Sweet and simple, honey is an amazing ingredient for your lips. It softens and smoothes while leaving behind that yummy taste. While you can rub the raw stuff right on your pout or whip it into a DIY lip mask, you can also grab a lip balm, gloss, or oil that’s infused with the powerhouse ingredient, giving you all the benefits without leaving behind a sticky mess.
“Honey is the oldest skin-care ingredient and has been used extensively for both medical and skin-care purposes,” says Neil Sadick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
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3 benefits of honey for lips
1. It’s moisturizing
“Honey is a natural emollient and humectant,” says Jana Blankenship, herbalist and author of Wild Beauty ($16). This means that it moisturizes your pout in two different ways, explains Tiffany Libby, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Rhode Island. “Humectants help hydrate and draw moisture into the skin,” says Dr. Libby. “Emollients are moisturizers that add oil to the skin to help soften, smooth, and repair the skin barrier. Any product that does this is considered an emollient, so some humectants and occlusives are also emollients.”
2. It’s soothing
Honey has antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and it nurtures the skin, says Dr. Sadick. This makes it great for healing and soothing chapped lips.
3. It’s full of antioxidants
Honey is full of antioxidants and “antioxidants are often considered the fountain of youth by skin-care professionals and experts,” says Victoria Lewis, medical esthetician in New York City. “They protect, prevent, and limit free radical damage, and some assist with hydration and inflammation. Not only will your skin be better looking, but it will also be healthier in general.”
Condition, smooth, and nourish your lips with one of the six honey lip balms, glosses, and oils below.
6 honey lip balms, glosses, and oils to try
Give your lips a stunning glow with this new shimmer-infused lip oil from Gisou. It’s made with honey and hyaluronic acid to intensely hydrate and condition lips. The pearlescent shimmer is super fine so your lips will reflect light and glow without over-the-top sparkle. It’s in a gorgeous golden shade that adds a bit of warmth to your pout.
Burt’s Bees, Lip Gloss — $7.00
Burt’s Bees, aka the honey-infused skin-care OGs, have the perfect lip gloss if you’re looking for something with color. The formula blends honey with moisturizing apricot wax and softening sunflower seed oil to nourish your lips. It’s available in six pretty shades ranging from pinks, nudes, reds, and plums.
Made with honey harvested from Mount Jiri, Korea, this balm protects lips from external irritation while deeply hydrating and nourishing. It has a non-greasy, non-sticky finish and can also be used as an overnight lip mask, a dry-elbow salve, or a cuticle softener.
Made with lavender honey from Provence, France, this clear lip oil drenches your pout in moisture while leaving behind a subtle, not-sticky shine. The honey in this formula is enhanced with organic camelina oil, which is rich in nourishing omegas 3 and 6.
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