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When it comes to a well-rounded beauty lineup a good lip balm is practically a staple. Even if you hardly wear makeup, lip balm is essential especially in the cold winter months for keeping your lips moisturized and plump without the telltale flakiness that comes from dry skin. But while lip balm can transform your lips and protect them against the weather, it’s important to be aware of certain ingredients often found in lip products that may actually worsen the state of your skin over time. According to a dermatologist, if you’re struggling with chapped lips, these are the common lip balm ingredients that should be avoided in order to ensure hydrated lips all year long.
Often found in lip products that claim to refresh and plump the lips, camphor and phenol may actually provoke irritation on the lips that can cause them to flake and peel. In other words, they cause exactly what a lip balm is meant to fight against. Board-certified dermatologist and Harvard trained Mohs surgeon Dr. Michelle Henry explains, “Camphor, which is often used to give lips a refreshing tingle, or phenol, which creates a lip plumping effect and can work as a preservative both can cause contact dermatitis on the lips when found in lip balms.”
According to Healthline, “Contact dermatitis happens when a substance touches your skin and causes an allergic reaction or irritation. These reactions can develop further into rashes that burn, sting, itch, or blister.” Contact dermatitis is often caused by potential irritants in skincare or beauty products that you use in your daily routine.
While dermatitis isn’t any real threat to your health, it directly negates the purpose of using lip balm to begin with. The best place to start when suffering from chapped and irritated lips is to evaluate any new products in your lineup that may be causing this skin condition so that you can adjust your routine accordingly.
If you’ve been struggling with dry, flaky lips and can’t seem to find a balm that will banish this beauty struggle for good, Dr. Henry notes that there are a number of ingredients that can supply your lips with the hydration they need. “I love lip balms with hyaluronic acid, which hydrates the lips. I also love petroleum jelly to help lock in moisture. The lips lack oil glands, and a great occlusive is key,” she says. The Ilia Lip Wrap Clean Hydrating Lip Mask is a great option which will provide moisture to your lips without any irritants.
While it may be tempting to opt for a lip product that promises to plump your pout for voluptuous lips without the injections, you may be unknowingly setting yourself up for irritation and flakiness that only stands to make the condition of your lips worse. Instead, you’ll be better off searching for a lip balm that can actually hydrate the skin instead of adding layers of useless products that will only cause you to use more to counteract the inefficiency. Hydrated skin is vital for achieving your best beauty looks, so you should never subject your lips to ingredients that will put you in an uphill battle against yourself.
