In personal care products, they help hydrate the skin, hair, or nails. This is good stuff. Examples include: petroleum jelly. You can find humectants mainly in skin care and hair care products, but many industries use them. The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, has an important function of serving as a barrier. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Aquaphor Lip Repair. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. 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. For ease, here are some popular humectants to look out for on the ingredient list: Emollients are a class of ingredients that soften and condition the skinthey sink into the cracks, helping nourish and heal the barrier. Thats one of the factors that leads to dry, aging skin. Humectants work by attracting water and drawing it into the skin or hair in order to maintain healthy hydration. It found that leave-on products containing lipophilic humectants decreased skin dryness and itching. People with hair that gets greasy quickly may prefer to look for hair products that do not contain much oil, if any. For those who like a hint of tint, your Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. For example, when it's humid, they can pull it from the air around you. Glycolic acid comes from sugar cane, lactic acid from milk, and citric acid from citrus fruits., Aloe vera. 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. There are also things you should avoid doing to your lips when they're already chapped, including one that might seem counterintuitive: licking your lips to wet them. Examples of emollients include the following: Emollient ingredients help to repair the skin barrier function. In contrast, someone with dry skin or hair could benefit from products that contain humectants, emollients, and occlusives. 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. "Also, since lips do not contain melanocytes and are very sensitive to the sun, you should make sure to apply at least an SPF 30 year-round.". 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. 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. For chapped lips. 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. For optimal lip health, your lip balm should include a blend of emollient, humectant, and occlusive ingredients. "Humectants are basically 'water magnets,'" board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of SKINFIVE, told us about the class of ingredients. Beeswax has lubricating, softening activities and reduces trans-epidermal water loss from skin 1. However, individuals with oily skin or hair may find this unhelpful. "Unlike the rest of our skin, lips don't have sweat glands, so they're not able to produce their own sweat and oil," says Nkem Ugonabo, M.D., NYC-based board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm. Hydrating skin care ingredients attract water, while moisturizers keep the hydration in. 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. Humectants also promote the shedding of dead cells (called desquamation) by breaking down the proteins that hold the cells together. dimethicone. Also called glycerine or glycerol, glycerin is a clear substance that occurs naturally in animal and plant tissue, including that of humans. Emollients come in the form of creams, gels, lotions and ointments and work to help the skin feel more comfortable and less itchy. 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. Some humectants are also emollients, just as some humectants are also occlusives. 4. Bland, in the beauty balm world means, essentially, boring: no scent, no tint, and fewer ingredients. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. It calms and soothes dry skin and reduces the scaly and flaky appearance. It's an all-purpose product in its truest . Since silicones evaporate quickly and do not penetrate the pore lining, they cannot cause acne. 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. RRP: $16/20. We avoid using tertiary references. However, when left to their own devices, humectants can actually end up dehydrating the skin. "Panthenol acts as a humectant," explains Dr. Maiman. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. They increase skin: Occlusives are mostly oil-based. Here, find the best lip moisturizers that actually work. The super thick formula melts down nicely, and a little goes a long way for healthier lips come morning. It seals lips well overnight, she says. Pictures and symptoms of the red, scaly rash. In this post, well answer these questions and more so youll know the difference between humectant, emollient, and occlusive moisturizers. For a relatively small area of overall skin real estate, the lips garner a lot of attention in the beauty world. 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. In addition to clear, it also comes in two tinted shades that add a pretty lovely blush to all skin tones. Your specific preferences, skin needs, and use case will likely influence which ingredients you'll look for. Thanks to winter weather triggers like dipping temps outside and dry heat inside, chapped lips are more or less inevitable this time of year. Humectants pull water from the dermis to the epidermis and stratum corneum. If youre looking for a vegan option, this hydrating formula is just the thing to quench your pout. Overall,FormulystAge Defying Daily Moisturizer helps to keep skin feeling smooth, hydrated, and looking its most radiant. Petroleum jelly's initial purpose was as a medicinal salve, meant to speed up the healing process, when it was patented in 1872. In this way, aloe vera can act as a humectant and an emollient.. Try applying humectant-rich, water-based toners, essences, and serums and then sealing them in a few drops of facial oil. 