Could Your Lip Balm Be Doing You More Harm Than Good?
The most important part of shopping for a lip balm is looking for a combination of ingredients that act like moisturizers and ingredients that act like sealers, explains Diane Madfes, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology who practices at Madfes Aesthetic in New York City. The warmth of your lips melts the balm so the moisturizing ingredients can be absorbed by the dry skin, and the sealing components coat the lips, creating a protective layer. “This layer prevents water loss from evaporation and it also seals the water in,” says Madfes. “So if you have products with a combination of moisturizers and sealers you get the benefit of both.” She suggests looking for products with a moisturizer like shea butter or evening primrose oil and a sealer like beeswax.
Another crucial step to choosing lip protection is making sure yours has SPF. “People forget about putting sun protection on their lips,” says Madfes. She recommends a sunscreen made with zinc oxide, which sits on the surface of the skin and blocks harmful rays. If your lip balm doesn’t include SPF, she suggests applying a moisturizing balm, letting it dry, and then topping that with a layer of sunscreen.
To keep your smile ultra-smooth, double check your balm’s ingredients list and avoid these irritating factors. (Want to pick up some healthier habits? Sign up to get healthy living tips, weight loss inspiration, slimming recipes and more delivered straight to your inbox!)
1. Fragrances
While bubblegum-scented picks feel like a throwback, step away from the fragrant options. “Many people actually have allergies or other reactions to fragrances that are put in lip balms to make them smell and taste a little better, and those are really the cause of most of the irritant reactions,” says Madfes. Cinnamates, cinnamon-related compounds that are commonly used for their smell and sun-blocking properties, are some of the most common culprits, she says.