The human lips simply do not produce sebum. Sebum is a combination of triglycerides and waxy esters that allow our skin to retain moisture. As a result, lips are very prone to becoming extremely dry. Unlike the lips, the rest of our skin and face produces sebum and can retain moisture (thing about those yucky blackheads and acne!). The sebum provides a thin film of fat over the skin, which slows the evaporation of water; it also has an antibacterial effect.
There is something about our simple little lip balm solution! It is sad that these tiny lip balms has been getting hammered with these negative connotations, such as "lip balm forms an addiction," or "it may make your chapped lips become dryer," and "it consists of harmful ingredients."
Here are a few suggestions for those lip balm aficionados and lovers:
- Use a natural balm: Stay away from lip products that include menthol and salicylic acid. These ingredients can cause serious irritation to the lips. As an alternative, opt for plant-based ingredients, as in aloe or coconut oil.
- Keep your body hydrated: The main cause of lip irritation is usually a lack of moisture. Since the lips do not have oil glands, extra care must be provided. Stay hydrated by drinking a great abundance of water to keep your body hydrated. Your lips will appreciate the tender loving care!
- Before application, there is something to think about: Although there is no treatment centers for lip balm addiction, there are some issues that are lip balm-related. The addictions are usually psychological (i.e. "I gotta have it," or "my lips are lonely without lip balm!"). Sometimes you may not need to reapply it; maybe you like the sweet taste. As a result, if you are wearing your lip balm more than needed, the chances of your lips retaining moisture on their own may be very slim. Therefore, you must apply more, just to keep that moisture feeling. For some people, the lip balm is like a drug--only if you make it!
The bottom line: lip balm is not all that bad--it will not kill you (unless you chew it up like food, who knows?). The good news is that you do not have to buy lip balms that contain ingredients that most of us are not familiar with. You can opt to buy and wear lip balm--natural and straight from the kitchen! The choice is yours!