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. A good lip balm should be rich in occlusive elements like oils, beeswax, and petrolatum, which seal in moisture so your kisser doesn't dry out, as well as SPFeven if it's cold outside. The best part? Humectants are different from emollients and occlusives. These ingredients will provide some occlusive properties, but their main functions are to restore and soften the skin. Examples of products that can contain humectants include: Many ingredients act as humectants, including: All humectants have slightly different properties. Although there are various examples of humectants, some are more commonly used. "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. Ask a Beauty Editor: Why Are My Lips Always Dry and Peeling? Our top choice for the best chapped lip treatment is the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm, which is effective, budget-friendly, and contains moisturizing ingredients, as well as SPF. Humectants (Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin) // "Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., to Style Caster. Most hyaluronic acid for skincare is made in a lab. Its a common misconception that silicones can cause or worsen acne. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This one isn't a balm, technically, but it does do an important job when it comes to healing chapped lips and that job is gently buffing off dead skin without causing an increase in damage. "Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., to Style Caster. You can think of this barrier as having a brick and mortar structure the corneocytes are the bricks and the lipids are the mortar. This $18 Heavenly Body Oil Claims to Improve Skin Winter comes with its fair share of beauty problems, and chapped lips are right up there with static-shocked hair and those itchy red dry spots you get around your nose from blowing too much. Objective: Since skin on the lips has a lower water content in the stratum corneum (SC) and a higher transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value than skin on the cheek, the lips are usually very dry and rough areas. Chemically speaking, humectants are hygroscopic substances that form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. You can expect to see humectants in personal care products such as: All humectants bind with water, but some of them have an additional role. 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. humectant, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, antistatic, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling . Based on the ingredients they include, moisturizers can be broken down into three main categories: humectant, emollient, and occlusive. Hana Hong is the beauty & fashion editor at RealSimple.com. This clear, nonsticky balm has sea moss to hydrate, as well as aloe stem cells to . 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. It comes in two colorwaysuluru red . "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. Apply lip balm with beeswax or shea butter. Now that you have the basics down, its time to find a lip balm that works for you. Formulyst Anti-Aging Night Cream with Retinol Humectants are substances that attract water. "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.". Yes, yes they are. 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. Vanicream Lip Protectant SPF 30. Our fashion, beauty and lifestyle coverage is equal parts informative and inspiring, and at once aspirational yet attainable. Humectants are ingredients that attract and bind water. Good ol Vaseline is a dermatologist favorite due to its simple formula of 100% petroleum jelly. $120/ounce) If you prefer a mineral sunblock to a . What gives? Whether or not you should use an emollient moisturizer largely depends on what emollient ingredient is used in the product. A lot of the glycerin in makeup is made from soybean and sugarcane. Hyaluronic acid. You could be exposing even more of the lips and causing even more dryness." Shop. This coconut oil-based balm-gloss hybrid is the perfect product for those that like a bit of sheen while treating their lips. Beeswax is an effective Occlusive that comes from bee honeycomb and is often used in lip balms and creams that require a thicker consistency to keep them from separating. Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Without an occlusive to seal it in, this moisture can evaporate . Hazelnut oil also happens to be chock-full of Vitamin E which, combined with rose oil, soothes while it hydrates. A 2019 review analyzed databases from 19902018 that dealt with skin conditions of people over the age of 50 years. $16 at allbeauty. Humectants May Cause Lip Balm Addiction To avoid this problem, only use lip balms that contain both humectants and occlusives. In summary. Copyright 1999 2023 GoDaddy Operating Company, LLC. Therefore, a lip balm approach to increase occlusivity of the lips is generally used to reduce water loss. Fix My Skin lip balm (or the larger balm) is ideal for irritated chapped lips because it contains 1% hydrocortisone, a mild steroid, to reduce inflammation, says Dr. Waldorf. That doesnt mean you should avoid humectants in your lip balmsjust look for those ingredients alongside the occlusive agents. Secondly, you need to be careful of lip balm recipes that include humectant ingredients WITHOUT the presence of occlusive ingredients. This thick balm is a lip and body multitasker that's creamy enough to go on smoothly but doesn't get sucked up by thirsty lips right away. 