How has your experience been with lip balms? You might find yourself constantly applying it, but you never really know if you're getting the best results.
Have you ever wondered what your lips were missing? Why aren’t they feeling nourished despite constant lip balm application? You've slathered layers of balm from the supermarket, most likely consisting of petroleum jelly. Many balms even leave your lips feeling greasy.
You're not alone in this struggle—many people have been left feeling frustrated by their dry lips. The good news is that there are natural options that can help your lips stay soft.
Natural is the way to go!
Natural lip balms are made with ingredients derived from nature such as beeswax, olive, and essential oils. These ingredients are typically free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and colorants, making them a gentler option for people with sensitive skin. Furthermore, natural lip balms are often moisturizing and nourishing, leaving lips feeling soft and hydrated. Additionally, because they are made with natural ingredients, they are more environmentally friendly and biodegradable.
Koala Balm is handmade, all-natural and eco-conscious. Let’s briefly break down our ingredients to see why our natural lip balm deeply nourishes your lips.
Avocado, olive & soyabean oils: Pressed Avocado and avocado oil is known for its moisturising properties, and when used in a lip balm, it can help hydrate and nourish the lips. It is also rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, which can help protect the lips from damage caused by environmental factors such as UV radiation and dry air. [1]
Olive oil benefits the skin and contains many vitamins including A, D, and K, as well as vitamin E. Olive oil is an antioxidant and it moisturisers while fighting bacteria. [2]
Soyabean oil is rich in Vitamin E, an anti-inflammatory nutrient that can support skin health. [3]
Beeswax is a natural emulsifier and thickener that helps to lock in moisture and protect the lips from the elements. [4]
Lecithin is a nutrient that occurs naturally in food. It is used as an emollient, making skin feel smooth by restoring hydration.[5]
Essential Oils of: Lavender, Bergamot, Ho Leaf, Benzoin. Olive Leaf & Rosemary Extracts (antioxidants).
Lavender oil, bergamot oil, ho leaf oil, benzoin oil, olive leaf extract and rosemary extract are all known for their ability to soften, protect and heal skin. These oils can also be used to treat dry and cracked lips without leaving a greasy residue behind.
Lavender oil is known as a powerful antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory agent. Lavender oil has a light, floral scent and is one of the most versatile essential oils. It can help heal dry skin by increasing circulation to the surface of the skin and reducing inflammation. It can also help treat acne and reduce scars from acne.[6]
Bergamot oil is rich in vitamin C, which helps maintain healthy skin. Containing many antioxidants that have been shown to help prevent sunburns and other skin damage from overexposure to sunlight. It also contains limonene, which helps make your lips feel softer and smoother. Its soothing properties make it perfect for use on sensitive areas like your face and lips where it will soothe dryness without clogging pores or causing breakouts. [7] [8] [9]
Ho Leaf oil contains camphor, which has antibacterial properties that help fight off infections on your lips. As well as anti-inflammatory properties. [10]
Benzoin tree extracts are an excellent choice for lip balm because they contain antibacterial properties that prevents fungal infections while keeping your lips soft and smooth at the same time. [11]
Olive leaf extract rejuvenates the skin by calming irritation and reducing redness, as well as repairing damage, hydrating, enhancing circulation and stimulative growth of new cells. [12]
Rosemary extracts have antibacterial properties and can help heal skin faster from scarring by reducing inflammation and swelling. [13] [14]
This is why we have encapsulated all these ingredients into our lip-loving Koala Balm, to nourish and soothe your lips.
What ingredients should you avoid in lip balms?
You should be wary of chemical lip balms because they may contain ingredients that could be harmful to the skin and overall health. Some chemical ingredients used in lip balms such as products with parabens, phenol and petroleum can cause allergic reactions, dryness, and irritation.
Additionally, some chemical lip balms contain synthetic fragrances and flavours that can cause allergic reactions, headaches, and other health problems. Some ingredients such as parabens, phthalates and artificial colours are also known to have potential negative health effects.
It's important to note that not all chemical ingredients are harmful, and some may even be beneficial in certain products. However, it's important to be aware of what's in your lip balm and check the ingredient list before you purchase any product.
Avoid:
- Parabens are used as preservatives and can be found in a variety of cosmetic products including lip balm. They're known to cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people, especially those with eczema or rosacea. [15]
- Petroleum (aka petrolatum) is another common ingredient found in many lip balms that are known for being comedogenic which means they clog pores, which can result in acne breakouts on your face and lips. It has also been seen to cause skin irritation when applied to your lips. [16]
- Propylene glycol is another common chemical that's used in many commercial products because it helps moisturise the skin. Unfortunately, it can also lead to dryness and chapping if you use too much of it on your lips over time. [17]
The bottom line is that while lip balms may be a quick fix for dry lips, they aren't worth the long-term consequences. If you want to keep your lips soft and smooth, stick with natural ingredients. The answer lies in our all-natural Koala Balm!
Note: Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713520302449
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321246
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713520302449
[4] https://draxe.com/nutrition/beeswax/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6007527/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6253838/
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
[9] Matura, Mihály, et al. "Oxidized citrus oil (R-limonene): a frequent skin sensitizer in Europe." Journal of the American academy of dermatology 47.5 (2002): 709-714.
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6629446/
[12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32333467/
[13] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11041135/
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8243994/
[16] https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-petrolatum/