Lip Balm – 12 Creative Uses You Never Thought Of
Tried and true lip balm. No need to reinvent this perfect little jar of satisfaction, right? A little beeswax, some coconut oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, and the scent that gives you a lift every time you unscrew the lid. Scoop some on your finger, where it warms slightly, and the comforting smell of rosemary mint or lemon vanilla or sweet orange comes wafting up. Happiness in a container small enough to take anywhere. It’s the one product you reach for several times a day without fail.
What if it was for more than your lips? There are so many reasons that lip balm is a versatile powerhouse of ingredients, especially when the weather is cold and skin is dry and rougher than usual. And when you are not home or near your tin of our healing hand salve. Here are 12 clever ways to up the usefulness of lip balm:
1. Eczema? Rub a little onto those rough, itchy patches to calm things down a little and soothe the irritation. The ingredients help lock in moisture, which is essential in helping to treat eczema.
2. Dab a little onto your cuticles and massage it in as the balm warms and melts, especially before bed. They’ll be soft and pliable when you wake up!
3. Cracked fingertips during winter (does everyone have this? Without fail, my right thumb, every cold season): frequently cover the cracked area with a nice thick layer, to seal in moisture and protect the area. (I also cover with a bandaid before bedtime to let the additional warmth help the healing along).
4. Works wonderfully as a hand lotion substitute. Swipe some balm on really dry patches. Rub hands together to warm it up and make it more spreadable. Absorbs quickly.
5. Rough heels can be vexing, especially during sandal season. Rub it in, put on a pair of thin socks and let the beeswax, coconut oil, and other healing ingredients do the work overnight.
6. Dab along your cheekbones later in the day to shine up dull skin and look especially glowy.
7. Tap a little around your eyes to hydrate and minimize fine lines (high beeswax formulas may be too thick for this, although warming it can be helpful, and some clients swear by it. Although I think Marula oil is better suited for this task, lip balm is fine in a pinch).
8. Smooth a little onto wayward brow hairs to encourage them to stay in place. Brow wax!
9. Have a baby with diaper rash? Smooth a little balm onto the areas of redness on their bottoms, and voila! Protection and skin-soothing ingredients, all in one.
10. Tame flyaway hairs by using a tiny bit of lip balm as a pomade. Warm it in your hands first! (some customers/local hairstylists are devoted to Marula oil for this)
11. When you have allergies or a drippy nose and there’s no organic Herbal Decongestant Salve around, apply some lip balm after you use a tissue, to protect the skin from getting all red and irritated.
12. Put some on a Q-tip to clean up smudged eye makeup (avoid the minty kind, though). Be gentle on fragile skin around eyes.
Send us your favorite “off-label” uses of lip balm! We want to hear everything. :-)