Lip Gloss - Have you ever felt dryness after applying lip gloss?

Introduction

Lip Gloss is an indispensable item in all our purses and bags that allow our lips to glow and shine. However, have you ever felt your lips dry up when you put your lip gloss on? How come lip ‘gloss’ that should make our lips feel moist causes our lips to be dehydrated? 

Our lips

Our lips are much thinner than other parts of our body and don’t have a hydrophilic* layer that protects them. So, we purchase products such as lip gloss to hydrate and soothe our lips. However, since our lips are one of the most sensitive parts of our body, they are more likely to react when coming in contact with certain ingredients.[1] This means that if the composition of that lip gloss does not suit your lips, it will cause irritations, leading to lips that chap and peel off. Since we usually apply lip gloss directly on our lips, we should take extra care when choosing which lip gloss to use; otherwise, our lips will dry and flake easily. 

*Hydrophilic means it is capable of interacting with water through hydrogen bonding

What causes the dryness?

Lip irritation could be caused by chemicals added when flavouring, fragrances, and artificial colours are mixed into lip glosses. The cheaper the product, the more likely it is to contain highly allergenic ingredients and low-quality chemicals. 

Other than general chemicals added in low-end products, specific ingredients of lip gloss that you should avoid include camphor(C10H16O), menthol(C10H20O) and phenol(C6H6O). These three ingredients are often added to lip glosses during production as they have the same effects as anaesthesia. Many products contain at least two of these three ingredients.[5] However, if you purchase a lip gloss containing all three of these agents, it can harm your lips. So, check the labels carefully before purchasing your next gloss.

What should you do to keep your lips hydrated?

To maximise hydration on your lips, you should look for ingredients that will help trap water in the skin while keeping it moisturised for extended periods of time. Such ingredients include beeswax, olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. [2]

Moreover, applying a small amount of lip balm before applying gloss on top would create a protective barrier for your lips, allowing your lips to stay glossy for longer![3]

1. Does Organic Lip Gloss Really Dry Out Your Lips ? (n.d.). Zorah biocosmétiques. Retrieved November 4, 2023, from https://zorah.ca/blogs/infos/does-organic-lip-gloss-really-dry-out-your-lips

2. Stessman, E. (2023, March 8). Does your lip balm make your lips more chapped? Here's why. The Today Show. Retrieved November 4, 2023, from https://www.today.com/shop/lip-balm-chapped-lips-t280784

3. Daniels, G. (2023, January 10). The Glossy Truth: Is Lip Gloss Good For Your Lips? Gemma Etc. Retrieved November 4, 2023, from https://www.gemmaetc.com/2023/01/is-lip-gloss-good-for-your-lips.html

4. Chapped lips? Some ingredients may be drying them out, making it worse. (2021, December 8). USA Today. Retrieved November 4, 2023, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/12/08/chapped-lips-some-ingredients-may-drying-them-out-making-worse/6415544001/

de Simone, E. M. (1997). Preventing lip problems. Journal of Modern Pharmacy, 4(8), 24.