Don't Just Slather Any Old Crap On Your Pucker, Princess

It’s the time of year when our lips betray us.

No, not by spilling our secrets after too many hot toddies at the holiday office party, but by chapping, cracking, splitting, flaking and bleeding.

This time of year, our lips rebel because of nasty winter weather and all that comes with it: blustery winds, reduced humidity and forced hot air indoors.

Dirty Mouth

In one of life’s cruelest twists, however, the crap you’re putting on to save your lips can actually harm them further - setting you up for addiction or dependency. Conventional lip balms can contain petroleum (also called petrolatum), mineral oil and alcohol. These beauty offenders dry out the lips, creating a vicious cycle of needing to apply more to get the desired effect. Petroleum also keeps the lips from breathing, so it can actually make your lips more chapped.

Who wants that when you're trying to look cute under the mistletoe?


Cancer, Anyone?

Other scary ingredients include toxins like titanium dioxide, most commonly found in products with SPF, which is carcinogenic (especially with the ultrafine particles found in cosmetics – they end up in your lungs), and phenol, which is a formaldehyde substitute used in embalming. It can lead to liver damage, anemia and diarrhea.




Other Offenders

You’ll also find the usual suspects in lip balms: parabens, which are endocrine disrupters and have been found in breast tumors. And while they may seem natural and non-toxic, stay away from menthol and camphor, as they're the common culprits that cause dryness, irritation and flaking or peeling skin. Not pretty!

Don't Pout

So what’s a ski bunny to do? Opt for a vegan, non-toxic lip balm and your kisser will be ready for the NYE ball drop in no time. Here are some we've tried and love:


The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Balm

Made from organic cold-pressed hempseed oil and plant-based wax, it comes in a range of flavors, from vanilla to peppermint to orange, and it's super hydrating. $3 at www.merryhempsters.com


Eco Lips Bee-Free

Their vegan balm is only available in lemon-lime, but if you don’t mind beeswax, they make other flavors, like orange spice and coconut ginger. It’s 70 percent organic and made of plant-based wax and cocoa butter, which leave lips soft and supple. $3-4 at www.ecolips.com


Lip Fix Lip Balms

With a base of sunflower and jojoba seed oil, this one is extra lush. It’s 72 percent organic and comes in three flavors: pomegranate, spearmint and unflavored. If you’re looking for a very emollient balm, this one’s for you. $4 at www.myhairfix.com



The Verdict

Pros: They work great and don’t set you up for a petroleum addiction. Plus, what’s on your lips eventually ends up in your mouth — so make sure it’s non-toxic.

Cons: They don’t seem to come in pretty colors, but we're sure someone is working on that!

Bitchworthy: For a homemade quick fix, store some coconut oil in a small jar that you can toss in your purse. It does wonders for your pucker and your face.

Do you have a favorite non-toxic lip balm? Help a bitch out and let us know in the comments section below!

Is there a category you want us to cover? Email info@healthybitchdaily.com and we’ll add it to the list.


Liz Farrington, Features Editor
A vegetarian who wishes she could stay vegan, Liz is a media professional and former editor at several fitness and lifestyle publications throughout Southern California. Now principal in Farrington Communications, she does sales, marketing, writing and editing for a range of clients. When she’s not shopping for leather-free handbags or deciding which companies to boycott, the Las Vegas resident enjoys following liberal politics, detoxing at the co-op, scoping farmers’ markets and volunteering for animal rescue.

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