Lip balm or lip salve is a wax-like substance applied typically to the lips to moisturize and relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores. Lip balm often contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients. Some varieties contain dyes, flavor, fragrance, phenol, salicylic acid, and sunscreen.
Overview
The primary purpose of lip balm is to provide an occlusive layer on the lip surface to seal moisture in lips and protect them from external exposure. Dry air, cold temperatures, and wind all have a drying effect on skin by drawing moisture away from the body. Lips are particularly vulnerable because the skin is so thin, and thus they are often the first to present signs of dryness. Occlusive materials like waxes and petroleum jelly prevent moisture loss and maintain lip comfort while flavorings, colorants, sunscreens, and various medicaments can provide additional, specific benefits. Lip balms are produced from bee wax and natural candelilla and carnauba waxes.
Lip balm can be applied by a finger to the lips, or in a lipstick-style tube from which it can be applied directly.
In 2022, the global lip balm market was valued at US$732.76 mln. The market is predicted to grow at a rate of 9.28% within the next five years and is likely to reach US$1247.74 mln by 2027.
Types of lip balms
The lip balms are divided into different types by their ingredients: UV filter lip balm. This type of lip balm can be applied all the year round, especially in summer or when staying in a place with an increased solar activity (e.g. mountain ski resorts). Nourishing lip balm. This type works best in winter. Moisturizing lip balm. If you apply this lip balm in winter, your lips can be cracked because the balm is too quick to be absorbed. This type of lip balm is good for dry lips. Moisturizing lip balm can be worn year round. Medicated lip balm. It should be applied with care. It acts as a softening and antiseptic medication. Tinted lip balm. You can wear tinted lip balm year round.
Production
Production for lip balms includes the following stages: Raw materials are checked for its quality (cosmetic products must comply with strict safety standards) The ingredients are dosed, melted, and mixed (this stage involves special equipment) This mixture is treated in a vacuum to remove bubbles The mixture is crystallized for about 48 hours The mixture is then remelted The mixture is cut into pieces which are shaped as required The lip balm is packaged into a casing
History
Early lip balms
Since 40 BC, the Egyptians made treatment for lip care, which was made with a mixture of beeswax, olive oil, and animal fat.
United States
In the 1800s, Lydia Maria Child recommended earwax as a treatment for cracked lips in her highly-popular book, Child observed that, "Those who are troubled with cracked lips have found this earwax remedy successful when others have failed. It is one of those sorts of cures, which are very likely to be laughed at; but I know of its having produced very beneficial results." The invention of the lip balm was first formally invented in the 1880s by physician Charles Brown Fleet though its origins may be traced to earwax. Fleet later named his lip balm product "ChapStick".
In 1872, chemist Robert Chesebrough discovered and sampled a new petroleum jelly, initially describing it as a "natural, waxy ingredient, rich in minerals from deep within the earth" which could be used as a solution for skin repair. He then distributed his product under the name "Wonder Jelly" before shortly changing it to "Vaseline".
In the early 1880s, Charles Brown Fleet created ChapStick. However, due to the lack of sales, Fleet sold his formula and rights to ChapStick to John Morton in 1912 for $5, who saw the marketing potential in the brand. After making the purchase, Morton commissioned Frank Wright, Jr. to create a design for the logo of ChapStick for $15 in 1936. In 1972, ChapStick tubes concealing hidden microphones were used during the Watergate scandal.
In 1937, Alfred Woelbing created Carmex to treat cold sores in Milwaukee, though the occurrence of World War 2 would slow the production and sales due to the lack of lanolin. In 1980, Carmex underwent a product change by converting its packaging into squeezable tubes.