Natural Lip Treatments and Lip Balms

Natural lip treatments and lip balms

As a teenager, I used to scoff at my Moms ‘lotions and potions’ as I called them at the time, petroleum jelly was just fine as lip balm, thank you very much! Besides, one could use it for so many other things such as softening ones cuticles and keeping stray eyebrow hairs in place. Now, with the knowledge that age and experience so kindly bestows upon us, I have realised that making lip balms out of beeswax may be time consuming but it is by far the friendlier option, for ourselves, and for the environment!

Just in case you are not aware as to why it is preferable to use non petroleum jelly based balms here are some points to remember about petroleum jelly (also known as paraffin, petrolatum or mineral oil):

-          It is a NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE.

-          It may contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may be cancer-causing agents.

-          Using petroleum jelly on your lips, makes it more likely that you ingest it when you lick your lips or eat.

However, we are not all kitchen goddesses like my Mother and even if we were, we don’t always have the time to spend making all our products ourselves! Luckily for us, South Africa now has a whole host of companies which offer natural and organic products, below follow the top 3 of my favourites for lip treatments and balms. (There are many international companies which have products available in South Africa, but here, I wish to focus on local companies only.)

1 - Mother Nature Products

The Mother Nature Products ‘Mother and Baby Barrier Balm’ probably wasn’t designed as a lip balm but since I received a jar of this as an author gift some time ago, it has become one of my favourite lip formulations. I have even used it as a night cream on occasion, when finding myself without my usual products. This is definitely my favourite for a Winter lip balm and as it only takes about two applications a day to ensure lovely soft lips, a jar really does go a long way!

Find out more by visiting: www.mothernatureproducts.co.za

2 – Mioja

Mioja’s Cardomom and Orange lip treatment, forms part of their Orange range which is formulated to energise and enliven the skin, promoting circulation and the oxygenation of cells. The stimulating qualities of Miöja’s Orange Range inspire creativity, enthusiasm and focus and this lip balm delivers just as highly as the rest of their products. Especially great for those who love the outdoors! Find out more about Mioja here:  www.shoporganic.co.za/mioja

3 – Sudbury Hill

Another author gift (aren’t I one lucky lass?!), Sudbury Hill were unknown to me until I received their products and I definitely feel they should be mentioned! Their Sudbury Hill Honey Lip Balm has a lovely light fragrance and subtle honey taste as well as a slight tingling sensation once applied on the lips. This balm feels light but acts as a good barrier for winter air and lips feel enlivened and according to my husband, quite kissable!

Find out more by visiting: www.sudburyhill.co.za

Companies such as Mai Co, Just Pure, Esse , Hemporium and Victorian Garden, all do their very best to ensure that South African consumers are able to make  organic and eco-friendly  choices when buying cosmetics and body care products, help this industry to grow by supporting them whenever you can! Find out more about any of these companies here: www.shoporganic.co.za/cosmetics-a-body-care

By Lela Rabie