Lip gloss & balm

Choosing it for deep skin

• If your lips peel, choose fragrance- and flavour-free balms with a short ingredient list.
• Simple petrolatum-based balms protect well in harmattan.
• Choose a balm with SPF if you are in the sun a lot.
• Avoid "pink lip" or lip-lightening balms.

How to apply

1. Apply balm to clean lipsApply a thin layer whenever lips feel dry.
2. Use gloss over linerGloss over a brown liner flatters almost everyone.
3. Apply from the centreDab gloss on the centre of the lips and press them together.
4. Reapply after mealsGloss wears off quickly with eating and drinking.

How long to wear it

• Gloss lasts an hour or two. Balm can be reapplied as often as you like.
• At night, wipe off gloss and use a plain balm.
• Try not to lick your lips; saliva dries and irritates them more.

Safety and the evidence

• Fragrance, flavours, propolis, lanolin, castor oil and some lip sunscreens can cause allergic sore lips. Lip licking keeps irritation going.

  Evidence C — patch-test case series · DermNet — Contact reactions to lip products

• Popular glosses often contain parfum and aroma (flavour), a common cause of peeling lips.

  Evidence C — case reports

• Never use a "lightening", "whitening" or "toning" product as makeup. NAFDAC caps hydroquinone at 2% in cosmetics and bans mercury.

  Evidence C — case reports; regulation · Voice of Nigeria 2025 — NAFDAC hydroquinone limit

Evidence grades: A systematic reviews or several trials; B at least one trial or consistent controlled studies; C observational studies, surveys or case reports; D expert opinion.

Keep it clean

• Never share gloss or balm; cold sores spread this way.
• Use a tube rather than a pot, or a clean finger.
• Heat spoils balms. Do not leave them in a car or in the sun.
• Throw it away if it smells odd or changes texture.