Dr. Amin says he uses this lip balm after FixMySkins heavy-hitting chapstick. (Rather unfortunate for s selfies.) Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are examples of humectants. Urea can help with many skin conditions, such as: An older 2013 study evaluated the effects of once and twice daily applications of a humectant-rich moisturizer containing 15% AHAs and 15% urea. Be sure to use a moisturizer that doesnt depend on humectants only. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. The primary purpose of lip balm is to provide an occlusive layer on the lip surface to seal moisture in lips and protect them from external exposure. Finally, a quick tip that both derms suggest is seeking out hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products, which will keep a number of those potentially irritating ingredients off your lips. It's amazing," shares one reviewer. Examples of occlusive ingredients include the following: Since occlusive ingredients form a protective barrier on the surface of skin, they are best for those with very dry skin and conditions like eczema and psoriasis. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may. Secondly, you need to be careful of lip balm recipes that include humectant ingredients WITHOUT the presence of occlusive ingredients. Chemically speaking, humectants are hygroscopic substances that form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Its a common misconception that silicones can cause or worsen acne. And while its heavy hitter ingredient, hemp-derived Cannabis Sativa seed oil, hasn't been extensively studied, it is known for its soothing properties and the sheer number of five-star reviews this balm comes with support that theory. All rights reserved. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. If your dryness isn't responding to a change in lip balm and you still have painful dryness after a week, you might want to see a dermatologist. Some lip masks such as the ILIA Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment contain mild . Are these the best-tinted balms ever? The former one is common for oils and waxes and it means that it sits on top of the skin hindering water to . Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_4_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.4 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1. Vaseline is a great choice if your lips are sensitive, irritated, or if you suffer from allergies. Humectants are ingredients found in lotions and cleansers that hydrate the skin by attracting water molecules like a magnet. Unlike the rest of the skin which has a thick stratum corneum (dead cell layer) for extra protection, the lips do not, so they are even more prone to winter dryness, says Dr. Waldorf. Therefore, a lip balm approach to increase occlusivity of the lips is generally used to reduce water loss. Amazon. It's also fragrance-free, which is a major plus for sensitive-lipped folks out there, a fact that reviewers can't help but point out. That's not to say you should avoid lip balms entirelyor that you should avoid humectants in your lip balms. Some humectants, such as glycerine or hyaluronic acid, pull moisture out of the lips leaving the skin dehydrated and sore. Ask a Beauty Editor: Why Are My Lips Always Dry and Peeling? Dermatologists recommend against using lip balms containing Humectants, otherwise known as Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerin. LIP BALM 3 PACK - You get 3 classic CocoMe lip balm tubes. . Take a peek at some of these lip-loving products that you can apply over and over without stripping your lips of the good stuff. After using this lip balm, I don't have that problem anymore. Formulyst Anti-Aging Night Cream with Retinol Know when to see a doctor: If you have just a patch or spot of chapped lips that is persistent, dont assume it is just dryness, cautions Dr. Waldorf. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. And balms that are able to achieve this can do so because they use a blend of humectants, emollients, and occlusive ingredientslike in mindbodygreen's lip balm. Some also claim it helps with other conditions. Ciat Fruit Burst Hydrating Lip Oil. Overall, the LANO brand has a full range of lanolin-based products that are ideal for hydrating and moisturizing." Triple Lanolin Hand & Body Lotion $11.00. All rights reserved. To be safe, Dr. Nussbaum recommends avoiding parabens, phenol, phthalates, fragrances, and lanolin altogether if you have sensitive skin. It also boasts jojoba, coconut, and olive oils to seal in moisture. Petrolatum, silicone, squalene, lanolin, shea butter, and waxes all fit the bill. $120/ounce) If you prefer a mineral sunblock to a . The most common include. The Shape 2022 Skin Awards Winners Will Help You Achieve Your Healthiest Complexion Yet, Everything You Need to Know About Eczema, According to Derms, you should still wear SPF every day, even if you're staying inside, Reese Whitherspoon is a mega fan of the clean beauty brand, Flavorings such as cinnamon, citrus, mint, and peppermint flavors. Ingredients overview. If your lip balm contains both humectants and occlusives, and you're still experiencing perpetual dryness, you may need to look more closely at the ingredient list. Choose A Lip Balm With Humectants & Occlusives. 