Dry Lips? Your Toothpaste Might Be The Culprit



what do do about dry lips


    Many conventional toothpaste contains an ingredient that is very harsh for the skin: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, sometimes abbreviated to SLS. This surfactant is so harsh and stripping that it is the main component of dish-washing detergents and is used to clean machinery. It causes a host of problems in the skin, and is very harsh on the delicate skin on the lips.
   Check your toothpaste ingredients for SLS; or the related chemical Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and other sulfates. All certified natural toothpaste is SLS-free, but you might also be able to find some conventional ones too. Sulfate-free toothpaste will not foam, but it cleans just as well. Bubbles are nothing more than a special effect.
   Peppermint, menthol, camphor and similar can also be irritating for the lips in the winter, so you might want to choose toothpaste and lip balms without these ingredients. Personally I find that lip balms based on beeswax or shea butter work really well for me.
   Finally, I find that I always get dry lips during the cold months if I have not been drinking enough water!

    Do you struggle with dry, chapped lips? What triggers it? What are your favourite lip balms?

Photo credit: Anna Sastre

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