Many of us use lip balms regularly, to repair our lips, protect them or even simply perfume them. Most of the time, we buy these lip balms in supermarkets or pharmacies, without even taking a look at their composition. At the same time, the names are very complicated, we don't understand much about them and what's more, it's written very small! So we take matters into our own hands to better understand what makes the ideal lip balm.
We start at the beginning: focus on the skin of the lips
The skin on the lips is one of the thinnest on our body. And yet, it is subject to many constraints! Between the acidity of saliva, food and drinks, makeup for some, wind and sun, sometimes cigarettes, and also kisses (lots of kisses!), the lips undergo a number of attacks from the direct environment. The skin of the lips does not secrete sebum to protect itself, because it is devoid of sebaceous glands; thus, its protective barrier is very fragile. It is therefore necessary to regularly give the lips a little boost to protect them, nourish them and repair them. And when we think we are doing the right thing by moistening the lips with saliva, we see small cracks appear, due to the acidity of the saliva, which dries out the lips even more. This is why it is necessary to use a lip balm: this fatty substance helps nourish and protect the lips from aggression.
The classic lip balm: what do we find in it?
Do you also spend hours in the cosmetic aisles trying to see the difference between two lip balms? You are not alone ! In fact, the differences are often very small. The vast majority of lip balms are made up of a compound with a barbaric name: paraffinum liquidum, more commonly called paraffin oil (yes yes, like what Mamie Jeannine puts on jars of jam to keep them longer). His function : emollient, that is to say it softens and softens the skin. It is also hydrating, and keeps the skin soft and smooth. The problem: it is a mineral oil, that is to say frompetrochemical industry. In short, it is a petroleum derivative that you spread on your lips. All that's not very appetizing! In addition, and what poses the most problem, is that it is an occlusive ingredient: it will create a real barrier between the skin of the lips and the environment. It will therefore certainly prevent any infectious molecules from entering the skin, and water from leaving it, but it will also block the skin's breathing and the elimination of toxins. Our lips therefore become blocked with all the waste they are trying to eliminate. The result: the lips are softened and relieved in the short term, but in the long term we can no longer do without lip balm with paraffinum liquidum, because our lips are attacked by their own waste ! A vicious circle that it is time to break. [Editor's note: this passage is a key moment in the article: you now know, after so many years of questioning why you became addicted to lip balm!]
For the rest of the ingredients, manufacturers play the natural note by highlighting raw materials such as shea butter, Argan oil and many others, even though they only represent a very small proportion. of the finished product. It's up to you to be careful: look at the list of ingredients, it is classified from the most concentrated ingredient to the least present, in the form of traces. For an effective, natural and healthy lip balm, you must the first three ingredients are vegetable or essential oils, or beeswax (the ideal being that the paraffinum liquidum is completely absent!).
What's stopping me from making my own lip balm at home?
Well, nothing, of course! It is very simple to make your own personalized, homemade lip balm. This requires few ingredients, and just as little equipment, for a double benefit: your lips are hydrated and lastingly repairedt, knowing what you are putting on your skin, and the price of lip balm is reduced! The little extra that we appreciate: we limit waste, by not using secondary packaging and by recycling the primary packaging containing the product. That is the demand of the people ?
OK, here we go, I'm getting started! But how do I do it?
The process is simple: take Shea butter, vegetable and essential oils to vary the desired properties or simply the tastes and smells, and mix everything! We'll explain it to you.
THE shea Butter is an excellent skin repairer and protector, which helps protect the skin of the lips while letting it breathe. It is also a widely used ingredient in lip balms! Furthermore, its solid texture at room temperature, and melting when heated to body temperature, makes it very practical: you can make your own lip balm and carry it everywhere in your bag, without the risk of it spilling into it (rather practical!) , and its use is easier since you just need to heat it a little with your finger to collect the material, which is then spread on the lips.
THE vegetal oils and essential added to the Shea will allow you to add very specific properties to your homemade lip balm, to vary the pleasures according to your desires. In addition, the properties antiseptics essential oils help repair and protect lips against possible infections.
There you go, you have made your homemade lip balm! Easy, right? Discover all the lip balm recipes proposed by the Compagnie des Sens, to help you find more inspiration.
For further :
- Paraffinum liquidum, the Cosmetics Observatory; http://www.observatoiredescosmetiques.com/ingredient-cosmetique/paraffinum-liquidum-557
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