For years, many people have been caught in a cycle: apply lip balm → lips feel dry again → reapply → still dry. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I need to reapply this stuff 20 times a day?” you’re not alone.
What most people don’t realize is this: Many major lip balm brands use ingredients that actually dry out your lips over time.
And the biggest culprit? Highly processed seed oils and petroleum-based fillers.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what these ingredients really do, why companies continue to use them, and what your lips actually need to stay soft, hydrated, and healthy.
Why Seed Oils Don’t Belong on Your Lips
Seed oils — like sunflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, and grapeseed oil are extremely common in commercial balms.
At first glance, they sound natural. But the seed oils used in skincare are often:
- Chemically refined
- Stripped of their natural antioxidants
- Heat-processed
- Oxidized before they even touch your skin
When oxidized oils sit on your lips, they:
1. Break down your moisture barrier
They don’t mimic your skin’s natural oils, so they sit on top rather than nourish. Over time, this weakens the protective barrier your lips need to stay hydrated.
2. Cause the “addiction cycle.”
Your lips feel moisturized for a few minutes… then suddenly dry, flaky, and tight again.
So you reapply. And reapply. And reapply.
3. Increase sensitivity and inflammation
Oxidized oils can trigger irritation, especially for people dealing with:
- Dry, chapped lips that never seem to heal
- Eczema around the mouth
- Perioral dermatitis
- Flaking or peeling
If you’ve ever felt like you needed lip balm way more often than you should, this is usually why.
The Other Drying Agents Hiding in Lip Balm
Seed oils aren’t the only issue. Most mainstream balms also rely on other ingredients that work against your skin.
Petroleum Jelly & Mineral Oil
These ingredients act like plastic wrap covering the lips but not nourishing them. When that temporary film wears off, the dryness returns, and you’re left reaching for more product.
Synthetic Fragrances & Flavors
Anything labeled “flavor” or “fragrance” can contain dozens of hidden chemicals. These can:
- Irritate the delicate skin on your lips
- Dehydrate and inflame the area
- Make you lick your lips more, which dries them out even further
Drying Alcohols
Many balms include alcohols to stabilize the formula. These evaporate quickly and can take your natural moisture with them, leaving lips tight and uncomfortable.
Seed-Oil–Derived Waxes
Often labeled as “vegetable wax” or “plant wax,” these are highly processed and add very little nourishment. They create slip and texture but don’t support the long-term health of your lips.
Why These Companies Keep Using Seed Oils (Even Though They Dry Out Your Skin)
The truth is simple:
They profit when your lips stay dry.
If your lips stayed moisturized all day, you’d use far less product. But if your balm wears off quickly and leaves your lips tight and cracked, you’ll buy more and apply more.
- Seed oils are cheap
- Petroleum is even cheaper
- Synthetic flavors are very inexpensive
- These formulas create a cycle of dependence
What Your Lips Actually Need: Whole, Unprocessed Fats
Your lips have no oil glands. They rely 100% on external nourishment.
What your lips absorb best are bioavailable, natural fats, such as:
Beef Tallow (rich in vitamins A, D, K & E)
- Deeply penetrates
- Repairs the barrier
- Supports healing
- Moisturizes long-term
Beeswax
Creates a breathable moisture seal not the suffocating film of petroleum.
Jojoba Oil
Mimics natural skin oils and prevents water loss.
Cold-Pressed Castor Oil
Hydrating, antimicrobial, and irritation-free.
Why Tallow Balms Actually Heal Instead of Dry Out
- Anti-inflammatory
- Vitamin-rich
- Barrier-repairing
- Stable and non-oxidizing
Tallow nourishes instead of coating your lips.
The Bottom Line: Your Lip Balm Should Heal, Not Harm
If you're constantly battling dry lips, there’s a high chance the issue isn’t your hydration or the weather it’s the lip balm you’ve been using.
Big brands rely on seed oils, petroleum, fragrances, and fillers that create a cycle of reapplication. Natural ingredients like tallow, beeswax, jojoba, and cold-pressed oils actually repair and nourish.
This is why we created our tallow-based balms at Maloney Healing Remedies — No seed oils. No fillers. No harsh chemicals.
You can shop our nutrient-rich, barrier-restoring lip balm here:
👉 Citrus Glow Tallow Lip Balm