Chapped lips are a common problem, especially during the winter months. To avoid making the situation worse, it is important to choose the right lip balm or moisturizer. Here are some positive and negative aspects of lip products, as well as some recommended ingredients:
Positive aspects:
- Lip balms are easy to carry and allow you to instantly add moisture while on-the-go.
- Lip balms with white petrolatum, lanolin, shea butter, beeswax, and ceramides lock in moisture.
- Lip ointments with glycerin are hydrating.
- Dimethicone, hemp seed oil, castor seed oil, and mineral oil are other great ingredients for healing chapped lips.
Negative aspects:
- Some ingredients can dry and irritate your lips, such as flavors, fragrance, and preservatives.
- Ingredients to avoid while your lips are chapped include camphor, ceramides, dimethicone, hemp seed oil, mineral oil, petrolatum, shea butter, sun-protective ingredients, and white petroleum jelly.
- Lip products that contain phenol, menthol, and salicylic acid can make the lips drier and cause irritation.
Recommended ingredients:
- Petrolatum (also called petroleum jelly)
- Mineral oil
- Lanolin
- Honey
- Beeswax
- Shea butter
- Glycerin
- Dimethicone
It is also important to avoid holding items made of metal with your lips, as they can irritate your already sensitive lips. Additionally, it is recommended to use lip balms with SPF 30 to protect your lips from the sun.
