When the weather is cold and dry, our lips can easily become dry and peeling. Some people may even crack and bleed, causing cheilitis. There is no use drinking water at this time, I can only apply lipstick vigorously. Studies show that if you apply lip balm twice a day, you may eat 4 lip balms a year. Therefore, it is very important that the ingredients used in lip balm are safe and reliable. There are many kinds of lip balms on the market, so how to choose a lip balm with safe ingredients, comfortable application, and good effect?
Lip Balm Ingredients
The main ingredients of general lip balm are oil + wax + fragrance + preservatives. The oil content is related to the skin feel and moisturizing effect of the lip balm; the wax content is related to the gloss and hardness of the lip balm.
Grease is divided into mineral oil, vegetable oil and animal oil. Mineral oil is low-cost and is the main ingredient in many lipsticks and moisturizers. Mineral oil is extracted from petroleum extracted from the ground. The first layer is for gasoline; the second layer is leptonic oil; and the third layer of asphalt is for road paving. Most lip balms are made with a second layer of leptonic oil, also known as "petroleum jelly." It can effectively lock in moisture and make lips look soft, but this is an illusion of "fake moisture" because it is not breathable and cannot be easily absorbed by the skin. Long-term use will form dependence and make lips become drier and drier. After all, lip balm is an easy thing to eat. The safest oil among oils is naturally vegetable oil. Especially for people with sensitive skin, it is recommended to give priority to vegetable oils.
Followed by wax, mainly divided into mineral wax (such as paraffin, ozokerite), plant wax (tree wax) and animal wax (beeswax). Vegetable waxes and animal waxes are warmer and safer.
Then there is the essence, which is generally used to mask the smell of oil. Generally, most lipsticks on the market use food-grade fragrance, but fragrance is one of the most important allergens in skin care products. It is recommended that people with sensitive skin, pregnant women, and children use it with caution.
Finally, there are preservatives. Among common preservatives, phenoxyethanol is relatively less irritating to skin. Methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, etc. are all paraben preservatives. They have estrogen-like effects, and the longer the molecular chain, the stronger the effect, that is, propyl ester > ethyl ester > methyl ester. Esters are recommended to be used with caution by pregnant women and children.
Lip Balm Ingredients Review
Below are several examples of ingredient reviews for lip balm brands. You can refer to this when choosing lip balm.
1. Lip Balm A
Grease: Vaseline, mineral oil, glycerin fatty acid ester (synthetic grease)
Wax: Microcrystalline wax
Flavor: Menthol
Color: None
Sunscreen: None
Preservative: Vitamin E
Active ingredients: allantoin, vitamin B6, vitamin B5, glycerin, etc.
Summary: This is an anti-cheilitis ointment. Allantoin and B vitamins can reduce inflammation, but long-term use is not recommended.
2.Lip Balm B
Grease: olive oil, lanolin
Wax: beeswax, paraffin, tree wax
Spices: none
Color: None
Sunscreen: None
Preservatives: Phenoxyethanol, Phenoxyethanol
Summary: Aside from the paraffins and synthetic fats, it's basically a natural lip balm.
3. Lip Balm C
Oils and fats: coconut oil, sweet almond oil, soybean oil, etc.
Wax: beeswax
Fragrances: Peppermint essential oil, rosemary extract
Color: None
Sunscreen: None
Preservative: Vitamin E
Summary: The ingredient list is basically all natural ingredients.
Recommend the right lipstick for you
How to Use lipstick
1) It’s best to paint vertically
Since the skin texture of your lips is vertical, it's best to apply lip balm along the texture of your lips, from top to bottom. This allows you to apply the lip balm into the crevices of the texture for better hydration.
2) Do not bite or tear off dry, peeling skin
The skin on lips is very thin. If you tear it off directly, it will damage the capillaries under the epidermis and cause bleeding. Consider applying a warm compress to your lips with a wet washcloth for three minutes, then using a brush to remove dead skin on your lips, and then applying a moisturizing, repairing lip balm.
3) Avoid licking your lips frequently
Frequent licking of the lips will take away the moisture that is already lacking on the lip surface, making it drier the more you lick it, leading to increased erythema, scaling, dryness, and cheilitis.
4) Apply thickly before going to bed
Apply a thick layer of lip balm before going to bed. It can be used as a night lip mask to effectively reduce moisture evaporation at night. When you wake up, a gentle swipe easily removes dead skin, leaving lips moisturized and smooth.
5) Lip protection should not be used only in winter
You should have a basic care lip balm in your bag all year round.
Post time: Jan-10-2024