Lip Balms: Here’s What You Need To Know Before Choosing One
The key to that perfect application of lipstick is healthy and hydrated lips underneath. And lip balms have a major role to play in ensuring that. From moisturising your dry lips to soothing the chapped ones, lip balms keep your lips truly happy. But don’t let that give you the impression that you can buy just about any lip balm and get the same results.
A lot can go wrong when buying a lip balm, starting from the ingredients to the application. And to make sure you make none of the common mistakes here’s bringing you a brief discussion on all things lip balm!
Which ingredients are a must for a good lip balm?
The formulation of lip balms usually contains concentrates of oils, which get thickened by waxy bodies. Manufacturers use vegetable butter or oils for their nutritional qualities, along with synthetic or mineral oils.
The oils have an adherent and protective effect on the lips. Some of the star ingredients of a good lip balm are Shea butter, beeswax, glycerin, and jojoba oil. The presence of soothing ingredients makes the lip balms more appealing to the users.
Lip balms that have beeswax, cocoa butter, apricot oil, etc., and natural substances are the best balms. Some of the lip balms have sweet almond oil and a silky texture that offers a rich protective layer on your lips. The light gloss on the lips also makes them look nice.
The ingredients to avoid in a lip balm
It’s pretty easy to avoid the common irritants of lip balm, but you need to have an idea about what those are. The first and foremost thing to avoid is balms having fragrances because of their drying properties. It is best to buy a fragrance-free vegan lip balm. After all, the fragrance only adds cosmetic appeal to the balms, but these are irritating to your skin barrier. It can lead to more dryness and irritation.
In addition to that, fragrances are the foremost reason behind allergies and contact dermatitis, which is commonly known as rashes. In fact, the cosmetic companies manufacturing lip balms need to mention the presence of fragrance in the list of ingredients. It helps the buyers to know whether or not to go for that option easily.
Also, menthol, phenol, and camphor are very common reasons behind contact dermatitis in many balms. Though peppermint and eucalyptus oil seem natural, they have a similar tingling effect. They can still lead to quite a bit of irritation.
How often can you apply a lip balm?
You can put on your lip balm in the morning right after brushing your teeth, as toothpaste usually dries the skin of your lips. Also, you can use the lip balm after your lunch and at night before hitting the bed. In case your lips feel really damaged, you can put on a lip balm as soon as they feel torn.
During the day, you can use moisturizing lipsticks to make sure that your dry lips remain hydrated. You can use your lip balm before using lipstick, especially if it’s matte. It will ensure that your lips are not drier than before.
What to avoid if your lips feel damaged?
It would help if you avoided lip balms that are too aqueous and not quite nutritious because they usually have paraffin or essential oils.
Another mistake that people tend to make is to put serums or face creams on their lips. It would be best to avoid that because the perfume and other active ingredients get easily absorbed by the lips. It might cause further damage to your lips.
Quick care tips for severely chapped or cracked lips
If your lips feel severely cracked or damaged, you need to avoid any chances of infection. Ensure to reduce injuries and relieve any sensation of tingling, burning, or tightness through the products you use. Thus, you only need to go for lip balms with natural ingredients.
When your lips are too chapped, you can carry out a bit of gumming on your lips to make sure you remove the dead skin. Keep in mind that tearing the skin on your lips with teeth is never a good idea.
Here’s how you can do gumming on your lips:
- Apply a thick layer of lip balm and wait for five minutes
- Add a pinch of fine sugar and rub that on your lips gently
- Put another layer of your lip balm right after exfoliating your lips
Also, you need to avoid that bad reflex that most people are guilty of. People tend to pass their tongues over their lips to temporarily moisten them. Though you will get to calm the irritation of your chapped lips for a few seconds, it’s not worth it. Eventually, this habit will dehydrate your lips even more than before.
How do I know if a lip balm is making my lips drier?
Now, you already know how to spot and steer clear of potentially irritating lip balms. But what if the one that you are using now is also not doing much for you? The easiest way to figure it out is to change lip balms if you are continuously having to reapply what you are already using.
Think of it like drinking a glass of soda to quench your thirst. You are drinking something that is tasty but has zero nutritional value. You are going to feel thirsty right after this. The same thing applies to balms filled with menthol, fragrance, and flavour.
A good lip balm will keep your lips hydrated for a long time without the need for reapplication. Here are our recommended lip balms:
From left: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Kiss’R Luscious Lip Balm, Jane Iredale LipDrink Lip Balm, Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm, Dermal Therapy Lip Balm and Benefit California Kissin’ Colorbalm Moisturizing Lip Balm.
The endnote
And that’s it! You now have some really crucial information regarding lip balms and lip care. Hopefully, you will keep these facts in mind when choosing a lip balm the next time. With the right lip balm and consistent lip care, you can keep dry and chapped lips at bay forever.
