Aside from a moisturised, hydrated and plump pucker, wanting even-toned ruddy lips is also a sneaky reason why we apply lip balm. Dark, uneven-toned lips are common among people who have brown and deep skin tones. It’s because brown and deep skin tones produce more melanin on the skin in certain areas of the body which is also known as hyperpigmentation. While this phenomenon is normal and is no cause for concern, let’s understand what causes hyperpigmentation on the lips.
What Causes Dark Lips?
1. Dehydration
Dehydration can easily affect the lips as they’re delicate and thin. When you don’t drink enough water, the skin on the lips can get chapped and flaky. Moreover, it can also compromise the natural moisture barrier of the lips, giving it a dull and dark appearance.
2. Sun Damage
You’d think of only applying SPF on your face and body but know that your lips are equally susceptible to sun damage, as they are thin. This can trigger the healing response of the skin, which is to produce extra melanin to keep it protected.
3. Smoking
Yep, this unspoken vice silently damages not only the skin but also the lips. Much like how the skin goes into protective action against harsh UV rays, when the skin on the lips senses heat, it releases excess melanin which makes the lips dark. Substances like tobacco and nicotine damage the capillaries that carry blood to the lips, giving them a natural flush.
4. Using Harsh Lip Scrubs
The skin on the lips can get rough due to excess dead skin cells. However, using harsh lip scrubs or scrubbing brushes can bruise and inflame the skin which can cause scarring and an uneven skin tone due to the healing process.
Want to reverse the effects of the above? Here are 8 best lip balms to banish hyperpigmentation and improve the skin tone of your lips.
With Pure Vitamin C
To the uninitiated, L-Ascorbic acid is the source of the most stable and active form of vitamin C. It's widely used for its brightening and antioxidant benefits. With glycerine and vitamin E, it has a clear, buttery formula that rests on the lips comfortably without feeling heavy. Plus, it’s pocket-sized and travel-friendly.
Nykaa Man Bestseller
If you don’t prefer shine-imparting lip balms, then this stick lip balm from Nivea Men would be a great pick. Furthermore, it’s made with ethically sourced shea butter to soften, nourish and heal dry, dehydrated and pigmented lips. Though not high on the broad spectrum, it does have SPF 15 to give short-term sun protection. So, we would recommend applying a tiny bit of sunscreen before applying this lip balm during the daytime.
24Hr Caffeinated Hydration
If you love jelly-like lip balm that’s super hydrating and smells like a fresh brew, the Mcaffeine Coffee Lip Balm is the perfect choice. It’s like the perfect hybrid between a luscious lip mask and a nourishing lip balm. It has vitamin E and shea butter to intensely moisturise the lips while coffee oil addresses signs of pigmentation. Try not to eat it, though!
Sun Protection With SPF 50 PA+++
Sun protection is equally important to the lips as the rest of your face and body, and what better way than a lip balm to keep our lips shielded from the sun? There are so many things to love about this lip balm, starting with the fact that it has an SPF of 50 and PA+++. Most chapsticks have a sticky nature but this one’s an exception. It goes on smooth and lightweight while staying on the lips. It has ceramides to heal chapped, dry lips and reduce signs of pigmentation.
Organic Care
If you like a little fragrance in your lip balm, this certified organic lip balm tastes like tart, sweet orange candy thanks to its blood orange extract which also is rich in vitamin C. It also has other moisturising goodness like rosehip oil, shea butter and vitamin E that boost collagen production to keep the lips healthy appearance while giving them lasting softness.
Exfoliating Lip Balm
This K-beauty offering has the potential to become your holy grail lip balm for dark lips. It has exfoliants like citric acid and betaine salicylate to get rid of dead skin cells, rough texture and improve skin cell turnover. Its cloud-like formula also has vitamin C and shea butter for irresistibly soft, plump lips.
For Flaky, Pigmented Lips
Do you struggle with painfully chapped and flaky lips? This could also explain the discolouration on the lips. While it does have the usual suspects like vitamin E and C to fix sun damage and reduce pigmentation, what we love about this one is a stand-out ingredient, octyl stearate which locks in moisture to soothe and heal cracked lips.
Intense, Overnight Therapy
We couldn’t keep ourselves from mentioning this gem of a lip balm. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, we couldn’t recommend this lip balm enough! Its rich petroleum and cocoa butter formula deeply restores and heals the lips from the depths of flaky dryness and stubborn pigmentation. This does have a very thick texture, so use it sparingly as a little goes a long way. However, for nighttime, you can add an extra layer to amp up the healing action. There are also other variants in the same range that are just as worth every penny.
Hyperpigmentation on the lips is deep-rooted and takes time to form. Therefore, getting rid of it will take time. Make sure to stay consistent with your lip balm application and improve lifestyle choices for supple, even-toned lips.
