Sunshining Days

If you are like me, a  lip balm loving girl, you have probably tried many different brands and probably have few favorites. But , have you ever read the ingredients... Just what makes that smooth balm? What exactly makes it "long lasting"? Have you've wondered why you need to apply more after a hour or so? And why in the world do your lips feel drier and more chapped?

Here are a few possibilities:

Your favorite lip balm may contain a form of alcohol. Okay, what's wrong with that, you may ask. Alcohol dries fast. After applying lip balm that contains alcohol, it evaporates leaving your lips drier than before, thus the need to reapply!

For those "healing" balms, the ones that claim to help remove dry skin from your lips. If it contains salicylic acid, though it does help remove your dry skin from your lips, it also dries out your lips and your lips continue to peel. Ummm...  No thanks!

 You may have heard when all else fails, use petroleum jelly. Now, what exactly is petroleum jelly? Petroleum jelly is made by the waxy petroleum material that formed on oil rigs and distilling it. So, basically, it is a refined product of crude oil ( kinda like the stuff we put in our cars) that eventually becomes gasoline! What?!

Have you ever had gas on your hands? I have. After awhile I noticed that my hands felt really soft. Yes, petroleum does help with making your skin softer, but is it something that you want to be putting on your body?

Umm, not really! Personally, I don't want to put anything on my body that I wouldn't put in it!

So for an alternative that works just as we'll and even better than petroleum jelly, COCONUT OIL! 

Coconut oil is like the name says is an oil! It stays on your lips for a while ( no need to reapply) it is a great moisturizer and though it doesn't pertain to lip balm, you can eat coconut oil.

An added bonus... It gives your lips a little bit gloss!! 

So next time you reach for your lip balm...again... Turn it over and read the ingredients. Are you sure you want to put that on your lips??