Protecting and caring for your lips is a vital step in any self-care routine! Read about the importance of lip balm, why you should use lip balm, and how to care for your lips with our lip balm guide.
What is lip balm?
Lip balms consist of a moisturising balm that is used to protect and nourish the lips, which can be scented, flavoured, or natural depending on the ingredients. Lip balms have a wax-like consistency, and good lip balms will relieve chapped or dry lips as well as to restore moisture. Lip balms have nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, natural oils and beeswax that work as a moisturiser, protecting your lips from damage.
Why use lip balm?
Lip balm can help restore the much-needed moisture from your lips which is lost from dry air, colder temperatures, and wind exposure. Lips are more vulnerable than other parts of the body as the skin on our lips is so thin. The skin on our lips often gets dry far more easily than other parts of the body.
How often should I apply lip balm?
You should aim to apply lip balm regularly to keep your lips moisturised and protected. Using lip balm once, or twice a day can achieve this. However, always try to avoid using too much lip balm, as this can cause your skin to lose its natural hydration levels, relying on lip balm formulas that help to lock in moisture.
Which lip balm is best for daily use?
For daily use, find a lip balm that is moisture-rich, with ingredients that will nourish and protect your lips from the elements and harsh external factors that affect the skin. For those looking for a lip balm for sensitive lips, find a natural lip balm as these contain no harmful ingredients that could cause havoc on your lips and skin.
What is a natural lip balm?
Natural lip balm will be made from naturally derived ingredients and is often a better choice for those with sensitive lips or skin. Natural lip balm sources nourishing ingredients by natural means containing ingredients such as vitamin E, vitamin C, coconut oil and beeswax.
Is natural lip balm food for lips?
Natural lip balm doesn’t contain any harsh or toxic ingredients, reducing the chance of any unwanted reaction or irritation with your lips. Some unnatural formulas can actually make your lips drier, so always look up the ingredients of a lip balm before you buy. Lip balm for dry lips will avoid anything that could cause further dryness, damage or irritation.
What is the best lip balm?
The best lip balms should provide protection, moisture and smell amazing! Always check the ingredients of a lip balm before you buy, and look for good natural ingredients such as shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E and jojoba.
How do I choose a lip balm?
Find the right ingredients
Look for a lip balm that uses good quality natural ingredients so you don’t do any more damage to your sore dry lips! For daily protection and moisturisation, use a formula enriched with shea butter for the perfect consistency.
Lip balm for sensitive lips
If you’re looking for lip balm for sensitive lips, avoid lip balms with triggering ingredients, such as particular fragrances, flavourings, oils or preservatives. Not all lip balms may cause a reaction, so it’s important to work out what triggers a reaction on your skin and lips so you know what to avoid.
Choose a scent you like
If you’re going to be using your lip balm frequently /or daily, then you’ll want to find a scent you enjoy.
Find a handy size
If you’re forever on the go, you’ll need a travel-friendly size so you can take your lip balm with you wherever you go.
What’s the difference between lip balm and lipstick?
Lip balm and lipstick are very different. Although both are for use on your lips, they are for different purposes. As we’ve mentioned, the purpose of lip balm is to nourish and protect lips, whereas lipstick is used to add colour and texture to your lips. First and foremost lipsticks are a cosmetic product, and should not be used to hydrate or protect your lips.
Lip balm vs lip salve
Lip salve is often used in place of lip balm for a more restorative purpose for badly chapped lips, containing more herbal ingredients and oils to relieve and heal lips, rather than to solely protect and lips. Lip salves tend to contain less beeswax than lip balms. Lip balms usually have a higher beeswax content because this creates a harder and thicker consistency that’s able to keep its shape and smoothly permeate into the skin.
What are the main ingredients in lip balm?
The main ingredients in lip balm are beeswax, sunflower oil, shea butter, vitamin E and jojoba.
Is lip balm vegan?
Some lip balms are vegan, however as the main component in lip balm tends to be beeswax, it can be tricky to find a completely vegan-friendly lip balm. You can find vegan-friendly lip balm online should you need to.
Tips for caring for your lips: our lip care routine
Protect, nourish, prep and perfect with a lip care routine to give you the feeling of soft lips for years to come. Taking care of your lips is incredibly important, as, as we age, we lose the amount of natural moisture in our lips and they become dry and chapped more readily.
Read our top tips to take care of your lips
- Use lip balm daily
Adding lip balm into your daily skincare routine is a really simple way to keep lips moisturised and protected. Keep a lip balm in your bag, in your car or by your desk for easy access all day long.
- Care for chapped lips quickly
If you notice your lips becoming chapped or find they’re painful and irritated, try to soften and soothe them straight away. This can protect your lips from further dryness and irritation, and prevent long-term damage to the skin cells on your lips.
- Exfoliate your lips
Exfoliating your lips may sound strange, but this can help remove any dead, dry or scaly skin cells and help repair and restore moisture. Lip scrub shouldn’t be used as much as lip balm, but exfoliating your lips occasionally can do them the world of good.
- Stay hydrated
This may sound like a strange tip, but keeping hydrated and regularly drinking water is great for your skin! Staying hydrated can naturally maintain your skin’s elasticity, including your lips. Regularly keeping hydrated can help boost your energy and mood too.
- Don’t pick your lips!
We’re all sometimes guilty of picking at our lips when they become dry, irritated and chapped. Dry and chapped lips can be made worse when you pick at them, so just use lip balm instead and let it work its magic!
Lip care should form part of everyone's skincare routine. If you're looking to up your lip care game, try our Repair Lip Care gift set.