What makes chapstick bad

The Food and Drug Administration requires cosmetic companies to label all scented products with the simple mention of "fragrance" in the ingredient list, so they're easy to look for and steer clear of. Gohara also lists camphor, phenol, and menthol as "very, super, ultra-common" causes of contact dermatitis in lip balms. Fellow board-certified dermatologist Craig Kraffert agrees and adds that even though eucalyptus and peppermint oil are naturally derived, they have similar tingling effects and can still cause slight irritation.

All of this begs the question: Why would brands use so many ingredients they know can cause irritation to the customer? Certain internet forums like the now defunct Lip Balm Anonymous suggest companies use these ingredients in an intentional ploy to keep customers dependent on their products. But cosmetic chemist Ginger King has a much simpler answer: They all have basic practical functions within their formulas.

Menthol, camphor, and the like are included in lip balms simply because they cause a cooling effect or tingle that's popular with consumers, according to King. She says that menthol can cause hives, but that camphor is still the worse or as she puts it, "less elegant" of the two.

That pleasant tingle, Gohara thinks, gives consumers the illusion that a balm is benefitting their lips more than usual when it's actually doing the opposite. Phenol, on the other hand, is sometimes used to create a lip-plumping effect and acts as a preservative for other ingredients, according to King. Share Facebook Pinterest Twitter Tumblr. What's hot. Scroll To See More Images 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.

Buy Now. Continue Reading. October 27, October 20, Unsubscribe anytime. Powered by Shopify. Buy Sign in. Dignity Coconuts Blog. Health Benefits. Tweet Share Pin It Email. Additional Blog Posts. Information Recipes. After halloween, 1. You can help change that with a few ideas we collected. Some products could end up drying out your lips even more and perpetuating the cycle especially if you overuse them.

Here are a few tips for keeping your chapped lips in check this season:. This ingredient, which is found in some acne medicines , helps remove dead skin cells and soften your lips. However, it may also irritate your skin and cause inflammation and dryness over time, as New York-based dermatologist Dr.

Joshua Zeichner told Refinery