Whether it’s the crisp morning of fall or harsh cold morning of winter. Using woolens to protect oneself from the cold weather or using moisturizers or body butter against the dry weather is a religion followed faithfully across the globe.
One such ritual is applying lip balm incessantly to give instant relief to chapped lips. Do you too apply and reapply lip balm multiple times within few hours? Do you feel incomplete if you leave your house without the lip-balm-kissed-smile and your favourite lip balm? Do you feel that you are suffering from OCD if you fail to locate your favourite lip balm within an arm’s reach at an office or a get together?
Then you are not alone. The increasing loyalty by men and women towards lip balm and other lip care products is driving big sales for this product which was considered a throwaway item few years back. For instance, lip cosmetics sales in USA are poised to reach nearly $1.4 billion this year, of which lip balm has the highest overall penetration with 60% of women using it, followed by 58% of women using lipsticks. Back home in India, lip products market which is pegged at over Rs. 1200 crore is slated to grow at value CAGR of 16% till the end of next year. Branded lip balm is one of the key drivers of growth in this segment.
There are a lot of people who have a close relationship with lip balms that invariably provide kissable, soft pouts, besides soothing the dry lips. Applying lip balm is a habit in fall and winter when cold weather makes lips dry and chapped. A seasonal staple, there is no denying that lip balm has penetrated into the daily lifestyle routine now. What it means that lip balms or chapsticks have joined the range of keychains, wallet and smart phones that everyone checks before leaving one’s house.
For some compulsive ones amongst us, lip balm is something they are hooked onto.
So does that make you a lip balm addict? According to Dermatologist Dr. Naresh Jain at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, compulsive usage of lip balm has increased as lip balm tends to provide instant relief from dryness. ‘Our lips do not have oil glands and tend to dry very easily. An immediate application of the lip balm provides instant relief from that irritation. However, chemicals in lip balm can slow down your lip’s production of natural oil, leaving your lips drier. This dryness-balm application-dryness cycle could lead to lip balm addiction.’ As per the dermatologist, lips are capable of repairing themselves and maintaining its hydration. However, certain chemicals in certain lip balms cause the problem of dryness rather than solving it and people become addicted to the repeated usage of lip balm application.
So if they are doing more harm than good, why do we keep using them?
Lip balm ‘addiction’ has become a common thing now. Rehydrating cells by way of lip balm is soothing and convenient. Moreover, the look and flavor of lip balms these days make them irresistible. In short, lip balm is a quick and an easy way to put an end to flaky lips in dry weather.
Winter is a tough time for lips. Moisturizing lips becomes essential in winter. Lip balm application, however annoying it is, is a habit that people find difficult to let go of.
Though expert suggests that the best way to fight this harmless habit is as simple as resisting licking lips and adding enough intake of water to your daily diet.
Look for lip balms, lip butter, lip creams or lip care products that are chemical free. In addition to this, the best way is also to use petroleum jelly like Vaseline which is preservatives, additives and fragrance-free. Your lips will be kissable in no time.
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