Slathering on lip products consistently and still have dry, chapped lips? You’re certainly not alone, this catch-22 situation can occur to any of us due to no fault of our own. Instead of blaming yourself, zero in on the supposed solutions: lip balms, scrubs, and more—and their sneaky ingredient list. For example, many people make the mistake of confusing a burning, stinging, or tingling sensation as a sign that the active ingredient in your lip product is working—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, this discomfort is actually proof that your lip product is irritating your lips and you should stop usage immediately. We compiled everything you need to know about your lip product’s ingredient list, specific ingredients to avoid, and the best formulas to soothe lips instantly.
Lip Balm Ingredients
Why would any lip balm contain ingredients that could irritate lips? Unfortunately, this can occur often, for numerous reasons. Firstly, some ingredients that irritate you personally might not be as irritating for others. You personally could be triggered by ingredients that the mass public has zero reaction to, whether that may be from genetics or allergies. Secondly, some brands love using certain formulas, but those key ingredients (like strong flavorings, including cinnamon and peppermint) can burn or sting. In today’s packed market, some formulas rely on clever packaging or eye-catching ingredients, many of which can be bothersome.
The Best Lip Balm Ingredients
Looking for the best ingredients for lip balm? The American Academy of Dermatology has a few thoughts. Here are a few of their preferred ingredients to have in a formula to help soothe and heal your pout.
-Oils and Butters
Seek out oils and butters, which can linger and seal in moisture for longer. Examples of effective oils include camellia oil (a favorite of Tatcha’s), castor seed oil, or mineral oil. One particularly brilliant butter often seen in lip products is shea butter, which is proven to nourish and soothe dry lips.
-Ceramides
Ceramides are fats, or lipids, naturally found in high concentrations in the uppermost layers of our skin. Basically, ceramides help the skin function properly, working to protect and restore the skin barrier, while keeping skin looking and feeling hydrated and radiant. The AAD recommends finding lip balms that feature ceramides because they can protect the skin, increase hydration, and soothe irritation. It’s a great product in many skincare formulas, but especially a lip product.
-Hydrators
Make your lip balm work harder for you (and thus your lips) by finding a balm that features super hydrating ingredients, like squalane, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. These are scientifically proven lip balm ingredients that not only hydrate but also heal and repair dry skin.
Lip Balm Ingredients To Avoid
One sure-fire way to ensure you’re not further irritating lips? Check your lip balm ingredients for potential irritants. The AAD suggests avoiding the following ingredients in lip balms when lips are chapped or irritated.
-Flavorings and Fragrance
Common flavors like mint, citrus, and cinnamon can be especially irritating. And oddly enough, especially commonplace in lip balms. If you are experiencing irritation, remove these flavorings first and foremost from your lip care routine. Secondly, many scented products can also be an issue. While they are fun, they can cause issues for individuals with sensitive skin.
-Powerful Natural Ingredients
Eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor are common ingredients in herbal remedies, but they shouldn’t be featured in your lip balm. While we hate to villainize anything, these are bad lip balm ingredients. They are powerful, potent ingredients that are sure to enrage even the most hardy of lips. Another ingredient that is alarmingly popping up in lip formulas is salicylic acid. The AAD strongly recommends avoiding this in any lip product, as long-term exposure can be too harsh on the delicate skin.
Best Lip Balms
Tatcha has taken the utmost care when it comes to formulation in our lip care category. From soothing lip masks to supple-revealing balms, here are our favorite lip products with derm-approved ingredients.
Best Lip Balm
Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm
Feel free to massage on as often as you’d like because our Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm seals in moisture with camellia oil, renowned for centuries in Japan for its ability to curb dehydration. The formula is also packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help nourish and protect. Additionally, the balm gives lips a hint of shimmer with 23-karat gold flakes.
Best SPF-Boosted Lip Tint
The Kissu Lip Tint SPF 25
Swipe on the Kissu Lip Tint SPF 25, which hydrates lips and seals in moisture with silk protein and botanical lanolin, protects the delicate skin from sun damage with SPF 25 coverage, and provides a buildable flush of color (available in three shades… here’s how to choose a lip tint color!).
