Do you feel like lip balm is a must-have item that you can't live without? Do you find a stick in your pocket, on your desk, in your car, and on your bedside table?
This is a common problem that I have suffered from myself in the past. It felt like the more I applied it, the more my lips cried out for moisture. In reality, the cause is often not your lips or your "dry skin type," but the jar you are using. Supermarket shelves are full of products that only give your lips a temporary reprieve, but don't solve the problem itself.
Let's talk for a moment about why this happens.
Why can "regular" lip balm make your skin dull ?
When you look at the ingredients list of many popular lip balms, you'll often find mineral oils (like petrolatum or paraffin ). These are byproducts of the petrochemical industry, derived from petroleum. They're cheap and make your lips feel instantly smooth, but they have a downside. The use of petroleum is prohibited in natural cosmetic products.
Mineral oil is an occlusive agent. This means that it creates a tight film on the skin's surface, like wrapping your lips in plastic wrap. This film does temporarily prevent moisture from evaporating, but it is a so-called "dead layer." It does not contain vitamins or fatty acids that the skin can use.
Even worse is what happens underneath the surface, when the lip is constantly under this membrane, the skin's own mechanisms "get lazy". The skin stops producing its own natural sebum because it thinks the moisture balance is fine. When the membrane then wears away (when eating or talking), even drier skin is revealed underneath, which can no longer protect itself. As a result, it is forced to immediately add oil again and the cycle is complete.
How does Wilderness Lip Balm work differently?
We developed Wilderness Lip Balm, which does not base its effectiveness on a plastic-free film, but on real nourishing ingredients, thus actually nourishing the skin of the lips and breaking the lip oil cycle. We do not use mineral oils or synthetic fragrances.
Instead, we chose ingredients that support the skin's own functions:
- CBD acts as the heart of the product. CBD contains an optimal ratio of omega fatty acids, which are absorbed into the skin and soothe inflammation from deep within.
- The Lakanlehti is a superfood from the Lapland bogs. The Lakanlehti contains a lot of antioxidants that protect sensitive skin from environmental stress.
- Unlike mineral oil, beeswax forms a breathable barrier. It keeps wind and cold damage at bay, but it doesn't seal the skin.
- Pine essential oil gives the product a mild, woodsy scent and acts as a natural antiseptic, healing herbs.
- Additionally, it contains castor, sunflower and coconut oil to add deeper hydration.
When you switch from a mineral oil-based product to natural cosmetics, you may notice a slight transition as your skin learns to maintain its own moisture balance again. Once you give it some time, you will notice the difference and you will no longer be craving lip balm every hour. Your lips will feel great, stay soft and withstand the winter wind in a whole new way.
Was it time to switch to a natural lip balm and get rid of the lip balm addiction?
With love from Lapland, Sofia
