If there's one beauty problem I face the most, it's dry lips. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, my lips are constantly chapped and sore. Finding lip balms that actually work is a huge challenge, but they do exist. When searching for the perfect lip balm for you, I really recommend honing in on the ingredients list. There are certain ingredients you should be looking out for, and others it's best to avoid. Picking something with lanolin or beeswax is recommended as both nourish skin. Beeswax helps retain water and is also antibacterial. Shea butter and cocoa butter are also lovely ingredients which will soothe dry and sore lips.
Ingredients such as Vitamin E, on the other hand, can actually have the opposite effect by drying out lips. Petroleum has also become a bit of a no-no. This may sound surprising, but when you find out where it's derived from, you'll understand why so many people prefer to avoid it. Turns out, petroleum was discovered in the 1800s by a chemist who saw drillers using a substance that stuck to drilling rigs; it was originally called "Rod Wax". Yep, really.
Also, petroleum doesn't actually act as a moisturiser for lips, either. "While petroleum derivatives may seem like they give a moisturising effect as an ingredient in lip balms, they do not actually moisturise," Clark's Botanicals founder Francesco Clark told Refinery29 in its investigation into petroleum. Parabens and synthetics are also best avoided as they can be dangerous to skin, and if you're particularly sensitive, choosing a product which is fragrance-free will probably benefit you as scented products can irritate.
That said, these are the five lip balms I have got on with best over the years.
So, drink your water (keeping hydrated will help your lips) and pick up one of these to see you through the extra drying winter months.
