The final word on whether lip balm worsens dry lips

For many decades, lip balms have been used to moisturize and nourish dry lips. In fact, dry lips are a problem that doesn’t differentiate between seasons and can be a common occurrence all year long.

But, the recent studies showing that lip balms can make dry lips worse is definitely worrying. There is a lot of controversy regarding the statement which is why we decided to investigate further. Read on to find out whether using lip balms can make your dry lips worse.

First Things First, Do Lip Balms Dry Your Lips?

Sadly yes, lip balms can make your dry lips even dryer but only under certain conditions. You see, our lips are supposed to be naturally red or pink. This is because there are a lot of underlying blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. In fact, lips are a capillary-rich area as well, and because of this, the area needs frequent moisturization. Enter lip balm, which is one of the best solutions to fix or prevent dry and cracked lips.

Having said this, if you end up buying a lip balm containing the wrong ingredients, your lips will suffer moisture loss.

Decoding the Reasons Why Your Lip Balm is Leaving Your Lips Dry

Whenever you shop for the best lip balm, spend time reading and understanding the ingredients that have been used to create it. Here are a couple of reasons why you might need to replace your lip balm pronto.

Your Lip Balm Contains Salicylic Acid

A lot of lip balms in the market contain salicylic acid because it helps to remove dead skin cells all the while making your lips look, and feel, soft and supple. However, there is a high chance that this ingredient can make your lips dry.

Your Lip Balm Contains High Traces of Fragrance

When it comes to lip balms, you have to ditch the fragrant or flavored variety. Yes, no matter how difficult it might be to skip the strawberry-smelling lip balm or the one that has a minty scent, refrain you must.

The simple reason is the fact that fragrance can irritate your lips.

If your lip balm tastes or smells a bit better, it can lead to irritant reactions especially if you already have sensitive skin. If your lips are already drying, try switching to a non-scented lip balm and see the difference for yourself.

Your Lip Balm Contains Menthol or Camphor

Actually, in addition to camphor and menthol, even the ingredient phenol is an undesirable ingredient in lip balms and chapsticks.

According to Dr. Joshua Zeicher, a New York-based dermatologist, phenol, menthol, and camphor are ingredients that should be avoided. He says, “Yes, they soothe immediately, but in the long run may be irritating to the lips.“

Your Lip Balm Should Contain Necessary Oils and Butters

Now that we have spoken so much about lip balms that have the wrong ingredients, it is only fair to list out the correct ingredients that you should look for in your lip balm.

Firstly, lip balms that contain humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin need to be done away with. This is mainly because they remove the moisture from your lips if you are not careful enough to offset the drying effect with an occlusive agent.

Occlusive agents help to prevent the loss of moisture which, in turn, keeps your lips hydrated.

Dermatologist Leslie Baumann recommends that if you see a lip balm that contains hyaluronic acid or glycerin, you should make sure that the product also contains occlusive agents such as shea butter, beeswax, mineral oil, coconut oil, squalene, or petrolatum. These ingredients should also be present in any DIY lip balms you concoct.

Other Reasons Why You Have Dry Lips

In addition, to lip balms containing the wrong ingredients, there are a few other reasons why you might be have dry lips as well. We have compiled a list of some of the most common causes below.

  1. You have the habit of constantly licking your lips. This is because when the saliva dries and evaporates, it takes away a layer of moisture with it. So yes, you need to stop the licking right now.
  2. You are are not protecting your lips from the harmful radiations of the sun. This is why you need to make sure that your lip balm has SPF. If not, don't forget to massage your daily-use sunscreen into your lips before you step out of your house.
  3. You clean your lips with hot water. Just like saliva, when the hot water evaporates, it will leave your lips drier than ever.

Resources— Mental FlossHuffington Post

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