'Tis the season for chapped, dry lips. There needs to be enough NH2 and OH groups on the molecule to counteract the nonpolar parts (i.e. "The delicate vanilla-rose scent of this balm is so light it's almost not there," one reviewer raved. Shutterstock. Because it stops water from being evaporated and helps . Some humectants are also emollients, just as some humectants are also occlusives. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. Our online classes and training programs allow you to learn from experts from anywhere in the world. This is a great everyday repair balm, says board-certified dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., director of ethnic skin care for the University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. (See: Why You Should Be Using Lip Oil Instead of Lip Balm). Beeswax has lubricating, softening activities and reduces trans-epidermal water loss from skin 1. This is because humectants work like a magnet and draw water out of whatever is nearby. Some humectants first break down the dead skin cells clogging up your skin's surface., These dead skin cells drop off in a process called cell turnover or desquamation. Hyaluronic acid is a moisturizing all-star, so it makes sense that it's featured front and center in this cult-favorite lip balm which also features vitamin E. In combination, these two ingredients attract much-needed moisture and lock it in without feeling goopy or sticky on your lips. Theyre often added to food products as anti-caking agents. Examples include: petroleum jelly. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are examples of humectants. Aside from humectants, personal care products often contain emollients and occlusives. Vanicream Lip Protectant SPF 30. Not only does it repair and protect dry, chapped lips, but its also a nice beauty treatment on its own. Adding emollients to the formula creates a smooth surface. You could be exposing even more of the lips and causing even more dryness." However, they work by forming a barrier over the skin, trapping moisture inside rather than attracting it. Other occlusive ingredients include shea and cocoa seed butter. What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023? She has been a writer and editor in the beauty and fashion industry for more than six years, sharing her expansive knowledge on skincare, hair care, makeup, fashion, and more. It calms and soothes dry skin and reduces the scaly and flaky appearance. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, American Academy of Dermatology Association, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545171/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5908267/, https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/oily-skin, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31945604/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23521561/, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13555-021-00611-y, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22525567/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5849435/. Best Luxury: Augustinus Bader The Lip Balm, $41. Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Remember from above that the skin barrier is composed of dead skin cells held together by a lipid matrix. "Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., to Style Caster. Providing shine without being sticky or greasy, this lip balm offers everything you need for a full, hydrated pout. I'm particularly fond of the not shiny yet never dull sheen the formula imparts. This classic lip balm is Idriss' pick for lip balm with sun protection. The humectant will draw in moisture while the occlusive will lock in that moisture in, and the emollient will keep the skin soft and smooth. I never had severely dry lips but still it was a huge difference after I applied it, and the total healing time was about a week. "Licking your lips can actually make them drier," explains Dr. Ugonabo. Heart failure: Could a low sodium diet sometimes do more harm than good? The final outcome is a balm that nourishes with every swipe and leaves you satisfied throughout the day. Overall,FormulystAge Defying Daily Moisturizer helps to keep skin feeling smooth, hydrated, and looking its most radiant. Once the humectants loosen the dead cells, they draw moisture from deeper layers of skin. Humectants alone may actually add to dryness because they can draw water from deeper layers of the skin. Photo: Courtesy of Merchants / Design by Jo Imperio, These Are The 10 Best Lip Plumping