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. Without these essential lipids, the barrier is weakened. The most common include. Dr. Waldorf says its especially great for chapped edges on the nose when youve been sneezing or blowing into tissues frequently. However, for environmental reasons, many folks have started choosing not to use them as much as possible. We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. This rich balm comes in tinted and clear options and packs a seriously hydrating punch courtesy of shea and moringa butter, two occlusives that hydrate and soothe. References: Harwood A Moisturizers Jan 2019, VeryWellHealth.com Humectants in Moisturizers, LabMuffin.com Skincare Chemistry: How to Pick Out Humectants Jan 2019, DermatologyTimes.com What is an emollient Jan 2015, library.essentialwholesale.com Occlusive, Emollient & Humectant Terms To Know June 2017, PaulasChoice.com Silicone in Skincare. Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. People can consult a dermatologist to identify their skin type and find the best regimen for them. Last medically reviewed on March 30, 2022. People can find them in a wide range of personal care products. Whats more, Aquaphor is free of fragrances, dyes, and preservatives, so its a great option if you have sensitive lips. Heres the thing: Humectant ingredients need to be offset by occlusive ingredients to work their moisturizing magic. 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. Not only can dry skin cause discomfort, but it can worsen conditions like eczema or put you at risk for skin infections. Its free of potentially skin-drying alcohol and irritating colors or fragrances. While humectants provide hydration, emollients soften the skin, and occlusives help prevent water in the skin from evaporating. Humectants hold on to water, and occlusives keep it from evaporating, explains Dr. Baumann. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? As previously mentioned, beeswax is a common ingredient in lip balmsespecially those of the homemade varietythanks to its humectant properties . Credit: Aquaphor. 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). Natural emollient ingredients include: Shea butter; Mango butter; Cocoa butter; Coconut oil; Raspberry seed oil; Humectant ingredients attract and hold . Humectants are useful for adding hydration without feeling heavy or oily. ", If your lips are chapped beyond recognition, this stuff is the good stuff, thanks to having basically all of the occlusive ingredients needed to lock in the moisture your lips can't create on their own. 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. Ciat Fruit Burst Hydrating Lip Oil. STYLECASTERs mantra is Style To The People and our mission is to be an accessible, inclusive, ahead-of-the-trend destination for millennial and Gen Z women who want to live with style and substance. Remember from above that the skin barrier is composed of dead skin cells held together by a lipid matrix. It calms and soothes dry skin and reduces the scaly and flaky appearance. For severely chapped lips, Dr. Waldorf recommends Bag Balm because it contains occlusive ingredients like petrolatum and lanolin with an antiseptic preservative. (. Both . 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. If you have constantly dry lips you have to try it.. The benefits of humectants depend on the ingredient. A dermatologist can determine whether you have any allergies or underlying medical conditions that cause dry lips and recommend the best lip balm for your specific skin type. Most of us know the frustration of applying a formula, only to have to reach for it moments later because the skin already feels parched. 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. 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. What is organic skin care and how is it different. It's also a great option if you want a little scent without any potentially irritating chemicals (the scent here comes from rose oil) according to reviews. Lip Plumper. Harwood, A., Nassereddin, A., Krishnamurthy, K. StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 2020. A great option for those who want something a bit more luxe. Not only does it repair and protect dry, chapped lips, but its also a nice beauty treatment on its own. oz of lip balm goodness! If air humidity is higher than 70%, they also draw water from the surrounding environment to the skin. Humectants can be beneficial skin hydrating ingredients when used properly. They provide a layer on the skin surface that helps protect against water evaporation. Burt's Bees Lip Balm , on the other hand, is an excellent choice because of its excellent balance of occlusives and humectants. The former one is common for oils and waxes and it means that it sits on top of the skin hindering water to . When it comes to picking the best lip balms for chapped lips, a good rule of thumb is to avoid anything that could be irritating, such as fragrances, harsh essential oils, or flavoring. They can add hydration without the use of heavier ingredients. A lipophilic humectant is one that manufacturers have dissolved in fats or lipids. I always keep at least five tubes of this matte, non-sticky formula in . Because of this, it has a long history as a skin care ingredient. DIY beeswax lip balm. . "Lip balms with humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin make lips worse," says dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD. 