Could your lip balm be doing you more harm than good?

You may have noticed that once you apply a lip balm, in no time your lips become dry again and you have to use another layer of the product. A fruity flavoured lip balm can be tempting to use, but they contain harmful ingredients that can actually do you more harm than good. Cosmetologist Nandita Das tells you how. Fragrances act as irritants: To keep your lips smooth, it is crucial that you double check your balm’s ingredients. Step way from balms with fragrances. Many people get allergies and other reactions to the fragrances they put on their lips. Compounds such as cinnamates that are used to impart the smell are often the main culprits. Menthol makes your lips sensitive: While the menthol can provide an immediate cooling effect they cannot heal dry lips. In fact, they can lead to irritation and make your lips more sensitive. Just opt for a moisturising product with shea butter or a sealer like a beeswax. Here are 5 ways you can skip lipstick for healthy lips. Pro tip One important step while choosing a lip protection is to make sure that it has SPF. A sunscreen with zinc oxide which sits on the surface of the skin can help block harmful rays from the sun. And if your lip balm does not contain SPF, just apply a moisturising lip balm and top it with a sunscreen. An alternative for this could be using fresh ingredients and refilling them from time to time to help keep your lips well-nourished and luscious looking. Here’s how you could whip up a soothing peppermint and honey lip balm at home. You would need a spoon or two of petroleum jelly as per the quantity you prefer with 1 tablespoon of honey and 3 drops of peppermint extract. Heat the petroleum jelly for not more than 3 seconds before you begin to blend with the rest of the ingredients with it. Once done, simply pour this into a suitable container and let it settle overnight. Here are more lip balms you can try at home. Image source: Getty Images

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