We all know that chapstick is a necessity in the winter time. As the air gets cool and dry, our lips seem to chap and crack more easily. Finding the right chapstick is essential to keeping your lips looking and feeling your best. But the right chapstick may not be as easy to find as we might think.
According to dermatologist Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD, one of the most popular chapstick ingredients is actually one of the worst for your lips.
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Menthol is the worst ingredient you can use in chapstick. Most popular chapsticks are made with menthol, because people tend to like the refreshing, minty feeling.
But in reality, it doesn’t actually aid in healing or preventing chapped lips, and might even lead to irritation. In fact, using chapstick made with menthol might even cause your lips to dry out.
“Menthol gives a cooling sensation when applied and gives people the impression that their product is getting to work,” Dr. Ilyas told SheFinds. “This sensation is more of a marketing effect and less reflects an actual effect of the product. Patients often get ‘addicted’ to need this sensation to ‘feel’ like their product is working or do not think a product is effective if they do not feel the tingle! Menthol has been shown to contribute to some drying or irritation with long term use.”
Swap out your minty, menthol chapstick for something more hydrating - before the weather gets colder. Dr. Ilyas confirmed that our lips dry out more easily in the winter.
She explained, “As the weather gets cooler and drier, the thin skin of the lips tends to dry out faster than the rest of our skin. The lips can look dry, cracked, peeling and raw in some areas. It can be really sore and uncomfortable.”
The only way to heal and protect chapped lips is to rehydrate the skin with ingredients that create a barrier to seal in moisture.
Dr. Ilyas suggests using petroleum jelly or moisturizing ingredients like almond oil or vitamin E. Next time you shop for lip balm, pay close attention to the ingredient list to make sure you pick the most hydrating option.
