7 Ingredients to Avoid

You may have cleaned up your skin care or body care routine, but have you thought about your lips? Your lips are ultra-absorbent and sensitive, so you need to be mindful of the products you're swiping across them. Not all lip balms are made the same, which is why we've come up with a list of harmful things to avoid when you make your next lip balm purchase.

1. Alcohol –

Alcohol is a drying ingredient that will zap the moisture from your lips. Alcohol in ingredient lists can look like "Denatured Ethanol" or "Isopropyl Alcohol".

2. Menthol and Phenol –

While these ingredients are intended to give the user a cooling effect, they actually are super drying and can cause chapped lips. Choose a product that uses peppermint or spearmint essential oil instead - like our Peppermint Mongo Kiss or Bee Free Sweet Mint.

3. Artificial Pigments –

Some pigments are derived from coal tar that can cause nausea, headaches, and lead to skin irritation. Up to 25 synthetic additives are needed to create one artificial dye! Avoid products with "colorant" listed. Here are some examples: 

• D&C Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) (E133)
• FD&C Green No. 3 (Fast Green FCF)
• FD&C Red No. 3 (Erythrosine) (E127)
• FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow) 

4. Ingredients You Can’t Pronounce –

These type of ingredients indicate high levels of artificial and chemical make up. Some brands, like Eco Lips, use the botanical name for ingredients. For example, sunflower oil is Helianthus Annuus. Once you are familiarized with the botanical names of safe ingredients, this won't seem as daunting!

5. Carmine –

This is typically found in lip sticks, it is also known cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, and natural red 4. It is a pigment produced from the scale insect cochineal aka beetles! Eco Lips Vegan Tints never contain this controversial ingredient. 

6. Parabens –

Parabens are groups of chemicals used as artificial preservatives. Parabens can make the skin barrier become brittle, cracked and dry. Studies have linked high doses of parabens to hormone dysfunction and contact dermatitis. Look out for ingredients such as "methylparaben" and "butylparaben (BHA)".

7. Petrolatum (petroleum jelly or mineral oil) –

Also known as petroleum jelly, petrolatum is not a breathable substance and will block your lips from getting the oxygen they need. Rest assured, Eco Lips balms never contain this ingredient.

Put your lip health first and avoid these harmful ingredients.