Lip balm and winter go hand-in-hand and serve as our best defense against the harmful effects that the cold, dry temperatures have on our lips.
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But, not every lip balm is made equally. In fact, dermatologists say that certain formulas actually make chapped lips worse thanks to the skin-irritating ingredients they contain.
Worried that your go-to lip balm is drying out your lips instead of healing them? Experts say that may be the case if you're using a lip balm that contains humectants, which are hydrating ingredients otherwise known as hyaluronic acid or glycerin.
“Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse,” says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., to StyleCaster. “These ingredients pull moisture out of the skin, especially in a dry environment, and then the water evaporates away.”
This may come as a surprise, considering we use products with hyaluronic acid to hydrate our skin. The reason this ingredient isn’t good in a lip balm is that it needs to be paired with an occlusive ingredient to work.
“Humectants hold on to water, and occlusives keep it from evaporating,” said Dr. Baumann. In other words, humectants will pull moisture to the surface of your lips which will then soon evaporate and cause your lips to feel even drier than before.
Beeswax, shea butter, and other oils are all occlusive agents that will help you retain the moisture that Humectants draw out.
When shopping for a lip balm to hydrate your lips, always look for humectant and an occlusive ingredient, that why your pout stays balanced!