Glosses, According to Reviews, Potentially Irritating Ingredients to Avoid Using on Angry Lips. broad spectrum SPF 30 lip balm immediately relieves dryness and helps protect your lips against UVA and UVB rays. "I tried all types of lip balms and lip masksbut nothing really worked. Silicones have wide spaces between each molecule, which form a molecular lattice. According to Dr. Nussbaum, this is the same reason licking your lips worsens chapped lipsthe saliva quickly evaporates, leaving the lips even drier and starting the lip-licking cycle over again. Best Healing Ointment: Avne Cicalfate Restorative Lip Cream, $18. Aquaphor isn't just an ointment or a lip balm. In short, humectant ingredients need to be offset by occlusive ingredients to avoid the cycle of reapplication. dimethicone. (Not to mention, Reese Whitherspoon is a mega fan of the clean beauty brand.). Without an occlusive to seal it in, this moisture can evaporate . "It works to prevent already dehydrated, chapped lips hold onto water," shares Dr. Maiman. She received her journalism degree from Marquette University, graduating first in the department. As a humectant, sodium hyaluronate draws in moisture from the environment and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Upon application to the skin, this lattice enables silicones to form a film on the surface while still allowing skin to breathe. Emollient ingredients contain natural fats that soften and condition the skin. Most hyaluronic acid for skincare is made in a lab. You may have become familiar with the concept of occlusives because of the recent rise in popularity of skin slugging, a practice by which folks slather on a thick formula as part of their last step before bed (with the idea that it will stop nighttime transepidermal water loss). Here, 10 uses for beeswax. However, most silicones do not allow water to pass through, which is an ideal quality for preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) a leading cause of dehydrated skin. . As people age, they have a higher risk of developing dry skin. A 2019 review analyzed databases from 19902018 that dealt with skin conditions of people over the age of 50 years. If you prefer a treatment that will rejuvenate dry, chapped lips as you snooze, you have to try this agave-based recovery lip mask from Bite Beauty. Its infused with medical-grade lanolin, jojoba and olive oils, and beeswax to heal, moisturize, and protect overnight. Thanks to frigid temps and less humidity in the air, any natural moisture in your lips simply evaporates, leaving you with dry skin, flaking, or even painful cracks. Despite the promises of the balms, glosses, and miracle treatments you impulse-buy all season long, what you see isnt always what you get. shea butter; 2 tbsp. Below are the products we recommend that effectively combine these three ingredient types in their formulas. Now that you know the difference between humectant, emollient, and occlusive moisturizers, you can probably see that there are advantages and disadvantages with each type. Here are some great options to use for your lips: Finally, the balm needs thick ingredients that can act as a sealtrapping in all the moisture underneath and offering a barrier of protection throughout the day. They're commonly used for a few reasons: They're inexpensive, lend products a smooth sensorial experience, and are molecularly large so they sit on the skin, acting as an occlusive. Without occlusives, the moisture will evaporate and your skin will be left drier than it was before. I always keep at least five tubes of this matte, non-sticky formula in . A mild steroid, such as 1% hydrocortisone, can reduce inflammation if your lips are in pain. ), Vaseline is a great choice if your lips are sensitive, irritated, or if you suffer from allergies. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. A good approach is to change balms if you feel like you're constantly having to apply the one you're already using or feel a tingling sensation when you apply. While humectants provide hydration, emollients soften the skin, and occlusives help prevent water in the skin from evaporating. Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. Whats more, you can use Bag Balm on any part of your body that is dry, chafed, or cracked. Sometimes ingredients can clog pores, which may not be the best choice if you have acne-prone skin. A brand beloved by celebs like Martha Stewart and Drew Barrymore, to name a few, Mario Badescus cult-favorite lip balm is a top-rated option for a reason. The new and improved formula uses a blend of ingredients that instantly softens the skin and deeply hydrates, keeping them feeling comfortable all day long. Humectants include ingredients such as glycerin, urea, AHAs, and hyaluronic acid. It's an all-purpose product in its truest . Hyaluronic acid. At work, I often get moisture buildup under my mask which paradoxically can dry out the lips. Glycerin is one of the most effective humectants, and it also helps keep your skin barrier strong., Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). Instead of attracting moisture, they trap it beneath this barrier, preventing it from evaporating. