5 Myths About Lip Balm Debunked

One of the wonders of the internet is that, no matter the subject, there is a massive amount of information available to us. The problem is, we have to sift through it all to determine what’s true. The bigger problem is, too many people take information at face value without determining if it’s accurate.

You’ve probably seen all kinds of conspiracy theories about what’s in lip balm and why we love it so much. Read on to learn the top 5 rumors and what the real truth is.

1. No, cut glass is not intentionally placed into lip balm to keep consumers coming back for more. We all know some corporations that have done some underhanded stuff, but any company caught doing that would go out of business. Fast.
2. There’s an old urban legend that formaldehyde is a part of our favorite lip balms. Sorry, not even close.
3. The reason your lips get tingly with some lip balms is because some of them contain menthol and camphor. Some of us are allergic to those, which is why some people get lips that are a little extra sensitive.
4. Some people claim that lip balms with mineral oil or petroleum bases dry out the lips faster. Nope, and actually the reverse is true. Petroleum is an occlusive ingredient which not only seals in moisture, but is a good moisturizing agent.
5. Lip balm isn’t addictive. It’s more an issue of certain people being allergic to ingredients like beeswax, benzocaine, or lanolin. What’s actually happening is that the allergy can cause inflammation, which makes people think the lip balm needs to be reapplied more often.