Not all lip balms do the same thing. Some feel nice going on, then disappear five minutes later. Others actually help your lips feel better over time.
The difference usually isn’t the flavor or the packaging. It’s the ingredients.
A good lip balm is built to protect your lips, keep moisture where it belongs, and support skin that doesn’t have oil glands of its own. That takes the right mix of waxes, butters, and oils — not fillers or shortcuts.
At Lickerlips, we stick to all-natural ingredients. No petroleum. No artificial fillers. No long chemical names you have to Google. Just ingredients that have a track record of doing what lip balm is supposed to do.
Here’s what you should expect to see in a genuinely good lip balm, and why each one matters.
Beeswax: The Foundation
Beeswax gives lip balm its structure and its staying power. More importantly, it creates a breathable barrier that helps seal moisture in without suffocating the skin.
Unlike petroleum-based waxes, beeswax doesn’t just sit on top of your lips. It helps protect them from wind, cold, and dry air while still feeling light.
If a lip balm melts instantly or vanishes as soon as you step outside, there’s usually not enough of this doing its job.
Cocoa Butter: Long-Lasting Softness
Cocoa butter is rich and deeply moisturizing. It helps soften dry lips and slows down moisture loss, which matters if you deal with frequent chapping.
This is one of those ingredients that keeps working after you apply it. Your lips feel better later, not just in the moment.
Avocado Butter: Repair and Nourishment
Avocado butter is packed with fatty acids and antioxidants that support skin repair.
Since lips don’t produce oil naturally, they’re more prone to cracking and irritation. Avocado butter helps replace what’s missing, making it especially helpful for sensitive or overworked lips.
Mango Butter: Hydration Without Weight
Mango butter doesn’t get much attention, but it should. It hydrates without feeling heavy and helps improve the overall texture of your lips.
If you like a balm that feels smooth and comfortable instead of waxy or sticky, mango butter is part of why.
Kokum Butter: Firm, Clean Hydration
Kokum butter is lightweight, firm, and non-greasy. It helps heal cracked lips without clogging pores or leaving residue behind.
It also balances out richer ingredients, giving lip balm a cleaner, smoother finish.
Coconut Oil: Comfort and Glide
Coconut oil is well known for soothing dry skin, and lips are no exception. It helps calm irritation while providing quick hydration.
In lip balm, it also improves glide, making application feel smooth instead of draggy.
Olive Oil: Everyday Protection
Olive oil has been used in skin care for centuries because it works. It’s rich in antioxidants and healthy fats that help protect lips from environmental stress.
It also conditions the skin, helping lips stay soft and resilient over time.
Hempseed Oil: Calm and Balance
Hempseed oil is lightweight but effective. Its omega fatty acids support the skin barrier and help reduce dryness and irritation.
This is especially helpful if your lips tend to feel tight, inflamed, or reactive.
Jojoba Oil: Skin-Friendly Moisture
Jojoba oil closely resembles the skin’s natural oils, which is why it absorbs so easily.
Instead of sitting on the surface, it helps balance moisture and keep lips hydrated without feeling oily.
Castor Oil: Locking Moisture In
Castor oil is thicker than most oils, which makes it great at sealing in hydration. It also adds a natural shine without stickiness.
This ingredient helps keep lips comfortable longer between applications.
Vitamin E Oil: Support and Stability
Vitamin E supports skin repair and helps protect lips from free radical damage. It also plays a role in keeping natural lip balms fresh without synthetic preservatives.
It’s one of those quiet ingredients doing more than you might realize.
Why All-Natural Ingredients Matter
A lip balm shouldn’t create dependency. If your lips feel worse the moment you stop using one, that’s usually a sign it’s covering up dryness instead of addressing it.
Natural ingredients tend to work with your skin rather than against it. When the formula is balanced and purposeful, your lips don’t just feel better temporarily — they actually improve.
That’s the idea behind how we make lip balm at Lickerlips. Every butter and oil has a role. Nothing is there just to fill space.
Knowing what’s in your lip balm matters. Your lips are sensitive, and they deserve more than mystery ingredients.