What Happens to Your Lips When You Use Lip Balm Too Often

A woman in the USA got a $200 fine for applying lip balm at a red light. We’re writing this while applying our lip balm for the fifth time today, and it’s not even time for brunch yet. Some of us might be using lip balm daily without even knowing what the effects of lip balm over-use can have on our lips.

Bright Side compiled a list of things that happen when we use lip balm too often. As a bonus, we’ve added a nice DIY recipe you can easily make at home.

1. Your lips might become even drier.

According to dermatologists, lip balms contain ingredients that can irritate or over-exfoliate our lips. These are things like phenol, camphor, menthol, fragrances, flavorings, salicylic acid, and vitamin E. For example, a study concluded that 33% of patients developed contact dermatitis from vitamin E.

2. It may lead to irritation around your lips.

Specialists confirm that we should apply lip balm no more than 3 times a day. Upon waking up, after eating/drinking, and right before sleeping. If you’re over-using your lip balm, you might experience irritation or small spots might appear around your lip area.

3. Your lips might become lazy.

Some lip balm formulas create an artificial barrier to lock in moisture, causing your lips to work less in order to maintain their own hydration levels.

4. The act of putting on lip balm becomes addictive.

While some may say they are addicted to lip balm, OCD Action Director Joel Rose says that is not possible. We can’t be addicted to lip balm. Instead, we become addicted to the soothing mechanism we get from using our lip balm.

Bonus: DIY recipe for lanolin-based lip balm

If you want to find the best lip balm AND save money, why not make it yourself? Follow this DIY lanolin-based recipe that you can make for yourself and your friends. You will need:

• 1 tbsp shea butter
• 1.5 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp beeswax
• 1 tsp lanolin
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Melt coconut oil, beeswax, and lanolin in a bowl over a pan of water. Slowly stir as it melts. Once it’s melted, remove it from the heat. Add shea butter and honey. Stir as it melts. Add lavender essential oil (this is optional) and stir. Pour lanolin lip balm into pots or tubes and let it harden.

Final step: Enjoy your homemade lip balm!

How often do you use your lip balm? Have you noticed any signs of lip balm addiction?