-free. Not only that, but there are a lot of lip balms in the market with lucrative ‘cooling’ features, which is basically when you apply a lip balm, you will get this cooling sensation. Steer clear from those variants as they usually contain phenol or camphor which strip the protective layer of your skin leaving them more vulnerable. Instead, opt for lip balms that are enriched with shea or cocoa butter. Even beeswax is good since it forms this invisible protective layer and has anti-bacterial properties.
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