What Is A Lip Balm?

Lip balm is a soft, wax-like substance you apply to saturate and ease the soreness caused by having dry or chapped 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.

Protecting and caring for your lips is a vital step in any self-care routine. Read about the importance of why you should use lip balm.

What Is Lip Balm Made Of?

In order for lip balm to be effective, it should have four qualities. First, it should be able to heal any lip damage, like chapped skin. Secondly, it should soothe lips. Third, a lip balm should effectively soften your lips. Lastly, an excellent lip balm should protect your lips from free radical damage.

Here are the common best lip balm ingredients to soothe dry, chapped lips:

1. Lanolin- Lanolin is a substance naturally found on the coats of sheep, which keeps their fleece protected and dry throughout the year. It is a brilliant and breathable barrier that lets lips hydrate from within and mimics human oils so perfectly.
2. Petroleum Jelly - Commonly known by the most popular brand name Vaseline. It creates a protective barrier on your skin that prevents moisture loss.
3. Beeswax - Beeswax is created by special worker bees that secrete wax from their abdomens. It conditions lips and acts as a protective barrier to maintain moisture.
4. Coconut Oil - Coconut oil is made from the fruit of coconut palm trees. It’s naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, making it an intense treatment that moisturizes and heals dry, cracked lips.
5. Shea Butter – This superfood is extracted from the nut of the African Shea tree. It’s rich in fatty acids, as well as ultra-healing Vitamins A and E. It moisturizes and protects lips from environmental aggressors and contains anti-inflammatory properties to calm, soothe, and nourish lips.
6. Jojoba Oil - This vitamin-rich oil is made from the seed of the jojoba plant. Although we all call it oil, it’s actually a plant wax. It’s lightweight, soothing, and can penetrate deep to lock in long-lasting moisture.
7. Hyaluronic Acid - Hyaluronic is a naturally occurring substance found in our skin that acts as a cushion to lubricate our skin. It’s commonly sourced from plants for most skincare and lip products. It plumps the lips with moisture, providing long-lasting hydration, and stops them drying out throughout the day.
8. Wax – It is added to help lip balm stick to lips. The wax keeps even tinted lip balms from having the shine of a lip gloss or the color intensity of a lipstick. 
9. Camphor and menthol - In medicated lip balms, they act as mild anesthetics and soothe irritated lips. They're also the ingredients that give lip balm its cool tingle.

What Are the Different Types of Lip Balm?

The lip balm industry has evolved and added different variations and versions of the original ingredients. Some are added with flavors, fragrance, and even sunscreen depending on the preference of the consumers.

1. Tinted Lip Balm - Tinted lip balms are used to moisturize and color the lips. It is a great substitute for users to not just moisturize the lips, but also gives them a subtle pop of color.
2. Medicated Lip Balm - Medicated lip balms are prescribed by doctors. It has healing properties or other medicated ingredients like hydrocortisone for antibacterial infections.
3. Flavored Lip Balm - Not only do these balms taste delicious, but they also smell sweeter. Creating a lip balm with a desirable taste and smell will encourage you to utilize this product all day long to keep your lips hydrated and healthy.
4. Organic Lip Balm - The organic lip balm has organic or natural ingredients, which is not harmful to the skin and is very safe to use.
5. SPF Lip Balm - The SPF lip balm contains ingredients like sunscreen to protect the lips from sun damage, burning, and even skin cancer.
6. Plumping Lip Balm - The plumping lip balm has special ingredients that doesn’t just moisturize the lips, but also makes the lips look fuller and plumped in a non-surgical way.
7. CBD or Hemp Oil Lip Balm - Hemp oil is from the hemp plant which is an excellent moisturizer for the lips, while the CBD oil is an active compound of cannabinoids which has anti-inflammatory benefits. It is perfect for cold sores, allergies, irritations, and inflamed lips.

Choosing the Right Lip Balm

A good quality lip balm can last you for the longest time, and if you are looking to invest in one, make sure you keep these points in mind.

• Take note of the packaging - Lip balms come in various packages like tubes, sticks, or small jars. 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 - 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.
• Make sure it has an SPF- 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 sulfate-free. Choose lip balms that are enriched with Shea or cocoa butter. Even beeswax is good since it forms this invisible protective layer and has antibacterial properties.
• Avoid ingredients like phenol, menthol and salicylic acid - Some lip balms, especially those containing phenol, menthol and salicylic acid, make the lips drier. They either cause irritation or remove outer layers of the skin.
• Lip balm for sensitive lips - If you’re looking for lip balm for sensitive lips, avoid lip balms with triggering ingredients, such as particular fragrances, flavorings, oils or preservatives. Not all lip balms may cause a reaction, so it’s important to work out what triggers a reaction on your skin and lips so you know what to avoid. 
• Choose a scent you like – From fresh mint, to grapefruit, to elderberry lip balm, you’ll find plenty of options for your lip balms collection. Look for simple, petroleum-based jelly products. These keep the lips moist and prevent future chapping, instead of causing it.
• Price - You can purchase lip balm anywhere from grocery shops to gas stations. There are a lot of amazing and high quality lip balms that can be bought easily and at an affordable cost, so there’s no excuse to compromise your skin with poor quality lip balms.
• Find a handy size - If you’re forever on the go, you’ll need a travel-friendly size so you can take your lip balm with you wherever you go.

Takeaway

Maintaining healthy lips is all about finding the best lip balm and remembering to reapply it.

The purpose of all lip balms is to protect the lips. Choose lip balms with safe ingredients like Shea, jojoba and beeswax and limit irritants like salicylic acid and menthol.

There are different kinds of lip balms to cater to different individuals’ needs like tinted, flavored, organic or with SPF.

Lip care is important. Unlike most other areas of your skin, your lips contain no oil glands and cannot generate their own hydration. Lip balms are designed to restore moisture and fullness to your lips and can create a more beautiful smile and can enhance your physical appearance to help you feel more confident in your everyday activities.

Whether your lips are cracked and dry during winter or need a bit of extra protection in the hot summer sun, the perfect lip balm for you is out there. Consult with one of our licensed estheticians to help find the right lip balm for you. You can create an account or update your profile at Dermava.com.