INIKA ORGANIC LIP BALM REVIEW

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Organic Lip Balm UK

What is the best organic lip balm in the UK? I have lost count of the times that I have been asked this question by people who know about my obsession with natural makeup and skincare products!

There are tons of natural lips balms on the market now and quite a few organic lip balms are available in the UK now too. There are one or two that stand out for me - and one of these is Inika Organic lip balm.

Lip balms without petroleum

If you have read my Guide to Clean Beauty you will be familiar with the concept behind clean beauty and some of the issues in the clean beauty v mainstream products argument. If you have also read my article Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare then you will have seen that one of the ingredients I recommend you try and avoid in your makeup and skincare products is petroleum.

You should avoid all ingredients that are derived from petroleum and they will show up on an ingredient list as mineral oil, petrolatum or paraffinium liquidum. As ingredients they are tasteless, colourless and odourless. Cosmetic grade mineral oil is supposed to be a pure form without any contaminants but even so it is not something that I want to be putting on my skin, let alone my lips. But there is worse to come, this ingredients actually makes your lips dry!

Is mineral oil bad for lips?

Yes. The more you use a lip product containing mineral oil, the drier your lips will become.

This is because the mineral oil coats the lips in an air tight seal, a bit like cling film. Although they feel better upon application, the lips don't have the ability to manage their own moisture balance and start to dry out. The more you use a lip balm containing mineral oil the drier you lips will become and you will find yourself needing to apply it more and more often.

Many years ago I noticed this when I used petroleum based lip balms and after some research I changed to a natural product and after a couple of weeks had no more issues, just smooth, soft lips!

Many people use mainstream lip balms containing mineral oils and have no problems, however petroleum based ingredients can also cause allergic reactions in those with sensitive skin.

Make your own lip balm!

Lip Balm Range - recipe e-book

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What happens if you eat lip balm?

No, I don't recommend that you eat it! However, whatever you put on your lips, whether it be lip balm, lipstick or lip gloss, you can't help but ingest some of it and if you are applying a product many times a day every day, it can start to add up.

It makes sense therefore to be putting something as natural as possible on your lips but you also want something that actually works too. Products containing natural butters and waxes are nourishing as well as protective.

Vegan lip balm - UK

I started using Inika Organic lip balm some months ago as I was on the look out for more organic beauty products to try. Inika Organic is an Australian based company but has a UK office and website too. They have won over 40 awards for innovation and excellence and also won the Best Skincare Brand in the Organic Beauty Awards' 2020. Their products are all certified vegan and cruelty free so a great place to shop if you are looking for a vegan lip balm.

The Inika Organic lip balm is 3.5g in size and costs £16.50, which is certainly at the top end in price for a lip balm, but after reading the ingredient list I was very happy to go ahead and give it a try, and I wasn't disappointed.

I have listed the ingredients of the Inika lip balm in a format that most people will understand, without the legal INCI name. Congratulations to Inika however as they are one of a few companies who put more information on their ingredient lists to help customers identify what is in their products.

The ingredients are (without INCI names): sunflower oil*, candelilla wax, castor oil*, coconut oil*, carnauba wax*, shea butter*, peppermint oil*, natural flavours* and vitamin e.

*organic

Inika Organic lip balm review

The Inika lip balm comes packaged in a black box (see photo above) and so looks good if you are wanting to buy it as a gift. It has a stylish black slim case, longer (approx 9cm) and slimmer (approx 1.2cm) than your average lip balm or lipstick. It looks luxurious with an internal gold casing and winds up as with conventional lip balms. I'd be very happy this natural lip balm out of my bag on any social occasion.!

The end of the lip balm is already angled which makes it easy to start to wear and it goes on beautifully smoothly. Soft but not mushy (a pet hate of mine) and applies evenly without distorting the actual shape of the end of the balm.

The actual size and shape of the end of the lip balm is perfect for applying to lips in that I can put it on without a mirror and know that I have not got it all outside my lip area. It is completely clear upon application with a satin look, not as much as a full on gloss but an attractive satiny sheen which makes the lips look moisturised and soft.

It has a mild peppermint taste. I have to say that I am not overly keen on peppermint but I don't find this overpowering at all and there is an extremely mild tingle on the lips, but this may just be me! It lasts well and I have found it good for protecting my lips on the many dog walks that I do in all weathers. I have also tried wearing it as a base under some organic lipsticks and it has performed very well for this too, with the lipsticks gliding on really well and staying put a little longer. Applying the Inika Organic lip balm underneath a natural lipstick also seems to act as a slight filler, by making any small creases or imperfections in the lip less noticeable, so bonus points for this extra use too!

The Inika Organic lip balm does not contain a sunscreen but I don't find this a problem. If I use a lip balm in high summer outside then I would probably use a natural product with a sunscreen.

All in all I find the Inika Organic Lip Balm a great product with a luxury feel and look, that can double as up a lipstick base as well and will definitely be buying this one again.

Inika lip balm £3.5g for £16.50.

Why not check out my review of Inika Organic Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid?

Why not make your own DIY natural lip balms? The e-book gives recipes for you to make lavender and oat, an award winning rose geranium and rosehip and peppermint and avocado lip balms!

If you want a hint of colour on your face which you can control for intensity (paler in winter and darker in summer), and a product you can use with any of your existing skincare, and one that is suitable for sensitive skin - take a look at my review on Green People Liquid Gold Tanning Drops.

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