Humectants are ingredients that attract and bind water. Experts explain how to find a lip moisturizer that actually heals the skin. Castor jelly-based formula which feeds your skin antioxidants, instantly hydrates, and protects your lips. For severely chapped lips, Dr. Waldorf recommends Bag Balm because it contains occlusive ingredients like petrolatum and lanolin with an antiseptic preservative. You've probably seen it on Instagram, and it gets a derm's approval, too. Best lip oil. A lot of winter factors contribute to dryness on your lips, but lip skin is already sensitive and prone to dryness. Occlusive ingredients, such as petrolatum, beeswax, and shea butter, create a physical barrier to prevent moisture loss." Why Trust Us? Kara Birnbaum / NBC Feb. 20, 2020, 5:28 PM UTC / Updated Nov. 16, 2022, 10:03 PM UTC It calms and soothes dry skin and reduces the scaly and flaky appearance. It's not the most exciting option as far as best lip balms for chapped lips, but it does exactly what a lip balm product should do. Be sure to use a moisturizer that doesnt depend on humectants only. It slows the evaporation of water from the skin and helps protect against microbes. Instantly hydrating and nourishing. Aquaphor isn't just an ointment or a lip balm. That's why these types of ingredients work best together. "Humectant ingredients absorb water so that it stays [locked] into the skin" says Dr. Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, which helps to keep the skin hydrated.Popular options for normal to dry skin include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lactic acid, and aloe vera, which often appear in both serums and moisturizers, but Dr. Macrene Alexiades MD PhD, a triple board . filtered beeswax; 2 tbsp. Dr. Waldorf also likes this pick from Caudalie since its soothing and moisturizing, thanks to shea butter, beeswax, several plant oils, and grapeseed extract. Not all of the ingredients listed above will irritate everyone, but if you are prone to irritation or chapped lips, you may want to avoid them. Aquaphor Lip Repair. It also has some unique moisturizing properties as it is both occlusive and humectant . If you find your lip color never glides on smoothly, apply this balm 10 to 15 minutes beforehand to ensure a smooth and even application. Humectants are ingredients found in lotions and cleansers that hydrate the skin by attracting water molecules like a magnet. Adding emollients to the formula creates a smooth surface. Yes, yes they are. All rights reserved. It also boasts jojoba, coconut, and olive oils to seal in moisture. Shiny lip gloss can attract UV rays to your lips and cause dryness and increase your risk of skin cancer. Also called glycerine or glycerol, glycerin is a clear substance that occurs naturally in animal and plant tissue, including that of humans. Its comes out solid from the tube, but immediately melts into the skin once it hits your lips. 'Tis the season for chapped, dry lips. Examples include: petroleum jelly. Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen. Lanolin, peppermint and coconut oils, propylene glycol, fragrances, dyes, and more can also stir irritation, so if you feel that your lip balm is making things worse, it might be time to see your derm. A 2021 review notes that urea helps enhance the stratum corneum by increasing hydration and improving the skin barriers integrity. Finally, a quick tip that both derms suggest is seeking out hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products, which will keep a number of those potentially irritating ingredients off your lips. This thick balm is a lip and body multitasker that's creamy enough to go on smoothly but doesn't get sucked up by thirsty lips right away. Steer clear of irritants: While cooling agents like camphor and menthol feel good upon contact, they will sting and arent necessary to heal or improve lips, says Dr. Waldorf. Thanks to its hydrating qualities, it can be left on for a few minutes to give your lips a moisture boost before being buffed away. "Some lip balms also contain allergenssuch as lanolin, parabens, phenol, or salicylic acidwhich can often be irritating to certain people's skin," says Dr. Nussbaum. A humectant is a hygroscopic substance that has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic (water loving) groups, such as hydroxyl groups (OH) and/or amine groups (NH2). Despite the promises of the balms, glosses, and miracle treatments you impulse-buy all season long, what you see isnt always what you get. They come in three main forms: natural or unchanged, naturally derived, and synthetic. It facilitates healing and provides lasting protection for chapped lips, locking in moisture and reducing . If air humidity is higher than 70%, they also draw water from the surrounding environment to the skin. Worth noting: it does have a hint of peppermint, but it leans more towards refreshing as opposed to the stinging you'd feel on ultra-chapped lips treated with camphor or menthol. Examples of products that can contain humectants include: Many ingredients act as humectants, including: All humectants have slightly different properties. This is a molecule found naturally in the body, although the body makes less of it as you age. Dior Addict Lip Glow, $33 at Saks If your natural lip color can only be found on a true-crime show, this lip balm is for you. All Rights Reserved. "These ingredients pull moisture . Lanolips has given me lips that don't peel, chap, crack, and bleed, writes one satisfied customer. Best Drugstore: Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (4-Pack), $10. They increase skin: Occlusives are mostly oil-based. Also, be careful of over-exfoliation, which can shed outer layers of skin and leave you more susceptible to environmental elements. