Lip balms and chapsticks were all the rage in the 90s and they have continued to be used today. Have you ever used a lip balm in the morning and left it all day long? The answer to that is most likely to be no. If you are a lip-balm user, then you know you have to apply it at least multiple times during a single day. You have to question though if it really was moisturizing why do you need to apply it again and again?

Here is a list of a non-toxic best lip-balm substitute to keep your lips healthy.

Pure Lanolin

Lanolin is an excellent substitute for petroleum jelly based lip balms that have a lot of harmful additives. Lanolin is a substance that is derived from the oil secreted by the sheep’s wool- it’s a yellow wax/grease known for its soothing properties. Lanolin has been used since ancient times to soften and relieve dry, cracked and painful skin. It is an emollient, spreads easily on the skin and offers partial obstruction, thus offering hydration for your lips.

The good news is that there are lip balms available in the market which are lanolin-based, but otherwise using pure lanolin directly on your lips is a good option too.

 Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an ingredient used to soften skin and hair all over South-Asia. It a natural lip-balm substitute that ensures soft lips. You may use it in an oil form (as it’s in sunny South-Asia) or in a creamy form (in colder weather). Regardless, it is soothing and cooling when smoothed over dry/cracked lips during the winter. If you live in cold weather, you may have to pop the jar of hard coconut ‘oil’ (as it turns very solid in cold weather) in hot water for it to turn into a silky texture.

Castor Oil

Castor Oil makes up for a perfect emollient for cracked lips. It has a sticky, heavy feel to it but it works like a charm- sealing moisture and soothing painful cracks on your lips. You can even apply it to heal bleeding chapped lips.

Shea Butter

This plant-based oil is solid at room temperature. Shea butter is an excellent moisturizer and is good to hydrate and lubricate your skin and lips. It also provides nutrients like vitamin A (good for healthy lips), vitamin E (has supreme moisturizing, lubricating properties and is a great antioxidant), vitamin K and vitamin F (fatty acids) that promote plump moisturized lips.

Aloe Vera Gel

If you don’t like the heavy feel and coat of lip balms, this substitute is best for you. You can use Aloe Vera gel. It has a very light consistency and just glides over your skin and tightly seals moisture without sitting on top of your lips like general lip balms. It is incredibly soothing for cracked lips and healing cracked bleeding lips

Since petroleum jelly is often the main ingredient found in most lips balms- avoiding them can be difficult. Even so, you can use these incredible alternatives that will help you moisturize and heal your cracked lips.