Chris is Curious: Is it really possible to be addicted to lip balm?
The Left Beauty Brain’s Lips Respond:
Fascinating question, Chris. And you can find an equally fascinating, but a little over-analyzed, discussion on the addictive properties of lip balm at Lip Balm Anonymous. The post is a bit outdated but we found it to be an interesting reference, nonetheless.
But the one argument that we did NOT see discussed was, in our opinion, the most scientifically valid one. It goes something like this:
Skin signals for new cells
Skin is a very complicated organ with multiple layers. The top layer, the stratum corneum, consists mainly of dead, dried up cells. As those cells die and flake off, they send a signal to a deeper layer skin (called the basal layer) to produce fresh skin cells. This is a very simplified description of the process called cellular turnover. (Contrary to what you might have thought, “cellular turnover” does NOT refer to switching your mobile phone plan.)
Lip balm slows down the signal
When you apply lip balm, you’re creating a barrier layer that prevents, or at least retards, the evaporation of moisture from the inner layers of skin. Since the top layer isn’t drying and flaking off as much, the basal layer never gets the signal to produce new cells.
Your skin has to catch up
But when you stop using the lip balm, all of a sudden your lips dry out and your basal layer has to hurry up and start producing new cells. But since your lips already feel dry again, you add more lip balm which once again tells the basal layer “hey, everything’s fine up here on the surface – we don’t need any more new skin cells.”
The cycle repeats
But of course, once that application of lip balm has worn off and there are no new plump, moist skin cells to replace the ones that are drying out, your lips feel dry again and you have to add more lip balm. Etc. etc. etc. Get the picture? That’s why you feel addicted to lip balm – you’ve “trained” you body to rely on it!
This theory provides a more scientific explanation for the mysterious Lip Balm Addiction; does it make sense for you lip balm users?
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omg i agree the chic below me.im like really addicted to lip gloss.is that a problem?
I had really good lips at one time and then it got bad and I started using lip balm and for years it just kept getting worse. I thought it was addictive chemicals in the ingredients at first but then I read more about it and found out it’s because balms do coat your lips just like this article says and by continually coating it they couldn’t heal. I recently found a product called Labbri Lip Treatment http://www.labbri.com which doesn’t coat your lips and instead absorbs into your lips so your lips can get moisturized and also heal. So far its been working great for me. It has all natural ingredients too.
I have an all natural lip balm give away on my site at the moment. It’s totally hand made by a very clever lady named Rachel. They come in the most delicious flavours too! White chocolate, blood orange, pomegranite and more.
Visit http://www.adelle.com.au for more details.
Just curious, since this was a sensible, very good article but I couldn’t figure this out: how do dead skin cells send signals?
@Tania – chemicals released by the dead skin cells go through the epidermal layer and affect cells in the lower layers of the skin.
Help–I am completely addicted to petrolatum-based balms and have been for years. I can’t wear any lipstick, my lips immediately dry out and crack, even if I wear a gloss OVER the petrolatum. So what do I do now? Quit cold turkey? How long would it take for my lips to re-learn to moisturize themselves?
Then what do I do when my lips feel dry?
I love lip gloss. This girl use to be in my class she sell homemade lip gloss on ebay. I tried once and it really works. This kind of lip gloss is even better than Maybelline and Loreal. She did have a funny name for the lip gloss. She called it 4S = Soft, Smooth, Shiney and Sexy.
I love lip gloss! I always buy them even if I don’t use it all the time except during cold weather when my lips get chapped. Love the article you posted, too!! Very informative and interesting.
“I will forward this page to my wife…she’s crazy about lip balms and lanolips
thanks for posting this =)”
It’s nice to kiss somebody’s lips if she or he use lip gloss.
I know this has been a while so I’m not sure anyone will respond to this, but I have the same question as Lip Balm Addict. If lip balm slows down the signal to the basal layer, how long does it take to bring it back up to speed if you stop using lip balm?
How do you heal over moisturized lips? Do you give your lips a break from lip balm?
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