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com. Walmart. These ingredients pull moisture out of the skin, especially in a dry environment, and then the water evaporates away. Confusing, considering we regularly apply these ingredients to our faceto keep it well-hydrated. For optimal lip health, your lip balm should include a blend of emollient, humectant, and occlusive ingredients. "The main ingredient is ceramides, which help retain moisture and optimize barrier function. They increase skin: Occlusives are mostly oil-based. bath oils. This is because they're indiscriminate about where they pull in water. In her current role, she covers all the latest trends in the clean and natural beauty space, as well as lifestyle topics, such as travel. What causes them, and what you can do about them. I would wake up the next day with the same cracked, peeling lips. "They work to help pull moisture from the air into the upper layer of your skin to keep the skin cells hydrated, plump with a firmness and bounce.". A lot of the glycerin in makeup is made from soybean and sugarcane. The exact definition can vary depending on location. Plumping ingredients like capsaicin arent a great idea as they will cause swelling. Steer clear of irritants: While cooling agents like camphor and menthol feel good upon contact, they will sting and arent necessary to heal or improve lips, says Dr. Waldorf. If you have chapped lips, itchy or sore lips, or even reddened lips, you might have a problem that needs a little more care, says Dr. Amin. One way you can help your skin and hair collect more moisture is to use products with humectants., Humectants are substances that attract water from the air or from deeper in the skin. Think about it this way: Applying a poor lip balm is like drinking soda to quench your thirst. People can find them in a wide range of personal care products. Another popular group of ingredients for moisturizing the skin and hair are emollients and occlusives. Lanolips has given me lips that don't peel, chap, crack, and bleed, writes one satisfied customer. However, when occlusive ingredients like petrolatum, waxes, oils and silicones are paired with humectant ingredients, they make sure your lips aren't drying out after application. Although the balm is a light pink, it morphs on your lips to create an individual color using what Dior calls "Color Reviver Technology." In personal care products, they help hydrate the skin, hair, or nails. Hydrating skin care ingredients attract water, while moisturizers keep the hydration in. One reviewer raved: I applied a very small amount and my lips got much better after three days. A great approach is to look for products that combine all three of these in one formula. What gives? (. Hazelnut oil also happens to be chock-full of Vitamin E which, combined with rose oil, soothes while it hydrates. It consists of corneocytes (dead skin cells) held together by a lipid matrix composed of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. Emollients come in many different varietiesfrom plant-based oils and butters to fatty acids, ceramides, and synthetically made oils. For example, when it's humid, they can pull it from the air around you. Banana Boat Sport Lip Balm SPF 50. "Panthenol acts as a humectant," explains Dr. Maiman. Cay Skin's Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 leaves lips looking plump and protected every time you reapply. Moringa-based formula which feeds your skin antioxidants, instantly hydrates, and protects your lips. Price at time of publish: $15. This is in comparison to an occlusive-only wax or jelly balm that merely coats the surfaceor shiny and plumping numbers that are there for aesthetic purposes only. Without occlusives, the moisture that the humectants pull out simply vanishes on the surface of the skin, leaving lips drier than they were in the first place. 2009 - 2023 MindBodyGreen LLC. Oxygen, nitrogen, and other nutrients can still pass through the film formed by silicones. Credit: Aquaphor. What Is Allantoin and Its Role In Your Skin Care? Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. Cardiovascular health: Insomnia linked to greater risk of heart attack. But if you find yourself slathering a bit too often, we have some bad news: Your precious lip balm may be causing more harm than good. Even the sun protection is natural, non-micronized mineral zinc, a rarity given that many lip products use chemical sunscreen ingredients. Because they can't produce their own oils or hold in moisture for very long, Dr. Ugonabo recommends patients always give their lips a little extra TLC by regularly reapplying balms or ointments. Humectants alone may actually add to dryness because they can draw water from deeper layers of the skin. If youve ever used an anti-acne product that made you break out, then you already know what we mean: Counterintuitively, some lip balms can make chapped lips worse by actually exacerbating dryness. This Treewear Beeswax Balm helps to keep moisture in the skin while still allowing it to breathe. Here, experts share their best advice for dealing with chapped lips plus tips, tricks, and ways to keep your lips from getting super-dry, cracked, and, you know, nasty. Here, the best chapped lip treatments to get you through the winter and beyond. These are the ingredients that help the formula feel great upon application and help the skin feel comforted. Made from nutrient-dense butters and hydrating oils like cocoa butter and sweet almond oil, this rose-flavored balm will leave you with soft lips. Chapsticks tinted lip moisturizer is a total winner for those looking to amp up hydration without the fuss of an extra lip color. Thats one of the factors that leads to dry, aging skin. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I initially thought these were ridiculously expensive for being just tinted balms but I've been blown away by their performance and now think that they're worth every penny! writes one satisfied customer. What Are Parabens And Are They Bad For You? Vaseline is an occlusive emollient thanks to its main ingredient . Another 2020 Healthy Beauty Award winner, this is like a love child of a lipstick and a lip balm, says Jessica Morse, clean beauty expert and founder of Bare Beauty. It also promises to improve the wear of lipsticks when layered underneath them. Applying an occlusive moisturizer immediately after bathing may be an effective way to trap additional water in the skin. You can think of this barrier as having a brick and mortar structure the corneocytes are the bricks and the lipids are the mortar. It's got the occlusive shea butter to seal in all the moisture it delivers via avocado oil, which is a bit of a powerhouse, delivering both omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D, and E to chapped, dry lips (and skin, if you want to double-dip). (57) Shop now. It's not the most exciting option as far as best lip balms for chapped lips, but it does exactly what a lip balm product should do. Is argan oil a humectant? Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 $8.00. Humectants are useful for adding hydration without feeling heavy or oily. Dr. Baumann recommends Burts Bees Lip Balm for its perfect balance of occlusives and humectants. . For chapped lips. Price: $36.99 at Clean & Pure This incredibly popular line of lip balms out of Australia is 100% natural and packed with hydration-friendly ingredients like responsibly sourced Beeswax and Vitamin E. This balm includes glycerin, shea butter, moringa, avocado, coconut, and jojoba oils. Along with drawing in water, AHAs help the body get rid of dead skin cells. Hana Hong is the beauty & fashion editor at RealSimple.com. Worth noting: it does have a hint of peppermint, but it leans more towards refreshing as opposed to the stinging you'd feel on ultra-chapped lips treated with camphor or menthol. If you're using a product and you feel like it's not getting better, you should generally consider switching to something more bland." For severely chapped lips, Dr. Waldorf recommends Bag Balm because it contains occlusive ingredients like petrolatum and lanolin with an antiseptic preservative. Since silicones evaporate quickly and do not penetrate the pore lining, they cannot cause acne. Thanks to its hydrating qualities, it can be left on for a few minutes to give your lips a moisture boost before being buffed away. Banana Boat's Sport Ultra Lip Balm has active chemical ingredients of avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone, which Deignan specifically recommended for lip . hydrocarbon portion), allowing the overall molecule to be polar enough to attract water. Using emollients can help to fill in the spaces between dead skin cells where the barrier has been depleted, ultimately leading to soft hydrated skin. Specifications. It can be used on any part of the body that has dry, irritated skin. 1. Here, find the best lip moisturizers that actually work. "Lip balms with mineral sunscreen ingredients, like titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, are typically the most optimal choice for those with chapped lips and should be reapplied every two hours while outdoors," advises Dr. Maiman. So what makes a good lip moisturizer? "Some lip balms also contain allergenssuch as lanolin, parabens, phenol, or salicylic acidwhich can often be irritating to certain people's skin," says Dr. Nussbaum. For a relatively small area of overall skin real estate, the lips garner a lot of attention in the beauty world. Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Also, be careful of over-exfoliation, which can shed outer layers of skin and leave you more susceptible to environmental elements. Some moisturizers work better for oily skin, while others help dry, sensitive, or inflamed skin. The best part? In general, however, the effects include relief of dry skin, reduction of thickened skin, and strengthening of the skin barrier. It's not the most exciting option as far as best lip balms for chapped lips, but it does exactly what a lip balm product should do. lip balms; frizz serums; foot balms; Types and How They Work. In summary. Those with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid most occlusives except silicones. What to Consider. Some emollients may contain . We always keep lip balm on handhow are you supposed to wear lipstick 24/7 otherwise?and wearing it at all times becomes nonnegotiable once the cold front rolls in. In that case, you could have an actinic keratosisa precancerous skin condition caused by excessive sun. A lip balm that contains SPF can help protect you from harmful UV rays. Humectants can be beneficial skin hydrating ingredients when used properly. This coconut oil-based balm-gloss hybrid is the perfect product for those that like a bit of sheen while treating their lips. They also help repair and strengthen the skins natural protective barrier. Unfortunately, some skin care brands may use high concentrations of humectants in their products that are claimed to provide anti-aging effects without any other ingredients to correct signs of aging. Other humectants in personal care products include: When choosing skin care and hair care products, take your time. Now that you have the basics down, its time to find a lip balm that works for you. However, it's highly advised to apply humectants on a damp or moist . SkinQ Moisture B Bland, in the beauty balm world means, essentially, boring: no scent, no tint, and fewer ingredients. That doesnt mean you should avoid humectants in your lip balmsjust look for those ingredients alongside the occlusive agents. "For dry lips, you want something that is moisturizing and occlusive, meaning that it's actually going to seal in the moisture," says Dr. Ugonabo, who recommends occlusive ingredients such as petroleum jelly, shea butter, mineral oil, and ceramides. If my lips are at their worst, a nice thick layer of this balm helps to soothe them drastically. Aquaphor is a go-to for a reason. It can be used on any part of the body that has dry, irritated skin. Emollients also help replenish any damage on the surface of your skin. It also outlines the difference between a humectant and an emollient and an occlusive. The answer lies in the ingredients. "Also, since lips do not contain melanocytes and are very sensitive to the sun, you should make sure . This is good stuff. The Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) is another component of the stratum corneum. "Lipid application is beneficial for aging skin where natural lipids have been depleted by . Occlusives are necessary for creating a physical barrier to prevent water loss. These substances create a barrier on the surface of dry skin or hair to lock in moisture.. 2015;19(1):7-15. Glycolic acid comes from sugar cane, lactic acid from milk, and citric acid from citrus fruits., Aloe vera. The color is beautiful and lasts for hours, and it is truly moisturizing. Choose the untinted version for a classic balm or one of the three natural shades for a nice pop of colorall of them contain jojoba and cocoa seed butter for lasting hydration. Additionally, a 2021 research article notes that the humectant lactic acid can relieve rough, dry skin at concentrations up to 12%. Shop: Balm Dotcom, $12 Credit: Glossier The NMF is primarily composed of free amino acids and various derivatives of these amino acids, for example, PCA, urocanic acid, and inorganic salts, sugars, as well as urea and lactic acid. The super thick formula melts down nicely, and a little goes a long way for healthier lips come morning. Lip balms that contain only humectants can cause your lips to become "addicted" to lip balm, as these ingredients will actually dry your lips out over time, causing you to continuously reapply the product . In the past, youve probably picked out moisturizers based on a specific brand name or the marketing claims made by brands. In contrast, someone with dry skin or hair could benefit from products that contain humectants, emollients, and occlusives. For humectants to do their job, they need to stay in your skin and hair. Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen. And while that's taking occlusive ingredients to their most extreme, it's actually good practice to use somewhat occlusive formulas in your day-to-day life. Learn more here. They provide a layer on the skin surface that helps protect against water evaporation. Best Drugstore: Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (4-Pack), $10.