Why does lip balm become drier the more you apply it? Beware of "lip balm addiction" in autumn and winter

In the dry autumn and winter, many girls must have a lip balm in their bags. When you have nothing to do, take it out and apply it to keep your lips plump and full. But why does lip balm become drier the more you apply it?

Why does lip balm become drier the more you apply it?

Maybe you applied it too frequently. It is normal to apply it 1 to 2 times a day, but if you apply it eight or ten times a day, it is a lipstick addiction, and the more you apply it, the drier your lips will become, making them worse and worse. Or using lip balm with inappropriate ingredients for a long time, such as salicylic acid, mineral oil, paraffin, etc., will reduce the lips' ability to moisturize. Or maybe the lip stratum corneum is too thick and the skin cannot absorb it, so applying it has no effect and the lips become drier the more you apply it.

Lipsticks containing these ingredients must not be used

1. Salicylic acid

Many girls with acne-prone skin are familiar with this ingredient. Salicylic acid is one of the common ingredients in acid peeling. Salicylic acid will cause water loss, which is why you need to replenish water in time after acid peeling, otherwise your skin will seriously break out. Don’t be surprised to see it in lipstick; salicylic acid softens and exfoliates the stratum corneum, allowing dead skin to fall off quickly. But the skin on our lips is so thin that frequent and long-term use of lipstick containing salicylic acid will definitely cause damage.

2. Mineral oil, mineral wax, microcrystalline wax

Another possible reason why lip balm becomes drier the more you use it is that it contains mineral oil and mineral wax. If your skin is very oily and your face is covered with oil, your skin will think that your epidermis is already so oily that it doesn't need to secrete oil anymore. It will actively slack off for a while, and your skin will slowly reduce the secretion of oil and slowly become neutral or dry, and the same goes for your lips. Mineral oil, mineral wax, and microcrystalline wax are particularly good at sealing effects. If you put them all on your lips, your lips will feel that there is enough oil and no longer need to secrete. Long-term use of lip balm containing ingredients such as mineral oil and mineral wax will also reduce your lips' ability to retain moisture.

3. Camphor, menthol

Menthol promotes water evaporation, while camphor is toxic and should not be used excessively. But these two are common in the ingredient list of lipstick, because adding them to lipstick will make your mouth feel cool. When you happily think that the lipstick is working, the protective layer of your lips has actually been damaged and is slowly falling off.

Lips should also be exfoliated and cared for regularly

If your lips peel after applying lip balm, it is most likely because the stratum corneum of the lips is too thick. When the stratum corneum is too thick, the skin cannot absorb moisture and nutrients from the outside world and will become dry and dehydrated. In severe cases, peeling will occur, which is what people often call dead skin. It is recommended to use lip exfoliating cream regularly. Please note that it must be a special lip exfoliating product. Lips are relatively soft and require more gentle products. The frequency of use of lip exfoliating products is about once a week.

Lips, like face, also need regular care. We can use some lip care products to help lips restore their moisture. There are facial masks for the face and lip masks for the lips. You can use lip masks regularly 2-3 times a week to replenish moisture and nutrients for your lips. Most lip masks have their own exfoliating function, which can not only remove dead skin but also replenish moisture and nutrients for the lips.