This is why lip balm is sometimes addictive

17/04/2023

Who doesn't have a lip balm in their purse or kitchen drawer? But did you know that the average woman eats more than 2 kilos of lip products in her lifetime? Some lip balms are addictive. In this blog, we tell you what to look out for.

Petroleum is cheap

Lip balms are often made mainly from paraffin, an inexpensive ingredient made from petroleum that seals the skin.

Petroleum is especially important for industry and transport. It is used to make diesel, paraffin, petrol and LPG, among others. Also, it's a raw material for plastic products.

Paraffin is used in almost all cosmetics because of its low cost and extremely long shelf life.

Paraffin is addictive

Paraffin is addictive because it seals the skin and hinders the skin's repair process. This dries out the skin and requires applying a new layer of lip balm (or lipstick) over and over again to counteract moisture loss. As a result, these products are often addictive.

Recognisable? Time to check the ingredient list on your jars and sticks. Check your lip balm for these ingredients: paraffin, petroleum, petrolatum or mineral oil, these are all variations of petroleum.

Consumer Association's advice

The Belgian Consumers' Association does not like most lip balms and even calls some ingredients dangerous, read here what their advice is in terms of applying your lip balm safely.

Pooh, better safe than sorry, just choose a natural lip balm based on natural butters like shea butter, coconut oil or jojoba oil.

So what shall I smear?

Meanwhile, you can just find natural, petroleum-free lip balms from the likes of The Lekker Company at Kruidvat. 100% vegan and 100% natural, you eat these without any worries. Also available in our webshop, of course.