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. Amazon. It's literally magic," one reviewer wrote. Kara Birnbaum / NBC Feb. 20, 2020, 5:28 PM UTC / Updated Nov. 16, 2022, 10:03 PM UTC Is coconut oil a humectant and occlusive and an emollient? Basically, an emollient is a film forming substance that makes the skin feel and look smooth. Beeswax is also an occlusive, meaning it forms a moisturizing, protective layer on the surface of the lips 3. Counterintuitively, some lip balms can make dry lips worse by contributing to chapping. Upon application to the skin, this lattice enables silicones to form a film on the surface while still allowing skin to breathe. Lip balm; Eye cream; . "This is the first lip anything I can use that I don't break out. 2009 - 2023 MindBodyGreen LLC. Overall, the best facial moisturizer is Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer, a lightweight antioxidant-rich formula that delivers multi-level hydration, thanks to a proprietary active complex of three natural bio-ferments. She spends most of her days diving into the latest wellness trends, writing and editing stories about health conditions, testing skincare products, and trying to understand the next greatest internet obsession. Your IP address is listed in our blacklist and blocked from completing this request. Since then, the FDA has approved of it as an effective over-the-counter skin protectant, and it's been used as makeup remover, lubricant and homemade lip balm. 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). 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. 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. Humectant ingredients attract moisture to prevent further dryness and cracking, while . Vaseline is a great choice if your lips are sensitive, irritated, or if you suffer from allergies. bath oils. (See: How to Strengthen Your Skin Barrier to Prevent Irritation and Sensitivity). 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 . It's also a humectant, which means that it attracts and binds water. Some also have other benefits. Dry brushing is a way of exfoliating the skin using a bristle brush. That's why these types of ingredients work best together. This means it helps protect lips from becoming dry or chapped. 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. 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. However, it's highly advised to apply humectants on a damp or moist . Banana Boat's Sport Ultra Lip Balm has active chemical ingredients of avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone, which Deignan specifically recommended for lip . A lot of winter factors contribute to dryness on your lips, but lip skin is already sensitive and prone to dryness. There needs to be enough NH2 and OH groups on the molecule to counteract the nonpolar parts (i.e. While an emollient will provide some occlusive effects, the primary function is to help soften the skin. Now 19% Off. They attract water to the hair shaft, helping keep it hydrated. 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. Some moisturizers work better for oily skin, while others help dry, sensitive, or inflamed skin. I think this one would appeal to a lot of people for curing chapped lips, writes one customer. The role of the NMF is to maintain adequate skin hydration. Emollients are effective at filling in the cracks and crevices of dry skin or fine lines. 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. 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. lip balms; frizz serums; foot balms; Types and How They Work. 2015;19(1):7-15. Lip balm with SPF; Other. Rachel Maiman, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical counts the following ingredients as potential irritants for chapped lips. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale. Some lip masks such as the ILIA Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment contain mild . SPF: 30 | Shades: 4 | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes. Alisa Hrustic is the deputy editor at Prevention, where she leads the brands digital editorial strategy. It contains glycerin to draw in moisture, shea butter and beeswax to protect, chamomile essence to soothe dryness and cracks, as well as castor seed oil for additional hydration. Sugar alcohols (glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, etc. Vaseline is an occlusive emollient thanks to its main ingredient . Like Vaseline, Aquaphor is an occlusive emollient, but it also contains a number of additional ingredients not found in Vaseline, including panthenol making it a top pick for best lip balms for chapped lips. They also help repair and strengthen the skins natural protective barrier. The vegan, cruelty-free formula also never feels sticky. This bonding helps moisturize the skin by drawing water from the lower cell layers. Plumping ingredients like capsaicin arent a great idea as they will cause swelling. The answer lies in the ingredients.