Having dry lips is the most normal thing in the world. And put a little balm on them, which we all do so that they return to their original state. But is any lip balm worth it? Is it necessary to take into account, when buying one or another, to look at the list of ingredients? We stop at these and other interesting questions about dry lips.
Lips generally dry out due to changes in temperature, so it is easier to get chapped lips when the seasons change. This is when we have to be most aware of the health of our lips.
They also dry out due to continually wetting them, nibbling on them, being poorly hydrated, lack of vitamins or as a result of some diseases, although this is less common.
It is essential, to have beautiful and healthy lips, to stay well hydrated. And not just for our lips: hydration is essential for the rest of our skin, eyesight, hair and basic vital functions.
Applying a lip balm is a complement to good hydration, although not all of them are suitable. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends scrupulously analyzing the balms we purchase and avoiding all those that contain the following list of ingredients.
On the other hand, the most effective balms to take care of the health of our lips and recover them from cracks are those that contain ingredients such as castor seed oil; ceramides; dimethicone; hemp seed oil; mineral oil; petrolatum; shea butter; sunscreen ingredients, such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide; or white Vaseline.
In any case, if when you put on a lip balm you feel tingling, numbness in the area, itching or burning, stop using it immediately. Do not think, as is usual, that this effect is a sign that the product ‘is working’. It is not normal and you should change the balm immediately.
The aforementioned Academy also gives us guidelines when it comes to knowing how many times and when to apply lip balm. To start, if your lips are very dry, use white Vaseline, for example, several times a day and just before going to bed.
Likewise, before going outside, apply a balm with an SPF of level 30 and at least sunscreens such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide among its ingredients.
