FAQs About Lip Balm Ingredients

Lip balms are important health and beauty items for many people. There are simple lip balms that are perfect for healing dry, cracked lips, and there are balms that have color added, so women can skip wearing lipstick for casual occasions. There are even lip balms marketed towards children that have fun flavors and bright colors. However, many people have questions about what exactly is in lip balm. Answering these can make the lip balm experience less stressful.

Q: What makes lip balms heal chapped lips?

A: Different lip balms have different active ingredients. One of the more common ingredients that helps with chapped lips is petroleum jelly. Another common lip-healing ingredient is beeswax.

Q: What gives lip balms their scent?

A: Some balms do not have an added scent; you simply smell the scent of the ingredients. Other lip balms have menthol or honey added as natural scents, and still other lip balms are artificially scented using food grade scent additives.

Q: Are there any all-natural lip balms?

A: Yes, there are several that are made with all-natural ingredients. One of the more common all-natural lip balms is made by Burt Bees. Other major companies make natural lip-balm products.

Q: Are any ingredients in lip balms dangerous?

A: The FDA tests these products to make sure that they do not have harmful chemicals that could cause you pain or health problems. However, if you suffer severe allergies, you should consult your allergist to make sure that you are picking a balm that does not cause you problems.