Why bother with clear lip balm?
There are many options out there when it comes to lip balm. It may be difficult sometimes to know which one is the best.
We want to help. Here’s why it’s very important to be careful when buying lip balm.
You need Clean Beauty Lip Balm to avoid ingesting toxins
No matter how careful you are, it’s possible to swallow some of the products you put on your lips. This includes lip balm as well as lip gloss and lipstick.
In a little study published in the scientific journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology, Researchers looked at data from 360 women aged 19-65 who regularly used lip products such as lipstick, body lotion and face cream.
Participants were provided with prototype test products and kept diaries recording detailed daily usage information for two weeks. The researchers noted that lip products are of particular concern because of the higher potential for exposure through ingestion.
Meanwhile, other studies have sounded the alarm about toxic ingredients in lip products. In October 2007, the Campaign for safe cosmetics tested 33 popular brands of lipstick and reported that 61 percent contained lead, with levels as low as 0.65 parts per million, a cause for concern.
Later, a study by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found lead in all lipsticks tested, while other studies found lead and cadmium in some lipstick samples.
However, these are tinted lip products. Surely lip balms – which often have no color or tint – would be safer to consume?
Is Clean Beauty Lip Balm Really Necessary?
We have fewer tests on lip balms than lipsticks and lip glosses, but consumer demand has resulted in a bit more information.
In January 2024, for example, consumer watchdog Leah Segedie of “Mamavation.comreleased a report on PFAS “forever chemicals” in lip balms. After evaluating 20 products, Mamavation’s EPA-certified lab “found evidence of PFAS” in the products.
Specifically, they found:
- 20 percent of lip balms tested had organofluorine concentrations above 10 parts per million (ppm)
- 16 percent of brands had organofluorine above 10 ppm
Organofluorine is an indicator of PFAS. PFAS are per and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals that have been used for decades to make products resistant to stains, oils and grease. They have become pervasive in our environment and are now a concern in a wide range of products. Higher levels of consumption have been linked to health problems such as cancer and preeclampsia.
Mamavation.com noted that because lip balms are placed on the lips, they are easily digested and should be considered “just as important as a food product that has evidence of PFAS.”
In another study by University of Iowa, researchers looked at the lead content of lip balms that are particularly desirable to young children. They tested 25 lip balms collected from various retailers and tested them in the lab. They found lead in all 25 products.
Some of these products came from countries other than the US, and some had warnings that said, “use under adult supervision.”
Further research suggests Clean Beauty Lip Balm Important!
THE “Daily MailHe also cited a study on lip balm that found toxic ingredients. A French consumer panel tested 21 products, including Carmex Classic Moisturizing Lip Balm and Labello Original Classic Lip Balm, along with products from other brands such as Garnier, La Roche Posay and Yves Rocher. All were available in the United Kingdom (UK), with many also sold in the US and Australia.
The results showed the following:
- Most of the lip balms contained MOSH (saturated hydrocarbons with mineral oil), which can be harmful if swallowed.
- Most of the products contained MOAHs (mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons), which at high exposures have been associated with an increased risk of cancer
A spokesman for the UK cosmetics trade association has denied the suggestion that lip balms are harmful.
Clean Beauty Lip Balm: Ingredients to Avoid
These are small studies so far and we need more research to learn more about what is in most of the lip balms on the market. In the meantime, it’s best to be careful about the products you buy and use. Just assume that at least some of that lip balm gets into you.
With this in mind, read ingredient labels and avoid lip balms that include the following:
- Vaseline (mineral oil): This is another name for mineral oil, which is usually derived from petroleum—the same oil that you put in your car as gasoline. Although these mineral oils are highly refined, they can become drying over time, leading to lip balm addiction.
- BHA and BHT: Manufacturers may use them as preservatives in some lip balms. They are butylated compounds that have been linked to health concerns such as hormone disruption.
- Phenol/menthol/salicylic acid: These ingredients give the lip balm a tingle and may help exfoliate the lips, but they can also irritate and dry out the lips.
- Aromas/Flavors: These are made from synthetic chemicals that are not listed on the label. Some fragrance chemicals can cause allergic reactions, even eczema.
- Chemical sunscreens: While it’s wise to protect your lips from harmful UV rays, most of the sunscreen in lip balms is chemical. Oxybenzone, for example, has been associated with hormonal disruption.
Clean Beauty Lip Balm: What to look for
While avoiding the ingredients listed above, look for the following nourishing and hydrating ingredients:
- Natural oils: These are easily absorbed by the lips and are packed with essential fatty acids that help plump and hydrate.
- Honeycomb: This natural product seals in moisture and protects against dryness.
- Triglycerides: These are compounds that combine fatty acids from natural oils with moisturizing glycerin. They protect the outer layer and soften the lips.
- Castor oil: Known for its ability to penetrate deep into the skin, castor oil is rich in fatty acids that help soothe, condition and heal chapped lips.
- Vitamin E: This vitamin is a natural antioxidant and helps protect lips from premature aging and damage from UV rays.
You can get all these ingredients and more in our Restorative Skin Balm. It’s made without petroleum jelly, dyes, talc, PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) or plasticizers found in some other lip products.
Instead, it contains toxicologically and clinically tested skin care ingredients, oils and butters that nourish, hydrate and help the skin heal. It’s perfect for chapped lips and you can multitask by applying it to dry skin or cuticles and using it to treat eczema, cuts, scrapes and abrasions.
How careful are you when buying lip balm?
Featured image by Ron Lach via Pexels.
