We often think of winter as the season of dry lips. But those who suffer from chronic chapped lips will know that summer can be just as problematic.
Sensitive skin on your lips can leave them just as red and flaky in the summer months, when they are exposed to drying conditions from UV exposure. Outdoor activities can also leave you with windburn that will further aggravate the condition.
What’s the solution for this all-too-common issue? Traditionally, we reach for petroleum based products to soothe dry and chapped skin, but research has found that this can lead to further drying.
In fact, many popular brands of lip balm deliver a drying effect to encourage you to use more of it. This keeps users trapped in a cycle of needing to apply lip balm to counteract the drying effects of their lip balm.
Choosing a natural lip balm is far more effective, as this will include ingredients designed to support the delicate skin barrier and heal the skin.
Why are My Lips Chapped?
Lips can become dry and chapped for a range of reasons, including:
- Genetics
- Hormonal imbalances
- Cold or dry weather
- Sun exposure
- Excessive lip licking
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Allergy to skincare products
- Certain medications
- Dehydration
From this list, we can see that there are some conditions we just have to learn to live with. For example, if dry lips run in your family, you’re unlikely to find a cure – but you can find relief.
But if your dry lips are caused by an allergy or sun exposure is to blame, you can absolutely overcome this problem to achieve smoother, softer lips.
If you’re struggling with chapped lips, ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I dehydrated? Unless you’re strict with water intake, there’s a good chance you are chronically dehydrated when you have chapped lips.
- Is dryness a side effect of medication I am taking? Look through the guidance sheets to check if dry skin is a risk factor. Do not stop taking medication if this is the case, you simply need to learn to manage the side effects.
- Am I currently using products on my lips that are causing more dryness? Scour your skincare collection to see if there are common drying ingredients.
- Have I been spending a lot of time in the sun? You might need to start wearing SPF or sunblock on your lips, not just your face. You can also stay out of the sun or cover up during the day.
If you’re currently using lip balm and it’s doing nothing for you, it’s time to see if a product upgrade could help.
One of the biggest culprits for drying out lips is camphor. This ingredient might deliver a soothing sensation that feels good when you apply it, but it is a leading cause of contact dermatitis. The cooling sensation masks the drying effects, which traps you in a cycle of having to apply more in order to feel relief.
If you’re looking for a non-drying option to slay dry lips for good, it’s time to explore natural skincare products, including natural lip balms. A natural lip balm is formulated without synthetic ingredients. This can reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to the contents.
Benefits of Natural Lip Balm
Natural balm is formulated with ingredients that work with the body’s natural defences to help restore the moisture barrier, soothe irritation and allow the skin to heal.
Ingredients like shea butter, beeswax and jojoba oil deliver oil molecules of different sizes, offering fast and slower absorption. The smaller molecules absorb quickly, delivering deep nourishment, while the larger molecules are slower to absorb, so they sit on the surface and support the skin barrier.
The slower absorption also helps to avoid over-application, as you’ll be able to feel the lip balm on your skin. The important thing is to leave it there to work its magic and don’t be tempted to touch your lips too much.
Natural lip balm with deeply hydrating ingredients can also help to deliver a subtle plumping effect, which is further enhanced with the addition of essential oils like peppermint.
Peppermint is often used in plumping lip products as it helps to increase blood flow, which temporarily plumps up the lips for a youthful-looking pout.
Introducing Mothersage Natural Lip Balm
If you’re looking for a foolproof method for banishing dry lips this summer, you need to add the Mothersage Natural Lip Balm to your routine. This carefully formulated lip balm contains ingredients to hydrate, soothe and heal your chapped lips.
It can help you to break free from the lip balm cycle of applying and reapplying. There are four key ingredients you need to know about:
- Shea Butter – rich in vitamin A and vitamin E, which is vital for skin health. Shea butter is a triglyceride that is rich in fatty acids.
- Jojoba Oil – also rich in vitamin A and vitamin E. It is almost entirely made up of wax esters, which are long-chain fatty acids.
- Squalane – this is a skincare wonder that helps to boost hydration by supporting the skin’s moisture barrier.
- Vitamin E – another powerful skincare ingredient that helps to support healing and recovery.
Perhaps just as important as what we put in the product is what we leave out. Mothersage Lip Balm is made without synthetic ingredients, harsh chemicals, or additives like perfumes.
This decision helps to ensure the final product is less likely to cause irritation or further aggravate dry skin.
The #1 Mistake You’re Making with Your Lip Balm
Perhaps the biggest mistake people make when using lip balm is assuming that more is better. When it comes to lip balm, most people apply it too often. This is a huge mistake for a number of reasons:
- Applying lip balm too often will lead you to fixate on the condition of your lips. This could lead you to touch or lick your lips more often, which can cause dryness.
- Another problem with applying lip balm too often is that your lips become reliant on the physical barrier provided by a permanent layer of lip balm. Instead of developing a strong moisture barrier, the lip balm becomes the barrier.
- And finally, applying lip balm too often can lead to irritation, which traps you in a cycle of applying lip balm to soothe the irritation caused by your lip balm.
How do you overcome these issues?
It’s simple. Just limit your lip balm application to 2-3 times per day.
You might apply a thicker layer before bed to help nourish your lips while you sleep. You can then apply it again in the morning after brushing your teeth. And finally, you might apply it during the day after your lunch to help lock in moisture.
When it comes to improving your lip health, you want to play the long game. The skin moisture barrier will not be improved instantly, no matter how often you apply lip balm.
Instead, you should think about improving your lip health over a space of 1-2 weeks. Products that claim to deliver instant results are only able to mask symptoms, so you should instead look for natural products with restorative ingredients.
Natural Versus Synthetic Ingredients
One of the most popular lip care ingredients is petroleum jelly. This is a by-product of the fuel and plastic industry and it is also used by mechanics to seal gaskets and lubricate bearings.
Petroleum jelly isn’t inherently bad, but it doesn’t inspire confidence when you know that your skincare product doubles as an industrial lubricant. A few other common complaints about synthetic ingredients like petroleum jelly include:
- The refinement process can also leave behind potentially harmful chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- This product is also known to disrupt the skin moisture barrier by interfering with the formation of a protective fibrin film. This can delay healing and leave you reliant on reapplying the product.
- Petroleum jelly is also known to trap dirt and oil, which could leave you with breakouts around your mouth.
When given the choice between natural or synthetic products for healing and supporting the skin barrier, it makes sense to choose natural. Products found in nature have been used for centuries to address common skin concerns.
Natural products also smell great naturally, so you don’t have to rely on perfume to mask the unpleasant industrial smell. Natural essential oils and products like CBD for dry lips can help to support skin health in a number of ways.
Final Thoughts on the Natural Balm Debate
Our customers say it best. If you’re on the fence about natural balm and the benefits for your lip health, just look at what our past customers have to say.
If you’re ready to improve your lip health this summer, it’s time to add Mothersage Natural Lip Balm into your daily routine. For whole body hydration, you can also explore the benefits of natural CBD body butter.
It’s not just about finding the right lip balm, it’s also about applying it in the correct way. Skip the repetitive application and focus on long-term improvements. Applying 2-3 times per day, with a thicker application at night, will help to support the skin’s natural defence mechanism and restore the moisture barrier.
The Mothersage Lip Balm is also available as part of our Gift Box Set, allowing you to enjoy incredible savings on a range of natural skincare products that will care for the whole body, from head to toe.