Lip balms – ingredient lists and INCI analysis

Lip balms are care products for the lips, applied as often as needed throughout the day. They come as firm sticks, softer balms in pots, and creamy or ointment-like textures in tubes. Some are tinted, some contain UV filters for outdoor use, and many are flavoured. Their job is mainly to form a protective, softening layer on the lips.

Most lip balms are anhydrous. Waxes such as CERA ALBA, CANDELILLA CERA or COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA give structure, while softer ingredients like PETROLATUM, LANOLIN, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER, THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER and plant oils provide the slip. Ointment-type balms in tubes may be built largely on PETROLATUM or plant-based alternatives, sometimes with PANTHENOL or DIMETHICONE.

Lip balms with an SPF contain UV filters, which must be among those listed in Annex VI of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, for example ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE or ZINC OXIDE. Flavour is declared as AROMA, and individual flavouring substances such as MENTHOL or VANILLIN may be named. Tinted balms add colourants by CI number.

Since there is usually no water, many lip balms contain no classic preservative; antioxidants like TOCOPHEROL slow the oxidation of oils. Readers who prefer to avoid particular materials, such as lanolin, beeswax or mineral oils, can check for them directly in the INCI list, where each appears under its standard name.