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In the cold season, lip balm becomes almost the most important tool in the cosmetic bag. Frost outside the window, dry indoor air due to heating, seasonal vitamin deficiency - all this has a detrimental effect on the condition of not only the skin of the face, but also the lips. But you should be very careful with the balm: some ingredients only create the appearance of moisturizing, but in fact only dry and irritate the lips. We tell you how to choose your perfect balm, as well as how and with what frequency to use it so that it brings only benefits.
Which ingredients should be avoided?
Flavours
Of course, when a lip balm smells like fruit, chocolate, or vanilla, it's always nice. However, you will not wait for the benefits from the flavorings in their composition. Aromatic balms usually contain cinnamates — substances that cause irritation and allergic reactions. In addition, when the balm smells strongly of something edible, the temptation to lick the lips increases several times, and because of this, they become even more dry and cracked.
Phenol and menthol
These substances can often be found in balms with the effect of "enlarging lips". They irritate the skin of the lips, stimulate blood circulation, due to which the volume of the lips can become visually a little larger. But this easy (and fleeting) effect is not worth it. The fact is that these substances can provoke irritation, as well as increased dryness of the lips. And phenol, getting on the inner mucous membrane of the lips, can damage it and cause an acute allergic reaction.
Paraffin and petrolatum
These substances create a barrier on the surface of the lips, which is designed to retain moisture and thereby maintain hydration. But in reality the effect is the opposite. The barrier formed by paraffin and petrolatum closes the access of oxygen to the lips, they become dry and irritated. A closed circle is formed: it seems that there is a balm on the lips, but the feeling of dryness does not disappear anywhere. Hence the desire to apply it again and again, although in the end it does not affect the result.
What ingredients should you look for in a lip balm?
The main function of the balm is to retain moisture in the skin, so you should pay attention, first of all, to occlusive ingredients. These include shea butter, beeswax, lanolin, squalane, coconut and jojoba oils, mineral oil, urea, dimethicone, and petroleum jelly.
For additional nutrition, you should pay attention to balms with vitamin E in the composition. Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide and linoleic acid will also have a positive effect on the skin of the lips. The last three are necessary for quick recovery after strong weathering: they will not only moisturize, but also ensure the rapid healing of cracks.
How to use lip balm correctly
Let's start with the fact that the balm should not be on the lips all the time. For many people, its use turns into an obsessive habit, when they cannot stop constantly applying the balm throughout the day. Many dermatologists are convinced that by constantly moisturizing the lips, we prevent their exfoliation. Due to this, the deeper layer of the skin, which is responsible for its renewal, does not receive the signal of dryness and does not produce new cells. Therefore, the lips remain constantly dry. A gradual reduction in the use of balm can help break out of this vicious circle. At first, there may be some discomfort, but the skin of the lips quickly adapts to it. The balm should be applied like a facial moisturizer — twice a day. This will be quite enough to maintain the required level of moisture.
