Chapped and dry lips seem to be on everyone’s list of skincare complaints, making lip balm an extremely popular product for instant relief.  However, we have to be careful which lip balms we are using, because many, in particular the brands that use petroleum jelly, are not good for our overall health.

Over the course of her lifetime, the average woman uses (and subsequently consumes through eating and drinking) somewhere around 7 pounds of lip balm. That’s a lot of lip balm, especially when you realize that petroleum jelly is a byproduct of oil drilling.  The European Union has banned petroleum jelly from use in skincare products and experts are concerned about its link to cancer. Studies have show that women with breast cancer have twice the levels of hydrocarbons (substances in petroleum jelly) in their breast tissue.

The short term of ChapStick is just that. Since petroleum jelly is not absorbed through the skin, it can only provide short-term relief. In fact, it may even be doing more harm than good. Petroleum jelly keeps the skin from breathing and, if used frequently, can make lips more chapped. 

But there are ways for you to soothe your lips without exposing yourself to toxic and potentially hazardous chemicals.

GET MOISTURE-RICH LIPS THE HEALTHY WAY:

• Look for lip balms made without petroleum or other mineral-based ingredients
• Avoid lip balms made with Bnexophenone-3 (a common ingredient in lip balms with sunscreen), as studies have shown it to be a hormone disruptor. The EU has banned it
• Look for lip balms with Shea, Cocoa, or Mango Butters or Coconut Oil as they absorb nicely (and safely!) into the skin and naturally improve moisture retention for long-lasting relief.
• Use lip balms made with organic ingredients whenever possible. After all, you will be ingesting it every time you eat or drink.
• Drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
• For extremely dry lips, use a humidifier at night