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. DIY beeswax lip balm. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. "This prevents further moisture loss, as may occur from environmental insults such as cold, dry winter weather, and also optimizes barrier repair." Moringa-based formula which feeds your skin antioxidants, instantly hydrates, and protects your lips. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are examples of humectants. Shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E, jojoba and rosehip oils are . The SkinQ Moisture Balm Face Moisturizer is designed for all the Indian skin types. When using lip balm. The NMF is primarily composed of free amino acids and various derivatives of these amino acids, for example, PCA, urocanic acid, and inorganic salts, sugars, as well as urea and lactic acid. What Are Parabens And Are They Bad For You? . Lip Balm. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com. SPF is also key, even in winter. Here, find the best lip moisturizers that actually work. They can add hydration without the use of heavier ingredients. "Emollients have a tendency to spread on the skin and increase the rate of skin barrier restoration," says Dr. Schmid. This is in comparison to an occlusive-only wax or jelly balm that merely coats the surfaceor shiny and plumping numbers that are there for aesthetic purposes only. True Botanicals Moisture Lock Glossy Lip Balm, Lilah B. 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Ride Or Die Lip Balm (Cheeky Cherry) Hydrating tinted lip balm to repair dry lips. Some lip masks such as the ILIA Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment contain mild . "This is the first lip anything I can use that I don't break out. I would wake up the next day with the same cracked, peeling lips. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. Occlusives are primarily oil-based. Not only does it repair and protect dry, chapped lips, but its also a nice beauty treatment on its own. (Image credit: Ciat) 4. Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid are naturally derived acids from fruit and milk sugars. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The role of the NMF is to maintain adequate skin hydration. It positively affects consumers' lips because it is made of 100% herbal ingredients containing a combination of an emollient, a humectant, and an occlusive agent to enhance the duration of the . What is dry brushing and what are the benefits? Print. "Lipid application is beneficial for aging skin where natural lipids have been depleted by . Like Vaseline, Aquaphor is an occlusive emollient, but it also contains a number of additional ingredients not found in Vaseline, including panthenol making it a top pick for best lip balms for chapped lips. The most common include. Humectants (Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin) // "Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., to Style Caster. Arch Physiother Glob Res. "If your lips burn, sting, or itch after using a lip product, stop using that product," adds Dr. Maiman. The humectant, emollient, and occlusive properties of coconut oil and beeswax combined, make this lip balm a must-have. Dr. Amin says he uses this lip balm after FixMySkins heavy-hitting chapstick. 1. References: Harwood A Moisturizers Jan 2019, VeryWellHealth.com Humectants in Moisturizers, LabMuffin.com Skincare Chemistry: How to Pick Out Humectants Jan 2019, DermatologyTimes.com What is an emollient Jan 2015, library.essentialwholesale.com Occlusive, Emollient & Humectant Terms To Know June 2017, PaulasChoice.com Silicone in Skincare. That's not to say you should avoid lip balms entirelyor that you should avoid humectants in your lip balms. Humectant emollients contain ingredients such as urea, glycerol, propylene glycol or lactic acid that attract and hold water in the top layer of skin. It works for so many different skincare concernsfrom dry, chapped lips and cuticles to burns, eczema, and beyond. As previously mentioned, beeswax is a common ingredient in lip balmsespecially those of the homemade varietythanks to its humectant properties . If youve ever used an anti-acne product that made you break out, then you already know what we mean: Counterintuitively, some lip balms can make chapped lips worse by actually exacerbating dryness. . 2023 SheMedia, LLC. Formulyst knows that hyaluronic acid is the key to healthy, hydrated skin, which is why the Super Hyaluronic Water Moisturizer was created. Some add more oil to the skin and hair, which can be helpful for those with dry skin. Beyond seasonal changes, your dry lips may also be a side effect of certain medications, like antihistamines (common if you have allergies) or isotretinoin (used for severe acne), explains Meghan Feely, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist who serves as a clinical instructor at Mount Sinais Department of Dermatology. Thankfully, there are some workarounds, starting with using the best lip balms for chapped lips, all expert-vetted below. Those with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid most occlusives except silicones. Since then, the FDA has approved of it as an effective over-the-counter skin protectant, and it's been used as makeup remover, lubricant and homemade lip balm. It has a nice thicker texture, no smell, no taste, no tingle, not sticky at all. Emollients also help replenish any damage on the surface of your skin. However, for a lip balm to truly hydrate, you'll need humectants and occlusives (ingredients that prevent water loss via a physical barrier) like beeswax (shield lips of dry air, wind, and cold), petrolatum (reduces . Without these essential lipids, the barrier is weakened. oz of lip balm goodness! A cult favorite, this hydrating lip treatment from Fresh earns a stamp of approval from Shari Marchbein, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine. 4. Hyaluronic acid is a moisturizing all-star, so it makes sense that it's featured front and center in this cult-favorite lip balm which also features vitamin E. In combination, these two ingredients attract much-needed moisture and lock it in without feeling goopy or sticky on your lips. Emollients. These benefits stem from the humectants actions of promoting new blood vessel formation and increasing fibroblasts, which are cells in connective tissue that produce collagen and other fibers. It's also a great option if you want a little scent without any potentially irritating chemicals (the scent here comes from rose oil) according to reviews. The final outcome is a balm that nourishes with every swipe and leaves you satisfied throughout the day. Once the humectants loosen the dead cells, they draw moisture from deeper layers of skin. Some emollients may contain . Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_4_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.4 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1. It can be used on any part of the body that has dry, irritated skin. "Humectants are basically 'water magnets,'" board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of SKINFIVE, told us about the class of ingredients. The humectant will draw in moisture while the occlusive will lock in that moisture in, and the emollient will keep the skin soft and smooth. Chapped lips can crack, so if something could irritate a paper cut, you probably shouldn't slather it onto your mouth either. Best Luxury: Augustinus Bader The Lip Balm, $41. The lip balm feels a bit thicker upon application, but quickly absorbs into the skin to plump and hydrate. If my lips are at their worst, a nice thick layer of this balm helps to soothe them drastically. However, most silicones do not allow water to pass through, which is an ideal quality for preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) a leading cause of dehydrated skin. ). Another 2020 Healthy Beauty Award winner, this is like a love child of a lipstick and a lip balm, says Jessica Morse, clean beauty expert and founder of Bare Beauty. You can expect to see humectants in personal care products such as: All humectants bind with water, but some of them have an additional role. The new and improved formula uses a blend of ingredients that instantly softens the skin and deeply hydrates, keeping them feeling comfortable all day long. ChapStick Classic Lip Balm. A good lip product blends humectants, emollients, and occlusives to truly deliver hydration. Extremely dry or irritated skin types need an occlusive moisturizer - especially at night and in the winter months. Objective: Since skin on the lips has a lower water content in the stratum corneum (SC) and a higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value than skin on the cheek, the lips are usually very dry and rough areas. This formula also helps the skin feel silky smooth thanks to safflower seed oil, jojoba oil, and squalane (all non-comedogenic emollients). Check out the ingredients of your lip balm. In this way, aloe vera can act as a humectant and an emollient.. Shop: Balm Dotcom, $12 Credit: Glossier It contains glycerin to draw in moisture, shea butter and beeswax to protect, chamomile . They can also be found in some medications, and agricultural products.. Humectants May Cause Lip Balm Addiction To avoid this problem, only use lip balms that contain both humectants and occlusives. 1 . They provide a layer on the skin surface that helps protect against water evaporation. Lip balms with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and other humectants (ingredients that reduce the loss of moisture) are great options. We know what youre probably thinking, Thats good to know, but whats the difference? What causes them, and what you can do about them. Now 19% Off. These ingredients are also in many personal care products for dry skin. The NMF can become depleted with age and also from routine exposure to sensitizing ingredients like drying cleansing agents and denatured alcohol. A good approach is to change balms if you feel like you're constantly having to apply the one you're already using or feel a tingling sensation when you apply. This bonding helps moisturize the skin by drawing water from the lower cell layers. You can find humectants mainly in skin care and hair care products, but many industries use them. Some humectants for skin work as exfoliators that remove dead skin cells and debris first, leaving you with a smoother complexion and allowing for cell turnover. As tempting as it may be, the last thing you want to do is lick or wet your lips to try and find relief, explains Heidi Waldorf, M.D., founder of Waldorf Dermatology Aesthetics and associate clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai University. What gives? A humectant is a substance that draws water into the skin, hair, or nails. A favorite of Dr. Marchbein, this one's made from sugar (a natural humectant) and antioxidant-rich grapeseed oil. Can poor sleep impact your weight loss goals? Pictures and symptoms of the red, scaly rash. In personal care products, they help hydrate the skin, hair, or nails. Now that you know the difference between humectant, emollient, and occlusive moisturizers, you can probably see that there are advantages and disadvantages with each type. I never had severely dry lips but still it was a huge difference after I applied it, and the total healing time was about a week. This preservation of skin hydration helps prevent dry skin and eczema, reports research from 2018. It works well for chapped lips and has that hydrating, soothing action because it contains protective petrolatum as well as coconut and jojoba oils., With more than 7,900 reviews and 4.7-star rating on Amazon, its clear that Jack Black has done something right with this ultra-conditioning lip balm, which includes beeswax, shea butter, green tea extract, lanolin, cocoa seed butter, and SPF 25. Lip Plumper. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. $4 at Amazon $26 at Walmart. . Lip balms made with white petrolatum, lanolin, shea butter, beeswax and ceramides help lock in moisture. "Licking your lips can actually make them drier," explains Dr. Ugonabo. We always keep lip balm on handhow are you supposed to wear lipstick 24/7 otherwise?and wearing it at all times becomes nonnegotiable once the cold front rolls in. Its super nourishing due to its blend of plant oils, including: castor seed, grapeseed, avocado, wheat germ, apricot, jojoba, and more. "They also have an overall decreased water content, which makes them more susceptible to becoming dry and rough." "[It's] just enough to give your mood a lift but not more than that. Hydrating skin care ingredients attract water, while moisturizers keep the hydration in. Ingredients overview. What gives? But if you're in an arid environment or spend a lot of time indoors exposed to AC or heaters, then they'll actually pull it from the deeper layers of the skin, making the skin overall more dehydrated. Despite the hydrating promise of lip balms, what you see isn't always what you get. And balms that are able to achieve this can do so because they use a blend of humectants, emollients, and occlusive ingredientslike in mindbodygreen's lip balm. The extremely nourishing formula is packed with coconut, argan, rosehip, and jojoba oils for a smooth and creamy application, while shea butter seals moisture into place. You may think a good lip balm is simpleand while it should be effortless to use, the formula itself is often a bit complex. Good ol Vaseline is a dermatologist favorite due to its simple formula of 100% petroleum jelly. Emollients soothe and soften rough, dry skin on the lips. Theyre often added to food products as anti-caking agents. Ask a Beauty Editor: Why Are My Lips Always Dry and Peeling? Occlusives are particularly useful for dry skin and hair. Overall, the LANO brand has a full range of lanolin-based products that are ideal for hydrating and moisturizing." Triple Lanolin Hand & Body Lotion $11.00. This is because they're indiscriminate about where they pull in water. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are examples of humectants. Formulyst Super Hyaluronic Water Moisturizer You could be exposing even more of the lips and causing even more dryness." This is good stuff. These ingredients pull moisture out of the skin, especially in a dry environment, and then the water evaporates away. Confusing, considering we regularly apply these ingredients to our faceto keep it well-hydrated. Beeswax protects lips and retains lip moisture. "I tried all types of lip balms and lip masksbut nothing really worked. It's also possible to become addicted to medicated balms since some active ingredients can make your lips more sensitive and prone to cracking. Some humectants are also emollients, just as some humectants are also occlusives. Counterintuitively, some lip balms can make dry lips worse by contributing to chapping. What Is Allantoin and Its Role In Your Skin Care? Although the balm is a light pink, it morphs on your lips to create an individual color using what Dior calls "Color Reviver Technology." This Treewear Beeswax Balm helps to keep moisture in the skin while still allowing it to breathe. In the skin, this may come from the deeper layers, or from the air if it is humid enough. From innovative plumping technology to just-launched makeup items galore, there are many products to sift through in the hunt for healthy, hydrated lips. Hazelnut oil also happens to be chock-full of Vitamin E which, combined with rose oil, soothes while it hydrates. THIS SITE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADVICE OR TREATMENT FROM A QUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. "These ingredients pull moisture out of the skin, especially in a dry environment, and then the water evaporates away." Some humectants first break down the dead skin cells clogging up your skin's surface., These dead skin cells drop off in a process called cell turnover or desquamation. Beeswax prevents moisture loss, while SPF 15 protects your lips from the sun. Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly. This $18 Heavenly Body Oil Claims to Improve Skin Winter comes with its fair share of beauty problems, and chapped lips are right up there with static-shocked hair and those itchy red dry spots you get around your nose from blowing too much. In order to discuss the different types of moisturizers, well need a brief discussion on the structure and function of the skin barrier. "In order to maintain healthy lip skin, keep your lips well moisturized with a lip balm that soothes and protects the lip barrier with both a humectant and occlusive, like eos The Hero Extra Dry Lip Repair ($8, target.com)," says Dr. Nussbaum. A brand beloved by celebs like Martha Stewart and Drew Barrymore, to name a few, Mario Badescus cult-favorite lip balm is a top-rated option for a reason. (which pull water into the skin like a sponge) are also helpful. . The answer lies in the ingredients.