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Feb. 27, 2005 People use lip balms in order to prevent their lips from getting chapped or to heal their already dried and cracked lips. In any leave-on product, the law requires that the ingredients must be listed in order of quantity, with the largest amount being first. I’ve chosen a Name Brand lip balm and have translated what each ingredient is. Using the below example, we see that this must be a very firm lip balm since beeswax is listed near the top, yet cocoa butter, another natural firming additive, is almost last. Name Brand lip balm - Ingredients: [active] Dimethicone – Silicone oil which adds glide to the lip balm. Can clog skin. Oxybenzone – Helps filter the UV-B rays of sunlight. Can cause allergic reactions. Padimate 0 – UV-B Absorber. Water resistant sunscreen derived from PABA [Para-aminobenzoic Acid] [inactive] Beeswax - Natural ingredient that helps coat and protect lips from chapping. Animal derived. No indication given to show if it has been chemically refined and processed. Camphor - Natural but known sensitizer derived from the wood of the camphor tree. It may also be synthetically derived. Cetyl alcohol – Waterproof lubricant which is a thickening agent that may be naturally derived from coconut or entirely artificial. Cetyl palmitate – A waxy substance separated from the oils obtained from the sperm whale and other marine mammals. Candellila wax - Natural plant-based wax which resembles carnauba wax but is less hard. Flavors – Up to 200 various ingredients. As permissible by law, flavors, fragrances or perfumes don’t state the ingredients. Isopropyl myristate – Synthetic or vegetable- based liquid wax which readily penetrates the skin. Isopropyl stearate – Synthetic emulsifier which coats the skin like cling wrap and can cause allergic reactions as the skin can’t breathe. Lanolin - Natural moisturizing ingredient wool fat or grease derived from the wool of a sheep [no animals are killed]. Known sensitizer. Lanolin oil – Lanolin in liquid form. Menthol - Natural ingredient known sensitizer. Methylparaben – Synthetic preservative which has been tested on animals. Can cause skin rashes. Mineral oil – A distillate of petroleum. Creates a barrier on the skin. Ozokerite – Natural mineral or earth wax derived from a waxy mineral that is a mixture of hydrocarbons and occurs in association with petroleum. Paraffin – Made from petroleum wastes. An emollient that is considered a carcinogenic and a non-renewable resource. Petrolatum – Mineral jelly, petroleum jelly are synonyms. So is petrochemical. Forms a barrier on the skin which prevents air from circulating. Polybutene – Synthetic preservative which has been tested on animals. propylparaben – Synthetic preservative which has been tested on animals. Red 6 lake – Colorant derived from coal tar. Theobroma cacao [cocoa] seed butter - Natural ingredient from extracted from the cocoa bean. Titanium dioxide - Natural mineral, sunscreen. A couple of summers ago I had unsightly chapped and dry lips for no apparent reason. My diet hadn’t changed, I wasn’t under too much stress, and I was still in the same location. For years I’d been using various brands of lip balms that I’d purchased from a health food store. I noted they contained almond oil and other natural ingredients. On closer inspection I again read the label. The last word gave me the clue I needed: “active sunscreen - PABA”. The other brand contained all natural ingredients including lanolin, which is derived from sheep’s wool, but is a known sensitizer. One or both of these ingredients was responsible for irritating my lips. Instead of using lip balm I switched to a small chunk of cocoa butter. Within one day, my lips began to soften and turn from flaky white back to natural pink. This is when I began exploring ways to make my own lip balm that would of course contain skin-loving cocoa butter. Cocoa butter was nice to use, but after a while I wanted to go back to using a stick or small pot of lip balm that I could carry around with me. I read several books and researched many recipes found on the internet. Since early 2004 I have successfully made numerous batches of luxurious shea butter lip balms. I’m very proud of these natural creations and you can compare what goes into my lip balms to the commercial brand listed above. Meadowfoam Seed Oil ~ Moisturizing and revitalizing to dry, cracked lips. Grown in Oregon, this wildflower provides a lovely oil that is high in vitamin E and also has the ability to extend the life of the other oils and butters added to the lip balm. Sesame Seed Oil [Refined] ~ Used Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, sesame oil is outstanding for keeping your lips soft and supple. Shea Butter ~ This naturally creamy texture is apparent in the finished product. Shea butter is an excellent skin conditioner and is high in vitamins A and E. Cocoa Butter ~ A nut fat which is extracted from the cocoa bean, cocoa butter has been a main ingredient in many skin care products due to its skin softening and healing abilities. Cocoa butter adds a touch of firmness to the lip balms. Beeswax ~ Naturally processed white beeswax holds these lovely lip soothing ingredients together and also acts as a moisturizer. Vitamin E ~ This antioxidant helps prevent scarring and is good for all skin types. Certified Organic Agave Nectar ~ Similar to honey; yet from the Mexican agave [cactus] plant, this sweetener improves the flavor of all the lip balms. Pure Essential Oils ~ Cosmetic grade scents for your lips. Safe Flavor Oils ~ Cosmetic grade scents for your lips. You only have one set of lips and can chose what goes on them—a synthetic stew of chemicals or an all natural product with only a few high quality ingredients that will smooth and soothe them. ------------ About the author Lisa Maliga: Everything Shea Aromatic Creations offers a fragrant selection of designer shea butter glycerin soap, luxurious lip balms, exclusive Whipped Shea Butter, & unique SoapCakes to personalize for gifts/promotions. http://www.everythingshea.com Email: everythingshea@msn.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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