Common ingredients in Lip Balm
What shows up on lip balm labels, why brands use it and how it's regulated, in plain English.
27 ingredients you may see in lip balm
Artificial Colors
Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum or coal tar, used to give cosmetics vivid colors.
Benzophenone
A group of aromatic ketones used as UV filters, fragrance ingredients, and UV stabilizers in cosmetics and packaging.
Camphor
A waxy, aromatic compound used in lip balms and medicated products for its cooling sensation and mild analgesic properties.
Dimethicone
A silicone-based polymer widely used in cosmetics and skincare for its smoothing, water-repellent properties.
EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)
A chelating agent used in cosmetics to bind metal ions that would otherwise degrade the product or reduce preservative effectiveness.
Lanolin
A natural waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to waterproof their wool.
Menthol
An organic compound derived from mint or synthesized artificially.
Mineral Oil
A colorless, odorless oil derived from petroleum distillation.
Octinoxate
A chemical UV filter used in sunscreens and SPF cosmetics.
Octisalate
Octisalate is an ingredient used in cosmetics such as lip balm.
Oxybenzone
A chemical UV filter found in many sunscreens and SPF-containing cosmetics.
Palm Oil
An edible vegetable oil derived from the fruit of oil palms.
Parabens
A class of synthetic preservatives used to prevent microbial growth in cosmetics and personal care products.
Paraffin Wax
A white or colorless soft solid wax derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale.
Petroleum / Petrolatum
A semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum refining.
Phenol
A caustic organic compound used in some lip products as an exfoliant and antiseptic.
Phenoxyethanol
A glycol ether used as a preservative in cosmetics, often marketed as a 'safer' alternative to parabens.
Polybutene
A synthetic polymer derived from petroleum, used as a thickener, binder, and viscosity-increasing agent in lip glosses, lipsticks, and other cosmetics.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG Compounds)
A family of petroleum-derived compounds used as emulsifiers, thickeners, solvents, and penetration enhancers.
Propylene Glycol
A synthetic liquid used as a humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer in cosmetics.
Retinyl Palmitate
A form of vitamin A (retinol ester) used in sunscreens, anti-aging creams, and moisturizers.
Salicylic Acid
A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) used for its exfoliating and anti-acne properties.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
An ethoxylated surfactant closely related to SLS but milder.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
A powerful anionic surfactant derived from coconut or palm kernel oil, then chemically processed.
Synthetic Dyes (FD&C in Lip Products)
Petroleum-derived or coal tar-derived synthetic colorants specifically used in lip products, where they are regularly ingested.
Synthetic Fragrance
An umbrella term that can hide hundreds of undisclosed chemicals.
Titanium Dioxide (Nanoparticle Form)
Titanium dioxide in nanoparticle form (<100nm) used in sunscreens to eliminate the white cast of traditional mineral sunscreens.
