Lip balm is one of those things that I tend to apply religiously throughout the cooler months, and this winter especially I seem to have been struggling with dry lips. I’ve learnt that it’s extremely important to opt for a natural lip balm, as not only are the ingredients absorbed through your skin, they are also actually ingested.
Many mainstream lip balms including Blistex, Chapstick and Maybelline have Petrolatum listed as a main ingredient. Petrolatum is a derivative of petrol, and it’s probably the last thing you want to be putting anywhere near your lips! These balms generally also contain a range of petroleum products including mineral oil and parafins. You’ll also likely find a few parabens in there too. What many of these petroleum based lip balms do, is they put the glossy coating on your lips that makes them feel smooth and oh-so-hydrated, but it’s not actually penetrating into the skin to solve the dryness issue.
Instead these products have the opposite effect, drying the skin out even more and therefore making you feel the need to reapply the balm to keep your lips feeling hydrated. It’s really quite a clever ploy from these companies, as you end up needing to reapply the lip balm far more often and therefore you are going through more. Using a balm that has natural and genuinely hydrating ingredients is a far more effective method of moisturising your lips!
I thought I’d share with you a few of the lip balms I’m currently loving…
Suvana Certified Organic Honey & Paw Paw Lip Balm
This is my hands down favourite natural lip balm to date. I had dry patches on my lips and after a couple of days of using this balm they were completely gone. It’s ultra-hydrating and feels absolutely lovely on the lips. It’s not greasy or heavy and I love that it offers a pretty natural gloss. I wear this by itself and sometimes over lipstick for a glossy finish. The only downside to this is it does come in tube rather than a stick, so you need to ensure your hands are clean before applying it to your lips. The other bonus that this balm offers is that it can also be used on dry or chapped skin anywhere on the body, so it’s pretty multi-purpose! It’s for this reason that this is the balm that I keep with me in my handbag, as it really is all in one! RRP $11.99
Little Olive Tree Shea Butter Lip Balm in Vanilla
This one has quickly become a fast favourite! It’s a little harder than other balms, and it doesn’t melt on to the lips as easily. It also doesn’t feel as wet on the lips. It’s for this reason that I absolutely love this balm for using under lip pencil as it provides the hydration I’m after without messing up the colour or application. It also works really well under lipsticks or glosses, or just as an invisible lip balm. RRP $5.90
Hurraw! Lip Balm in Chai Spice
The Hurraw balms are pretty well known worldwide and it’s no wonder! They come in a range of beautiful scents, and the Chai Spice one that I own is quite possibly the nicest smelling lip balm ever! These all natural lip balms are very compact, so are perfect for popping in the purse. They melt well on to the lips, and while I don’t find them quite as deeply hydrating as the Paw Paw Balm, they are still a very good product. I keep one of these next to my bed and pop it on my lips before I go to sleep. It’s easy to use and mess free so it’s a wonderful option if you prefer a stick balm, plus the oval shape sets it apart from the rest! RRP $7
Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Lip Conditioner*
Another stick balm, the Antipodes Lip Conditioner is a super hydrating lipstick style balm. It feels very slick on the lips for only a few minutes, before it seems to be absorbed into the skin. It leaves the lips feeling really soft and hydrated for many hours without really feeling like you are wearing lip balm. This one is obviously a lot more expensive than the rest however I really do love it! RRP $28
Please note: All products marked with a * are PR samples which have been sent to me at some stage. These views are my personal opinion and are no way influenced by others. I always provide an honest opinion, so you all know which products are worth purchasing
Thanks for this educational post. My own favourite is Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin E & Peppermint. All natural, inexpensive, available everywhere, and it really works!
Author
I will need to give that one a try next, Jan! I’ve used some of the other Burt’s Bees products and they are lovely! Thanks for reading! x