Your Lip Balm Isn’t as Harmless as It Seems

Don’t get me wrong, I love my lippies.

They’re in every bag, every pocket, every random corner of my room. Dry lips that are fixed in seconds, with a cute tint to it. Cute packaging? Icing on the cake! But here’s something I didn’t think about for the longest time:
what if the thing that’s supposed to help your lips… isn’t really helping?

A lot of lip balms use ingredients like petroleum jelly, artificial flavors, and fragrances. They make your lips feel smooth for a while, but sometimes they don’t actually fix dryness, they just sit on top of your skin. Dermatologists have pointed out that ingredients like flavors and menthol can actually irritate lips over time, making you feel like you need to reapply more often. And it's true! I've found myself reapplying the same lips balm over 10 times in an hour to keep it "refreshed".

So what’s actually in lip balms?

Many commercial lip balms are fortified with ingredients that can do more harm than good. Several popular brands contain petroleum jelly, which acts as a barrier and may prevent moisture loss initially but can lead to further dryness over time since it doesn’t truly hydrate the lips. Additionally, many include artificial fragrances and flavorings, which can be irritating to sensitive skin, making you feel the need to reapply repeatedly. In essence, instead of soothing your lips, you may find yourself caught in a cycle of dependency that robs them of their natural moisture.

Broader Impact: Environmental and Subtle Health Effects

The impact of lip balm isn't just limited to personal care; it extends to the environment too. Many of these products come in plastic tubes that take hundreds of years to decompose. Single-use plastics contribute significantly to environmental pollution, leading us to ponder the packaging materials utilized in everyday products. Moreover, the continuous use of synthetic additives not only affects our health, potential allergic reactions or skin irritations, but also raises larger concerns about the cumulative effects of chemical absorption into our bodies over time.

A Realistic Shift Towards Better Habits

Okay, let's be honest. We're not about to go and throw out all our cute lip balms, despite knowing all this. So here's a few impactful tips that will make a real difference:

First of all, you need to finish what you have! Instead of running to your nearest Seophora, as soon as Rhode, Laneige, or Summer Fridays release their latest collection, take a deep breath in. I know. It's hard. But creating that control could contribute to one less plastic package being thrown in the environment.

Second, start being a little more picky about what you buy.. Flip the product over. Read the ingredients. If it’s packed with fragrances and long, complicated names you don’t recognize, maybe skip it. Your lips don’t need ten different additives to stay healthy, sometimes simpler products are better!

DIY Idea - for your summer 🌞

Simple DIY Tinted Lip Balm

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

• 1 teaspoon beeswax

• A tiny pinch of beetroot powder (for a natural pink/red tint)

Melt the coconut oil and beeswax gently, mix well, then add just a little beetroot powder and stir. Let it cool in a small container.

No confusing ingredients. No overhype.
Just something simple that actually works.

That's all from us for now, thank you for reading!

with purpose,
Prose and Passion 🌱