Fashion

Why Petroleum-Based Lip Balms Could Be Harmful

by Lindsey Rose Black

Jan. 12, 2016

Reaching for lip balm when your lips are chapped from the winter cold seems like a no brainer, but what's in your lip balm could ultimately cause more harm than good. If you've ever wondered whether petroleum-based lip balms could be hurting you, I've got the answer. (I've also rounded up some epic alternatives to try instead.) While you ultimately have to decide for yourself what you feel comfortable putting on your body, it's wise to be aware of the potential risks involved.

As harmless and "normal" as it might seem, petroleum jelly and mineral oil, which are derived from oil refining, can possibly be contaminated with carcinogens called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and 1,4-dioxane. The EWG noted 1,4-dioxane, which the "EPA classifies as a probable human carcinogen and the National Toxicology Program considers a known animal carcinogen," frequently contaminates "common petroleum-based cosmetic ingredients." EWG acknowledged that "companies can easily remove it from ingredients during manufacture, [but] tests documenting its common presence in products show that they often don't, leaving their customers at risk for potential chronic and widespread exposures to this cancer-causing compound."

However, not all doctors agree caution is necessary. Andrew Weil, M.D., shared on his blog, "Because petrolatum is derived from oil, it needs to be refined, and some refining methods use toxic compounds. One class of these refining agents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH'S, have been linked to cancer. Any traces of these are removed at the end of the refining process."

My personal verdict? I will use 100 percent Vaseline on occasion, but prefer eco-friendly petroleum-free alternatives for health and environmental reasons.

The choice is yours, and below are my favorite alternative petroleum-free picks to fight chapped lips if you're interested!