Best Lip Mask
The Kissu Lip Mask
The myth, the legend, the best lip mask: the Kissu Lip Mask. The luscious, jelly texture (yet never sticky) melts into lips to plump, hydrate, smooth, and soften. Perfect for overnight use, but beautiful any time of day, The Kissu Lip Mask features moisture-sealing squalane, revitalizing Japanese peach, and hydrating camellia oil for a revelatory experience.
Lip Scrub Ingredients
You’ve scoured your lip balm collection to ensure there aren’t any famously irritating ingredients present—but have you done the same for your lip scrubs? If irritation still persists, look at your lip scrub and assess its ingredient list.
The Best Ingredients for Lip Scrubs
Ensuring your lip scrub is packed with the best ingredients is as vital as learning how to use it—too harsh and it could rip and tear the delicate skin, but too soft and it won’t accomplish anything. Here are a few ingredients to seek out when it comes to choosing the best lip scrub.
-Natural Exfoliants
Look to nature and her infinite wisdom when it comes to correctly exfoliating. A formula that includes natural ingredients – like sugar, konjac scrub, and fruit seeds – is a great place to start. The added benefit is that many ingredients, like peach seed scrub, have been used for centuries to restore dry lips, meaning they are tried and tested.
-Soothing Oils and Butters
An emollient is needed in a mask to cushion the scrub. While some formulas can use low-quality options, seek out a scrub that puts care into their emollient, like camellia oil or shea butter, which can soothe and linger long after the scrub is removed.
Lip Scrub Ingredients To Avoid
If a lip scrub is feeling more painful than rejuvenating, consider your frequency of use and the ingredient list. Additionally, a lip scrub should never be used on compromised, cracked, sunburnt, or bleeding skin and shouldn’t be used too often (which can cause even more irritation). Here are the top lip scrub ingredients to avoid.
-Flavorings and Fragrance
Having deja vu? Just as flavorings and fragrances can be irritating in a lip balm, they can equally be triggering in a lip scrub. The common scents and flavors of mint, citrus, and cinnamon are still to be avoided in a lip scrub, just as they are in a lip balm.
-Powerful Natural Ingredients
Yep, we’re repeating ourselves because it’s worth reminding you that eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor are powerful natural ingredients—and should be avoided in lip products. They can sometimes crop up in lip scrubs because of their ‘refreshing’ sensation – but they will only cause discomfort and irritation with use on the lips.
Best Lip Scrub
Lip scrubs are potent—you can buff away roughness and reveal softer, more supple lips in just 30 seconds. Here is our favorite pick, which features the best ingredients for a lip scrub.
Best Lip Scrub
The Kissu Lip Scrub
The Kissu Lip Scrub gently scrubs with two exfoliating ingredients: konjac and peach seed. Konjac refines and smooths skin for a brighter appearance, while peach seed removes flakes for more hydrated and refined lips. When it comes to the emollient, we selected one of the most extraordinary and treasured ingredients available, and one that’s a Tatcha signature, too: Japanese camellia oil. The intensely hydrating oil seals in moisture, while also soothing tired lips. Together, The Kissu Lip Scrub effectively sloughs away flakiness and removes dullness while sealing in moisture for smooth, supple lips.
Lip Plumper Ingredients
While we’re on the topic of lip products, let’s highlight lip plumpers. Featuring the best ingredients for lip plumpers is tricky because most are filled with formulas that are intentionally designed to irritate the lips, which causes a temporary swelling or plumped appearance. Rather than seeking out ingredients that intentionally irritate, grab a lip treatment that works to not only naturally plump lips, but also restore natural volume and definition over time.
Best Lip Treatment
The Kissu Lip Treatment
Say hello to your newest obsession, The Kissu Lip Treatment. This daily lip serum is clinically proven to instantly plump, while also restoring natural volume, reviving lip color, and improving lip’s natural definition over time. It’s the best lip treatment, in our humble opinion.
