Here
you can find out:
- What lip
balm is and what it does for you.
- A glossary
of basic lip balm terms.
- Ingredients
commonly found in lip balms.
- Follow
the links to see products these ingredients are featured in.
What is lip balm?
Nobody
likes chapped lips, so what exactly does lip balm do for lip skin?
Lip balm helps provide a protective barrier from the harsh elements,
locking moisture into the skin of the lips, while preventing them
from drying out from becoming chapped lips. In addition, lip balm
also includes the benefits of conditioning the lips with vitamins
and essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids cannot be produced
by the body but are essential for healthy skin care.
Glossary of basic terms:
Ayurveda
is a holistic system of healing which evolved among the Brahmin
sages of ancient India some 3000-5000 years ago Ayurveda is based
on a theory of balance between the body (physical), the soul (spiritual)
and mind (psychological). Health is maintained by the balance
of three energies present in all living things: Kapha (earth/matter),
Vata (air/movement) and Pitta (fire/transformation). These energies
are in a constant state of flux.
Emollient:
Lip balm is formulated to imitate the natural protective
layer of the skin. The base of lip balm is an emollient. Natural
oils are used in lip balm as emollients and are beneficial to
skin care in that they contain vitamins, essential fatty acids,
unsaturated oils and unsaponifiables that condition the skin.
Unsaponifiables consist of sterolins which help soften the skin
and moisturize the uppermost layer of skin. Essential fatty acids
cannot be produced by the body but are essential for healthy skin
care.
Essential
Fatty Acids:
Sometimes
reffered to as EFA's or Vitamin F, essential fatty acids are essential
for regulating healthy skin. Essential fatty acids cannot be produced
by the human body and must be supplemented via diet, or by direct
application. Shea butter is one example of an essential fatty
acid that is often used as an emollient in lip balm.
Emollients
often used in lip balm:
Almond
Oil
This is one of the most useful, practical and commonly used oils.
It is great for all skin types as an emollient and is best known
for its ability to soften, soothe, and re-condition the skin.
The oil comes from the kernel and consists mainly of oleic acid,
essential unsaturated fatty acids, sterolins and vitamin E.
Apricot
Kernel
This oil is similar to Almond oil except for a higher unsaturated
fatty acid content. It makes lip balm feel soft and spreadable.
Avocado
Oil
This ultra rich oil is a great emollient with high amounts of
Vitamin A, B1, B2, D, and E. Avocado oil also contains essential
fatty acids which makes this oil beneficial to those with skin
problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and other skin ailments
Babassu
Oil
A Babassu oil comes from the tall babassu palm tree native to
Brazil. The oil is extracted from the kernal and is very high
in essential fatty acids.
Castor
Oil
A natural source oil from the Castor bean. A hard, shiny oil that
acts as a barrier agent and protective medium against harsh conditions
and extremes.
Cocoa
Butter
A solid fat from the roasted seeds or “cocoa beans”
of Theobroma Cacao. This oil melts at body temperature, can leave
a sheen on the skin and often smells chocolatey. Coco butter is
a great emollient that is popularly used to add flexibility to
the skin and is often used in lip balm.
Coconut
Oil
Coconut oil comes from the coconut of the coconut palm tree. This
oil is great for moisturizing and can help serve as a protective
layer, helping to retain the moisture in your skin. This oil is
very mild and great for people with sensitive skin.
Emu
Oil
Emu oil comes from the Emu bird and is an excellent natural source
of essential fatty acids. It is hypoallergenic, does not clog
pores and has been shown to have both antibacterial and regenerative
properties for skin. It contains both vitamins E and A and is
great for people with sensitive skin.
Hemp
Seed Oil
This rich oil is high in essential omega fatty acids and proteins.
This oil has a pleasant nutty smell and absorbs well into the
skin. Its richness in nutrients makes this oil a great base for
lip balm due to its healing and regenerative ingredients. In cosmetic
use, such as in lip balm, THC has been removed from this oil.
Jojoba
Oil
Jojoba oil comes from the beans of the shrub like plant, simmondsia
chinensis. Actually a plant wax, jojoba oil is similar to the
now obsolete spermaceti oil. Jojoba oil is wonderful for the skin
because it has absorption properties that are similar to our skins
own sebum and leaves the skin soft, supple and smooth.
Kukui
Nut Oil
The Kukui nut tree is the official tree of Hawaii and has been
used locally for years. The oil is very permeable and its high
penetrability and soothing properties aid in its use for soothing
sunburns and chapped skin. The Kukui nut oil contains very high
levels of the essential fatty acids linoleic and alpha-linolenic.
This oil is readily absorbed into the skin, providing tissues
the essential elements that it needs.
Kokum
Butter
Kokum butter comes from the Garcinia tree and has enormously high
compositions of beneficial materials to help regenerate tired
and worn skin cells and further supports elasticity and general
flexibility of the skin wall.
Lanolin
Lanolin comes from the oil glands in sheep’s wool. The separation
of this ingredient is done after the wool has been sheered off
and absolutely no harm comes to the sheep. Lanolin is excellent
fo
excellent for dry, rough, and damaged skin because of its similarity
to the lipids found in human skin.
Macadamia
Nut Oil
This oil comes from the nuts of the Macadamia tree. This oil is
high in monounsaturated fatty acids, and closely resembles oil
naturally produced by the skin. Macadamia oil is a fabulous, protective
oil with a high absorption rate and has been used as a healing
oil for scars, sunburns, minor wounds and other irritations.
Mango
Butter
Pressed from the seed kernel of the Mango tree, this highly prized
butter is an exceptional quality base ingredient for body care
products. Mango butter reduces degeneration of skin cells and
restores flexibility and is very similar in color and texture
to cocoa butter.
Manuka
Honey
Native to New Zealand, Manuka Honey is the Honey produced by bees
that feed from the flowers of the Manuka bush in the pristine,
unpolluted New Zealand. Manuka honey has a distinctive flavour
and unique antibacterial properties.
Olive
Oil
Used for centuries, this oil comes from the olive and can be used
in cooking and cosmetics.
Propolis
Propolis is a resin collected by the honeybee from plants and
trees. Propolis has amino acids, vitamins, minerals, wax, pollen,
essential oils and most importantly bioflavoniods, now believed
to be an active ingredient in the healing process. Propolis contains
a complex blend of some 160 biochemical elements.
Safflower
Oil
A deeply moisturizing rich oil extracted from safflower seeds
with an exceptionally high amount of Linoleic and Oleic acids.
Shea
Butter
Shea butter is derived from the vegetable fat of the Karite Tree.
Shea butter is excellent for lip balm in that it forms a breathable,
water-resistant film and moisturizes the skin.
Sunflower
Oil
A wealthy oleic oil with unusually high amounts of Vitamins A,
D, and E, also has beneficial amounts of lecithin, and unsaturated
fatty acids. This oil is very nourishing and conditioning for
the skin.
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