Lip Balm Ingredients That Dry Lips

What are the lip balm ingredients that dry lips? Your lips are much thinner and more delicate than the rest of your skin, which leaves them prone to chapping and drying out. Since they don’t have sebaceous glands to produce sebum, they can’t self-moisturize like the skin of your face, so it’s up to you to help them stay hydrated by applying lip balm.

Unfortunately, many store-bought lip balms contain ingredients that can dry your lips out even more, which completely defeats the purpose of applying a lip balm! Here’s a list of ingredients to avoid when choosing a lip balm:

Petrolatum

Petrolatum is derived from refined petrol, which is also used to produce gasoline. Studies have found that petrolatum often becomes contaminated with carcinogens during the refining process, which aren’t something you want on your lips. Aside from the obvious no-no of the added carcinogens, another concern with petrolatum is that it makes an airtight barrier on your lips, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria.

Parabens

Parabens have been linked to an increased risk of skin and breast cancer due to their ability to mimic estrogen. In men, they have been shown to reduce testosterone levels, which can lead to significant health issues.

Added Fragrances

Added fragrances are found in so many store-bought lip balms that it can be hard to avoid them, but they’re the leading cause of eczema and other skin issues. Fragrances are typically added chemicals and alcohols, which dry out and irritate the sensitive skin of your lips.

Lanolin

Lanolin is an emollient waxy substance secreted by the oil glands of sheep, and it can be found in a ton of store-bought lip balms and skincare products. However, it’s considered a significant sensitizer and allergen, which can cause your lips to react negatively to it by drying out.

Glycerin

While glycerin is generally harmless and can help exfoliate dry lips, it can be a significant allergen. For those who are allergic, you may experience swelling, peeling, and blisters on your lips.

Alcohol

Added alcohols can remove the outer layer of the skin on your lips, leaving them less protected and more susceptible to the environment, which can cause them to dry out.

Phenol, Menthol, and Camphor

While phenol, menthol, and camphor can soothe your lips temporarily, they also work to remove the outer layers of your skin. This leads to less protection, which makes your lips more vulnerable to environmental factors and dries them out even more.

Salicylic Acid

While salicylic acid is great for exfoliating your face, it can also irritate your skin and cause dryness and inflammation. This is especially true when applied to your lips, which are much more sensitive and prone to irritation than the rest of your skin.

What ChapStick ingredients dry out lips?

There are several ingredients in ChapStick that can cause your lips to become even drier. The main ingredient in ChapStick is petrolatum, which is great for creating a protective barrier but doesn’t easily absorb into your lips to moisturize and heal them. It also contains camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, and added fragrance – all of which contribute to drying out your lips.

Here’s the full ingredients list of original ChapStick, according to the ChapStick website:

White petrolatum
Arachidyl propionate
Camphor
Carnauba wax
Cetyl alcohol
Fragrance
Isopropyl lanolate
Isopropyl myristate
Lanolin
Light mineral oil
Octyldodecanol
Oleyl alcohol
Paraffin
Phenyl trimethicone
Red 6 lake
Titanium dioxide
White wax
Yellow 5 lake

As you can see, there aren’t many beneficial ingredients in name-brand ChapStick. Luckily, you can make your own moisturizing lip balm with all-natural ingredients in less than 30 minutes! If you’re ready to start making your own lip balm at home, here’s an easy recipe to start with:

Easy DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm

This lip balm recipe uses beeswax, shea butter, extra virgin olive oil, and cocoa butter to pack a lot of natural hydration. These ingredients are all popular in DIY lip balms and can be easily found online or in any health store.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp shea butter
1 tbsp cocoa butter
2 tbsp beeswax pellets
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
10-12 drops of spearmint essential oil

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About the Author: Jenni Mac

Hi, I’m Jenni! I am a health and beauty blogger that loves making homemade beauty products. I have been blogging for over three years now, my first blog is RawBeautyBlog.com - it is all about natural products, DIY skin care, inner beauty, and anything else to do with natural living.

Here you will learn all about DIY lip balm! From DIY recipes, to recipes for lip scrubs and glosses, this site has it all! With witty posts about how to take care of your lips in the winter, you'll find everything you need to keep them happy and healthy.

Lip Balm Ingredients That Dry Lips - Ingredient List of ChapStick