Drop That Chapstick and Pay Attention: Lip Balms

Until recently I just bought Chapstick or Lip Smackers by Bonne Bell. I'm a lip balm addict and have been for years. Then I learned that most of these name brands use petroleum products as a main ingredient. How gross is that? I mean I never realized that that is what was in a product I use 10 times a day. I have been putting that into my body. Even Sephora has petrolatum as the first ingredient on their Lip Butter..and I just bought a 3 pack back in December!!! UGGH!

Don't fret my friends. I have learned much from my e-tailer friends and I'm here to help. There are plenty, and I mean plenty of Indie Etailers all over the place who make all natural lip balm/lip gloss products. And, in just about every flavor you could possible imagine. I currently have a great stash in chocolate mint, peppermint, bubble gum, green tea, cinnamon bun, Tequila Sunrise and a bunch more. A few I got in sampler boxes like The Lemming Central Sampler and The Crafty Cube and some I just went searching for and bought.

Here's a list of ingredients that I got off all of the labels. This doesn't reflect just one but all of them so there's going to be different combinations for different makers. They all have their own recipe and use different ingredients.but you can see what you're getting is good for you.

Olive Oil
Beeswax (seems to be the base for a majority)
Vitamin E (in many of them)
Sweet Almond Oil
Shea Butter
Cocoa Butter (in a few)
Coconut Oil
Mango Butter
Castor Oil
Meadowfoam Seed Oil
Sweetener
Natural Flavoring or just "flavoring"

See what's missing: petrolatum or white petrolum!

Now some of them may seem expensive when you go shopping. The average seems to be $2.50 per stick or $3 for a pot (I prefer the stick but the pots are ok, like I'm gonna turn down good lip balm sheesh). MOst of the ones I have bought personally, I got 3 for one price which was ok. But you have to consider what you are putting onto and into your body. I know you can buy a Chapstick for 99 cents at Target..but in the long run you might want to spend a little to keep those chemicals out of your body!

Here's a list of stores I know that sell Lip Balm. The ones with the "*" by them I have personally tried. You can also search on etsy.com for "lip balm" and I'm sure you'll be up to your eyeballs in lip balm choices! Happy balming!

http://www.fosterscreations.com *

http://www.flourcitybakery.com *

http://www.mi-spa.com*

http://www.inkristinesshower.com (Lava Gloss) *

http://www.madgabs.com*

http://www.thornappleridgesoaps.com*

http://www.sbsteas.com

http://www.gudonya.etsy.com* (Bubble Gum, good flavor!)

http://www.martinsvilleemporium.etsy.com * (good but needs stronger flavor)

http://www.baglunchco.com

There are probably many many many more out there. Like I said, search on etsy and I'm sure you'll get a days worth of searching.