A common question: Can you get addicted to lip balm?
According to the dermatologists we spoke with: Not really. If you find yourself reaching for lip balm constantly, it’s probably out of habit. Is it a true addiction? Not in the sense that there's a chemical dependency on it.
A board-certified dermatologist compared overuse of lip balm to other common behaviors: "Some people scratch the back of their head. Some people pick at their nails." But again, there's no evidence that lip balm is chemically addictive or causes withdrawal symptoms if you stop.
If your balm isn’t working, or if it’s irritating you, try switching formulas.
Although there’s no single ingredient that always causes irritation, try avoiding lip balm that has menthol & camphor. Any kind of added flavor or fragrance has the potential to irritate some people.
If that’s you, we recommend the Glossier Balm Dotcom in Original; or, for SPF protection, try the Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment, which panelists have loved in previous iterations of this guide, though it smelled less than ideal to testers this time around nytimes.com/wirecutter/rev…
You can also try exfoliating your lips; just be gentle & don’t do it too often, as lips are particularly sensitive. (Some dermatologists advise against lip exfoliation entirely.)
You can buy/make a lip scrub or use a soft toothbrush—just not the same one you use on your teeth
TL;DR:
No, lip balm addiction is not a real thing, but your lips can react poorly to some ingredients. Our recs: nytimes.com/wirecutter/rev…
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