The best lip balms are made with beeswax and 100% pure, natural ingredients. Just as important as what’s in your lip balm, though, is what isn’t in your lip balm.

Compare what you’re currently buying with the ingredients below, then decide what you want your brand to stand for.

 

Things You Won’t Find in Factory 719 Premium Lip Balm

Chemical Sunscreens
Octinoxate, oxybenzone, avobenzone and similar chemicals are found in most spf lip balms and sunscreens. They’re toxic for the adults and children who use them, and to make things worse, they wash off when worn into the water, both saltwater and freshwater. It’s estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen make it into the water each year.

Octinoxate and oxybenzone harm coral polyps (which become coral reefs), which increases the rate of coral bleaching, which in turn prevents the reef from functioning as a breeding and feeding ground for countless species of marine life. Octinoxate and oxybenzone have also been shown to cause deformities in fish and harm their reproductive systems. These chemicals are so harmful they’re banned by the state of Hawaii. We look forward to the day they’re banned worldwide.

Nut Oils (No nut allergens!)
We don’t use sweet almond or macadamia or kukui or any other nut oils, as they can cause a rash (or worse!) on a person with nut allergies. We also chose to not use shea butter, since that’s also derived from a nut. In most cases, shea butter probably won’t trigger a reaction, but since cocoa butter is not a nut oil (it comes from a bean), we chose that instead.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
You might be surprised to see this on the list, but Vitamin E is a known skin irritant. It’s a contact allergen that can cause dermatitis, eczema and other forms of skin rashes.

Artificial Fragrances, Flavors and Colors
The leading cause of eczema and other skin diseases is “added fragrances.” That’s a catch-all term for chemical cocktails. Factory 719 uses only pure, natural flavor extracts, and no coloring of any kind. We happen to like the way nature looks.

Parabens
Parabens like butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben and any other ingredients ending in -paraben mimic estrogen and can act as hormone disruptors. They’re linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and malignant melanoma. In men, they’re claimed to reduce sperm production and testosterone levels. Not good.

Tingly Ingredients
Alcohol, menthol, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, camphor oil, phenol, salicylic acid and other similar ingredients provide a tingly sensation when applied. They feel good momentarily, but they’ll dry your lips and make chapped lips even worse.

Petrolatum/Petroleum Jelly
Sure, putting petroleum (the stuff of gasoline and motor oil) on your lips makes perfect sense. (That was sarcasm.) In all seriousness, toxic chemicals can find their way into petroleum jelly during the refining process. That means things like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which have been linked to breast cancer, can be in your lip balm. No thanks.

 

Why Factory 719 Premium Lip Balm is So Luxurious

Coconut Oil
Coconut oil not only helps Factory 719 lip balm feel good gliding over your lips, it helps your lips continue to feel good. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which helps nourish and heal dry, chapped lips. Coconut oil also provides soothing protection against bacteria and other irritants.

Beeswax
Beeswax is absolutely essential to a luxury experience. It’s smooth and has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help heal lips, while also providing a gentle barrier that helps protect against wind damage. On its own, beeswax is too hard, while coconut oil is too soft. Our precise blending of these two key ingredients along with the other oils in our formulation gives you a lip balm that’s soft enough to apply comfortably on the coldest of days, yet won’t turn into a puddle in your pocket.

Castor Oil
Castor oil helps restore moisture to damaged lips. It instantly hydrates them, and can actually plump them and make them appear fuller. Castor oil can reduce inflammation and pain, and helps promote healing. Castor oil also helps add shine, making your lips look as amazing as they feel. 

Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is absorbed quickly, and is castor oil’s partner in the lip-plumping department. Avocado oil is rich in protective antioxidants. And it contains sterolin, which helps lips feel soft, silky and supple.

Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is rich in fatty acids that help maintain the skin’s water barrier and helps reduce inflammation. It helps hydrate skin for improved elasticity and reduced wrinkles.

Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is also rich in fatty acids and offers anti-inflammatory properties. It’s rich in antioxidants for extra protection, while providing soothing nourishment for your lips.

Jojoba Oil
Another amazing oil for lips. It’s a fantastic moisturizer that absorbs quickly (see: lips, plumping) while it nourishes and heals.

Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is a natural fat that helps your lips retain moisture for a longer period of time, and also helps heal. Cocoa butter and shea butter have very similar properties and are typically used interchangeably in lip balms, but we prefer cocoa butter because it’s derived from a bean. Shea butter is derived from a nut, and while it most likely won’t trigger a reaction in someone with nut allergies, we’d rather err on the side of caution.

Natural Flavors
All of our flavorings are pure, natural extracts. Nothing artificial in Factory 719 lip balm.

Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil is rich in vitamins, especially Vitamin C. It contains many of the nourishing and anti-inflammatory properties of our other oils, while also helping to create a silky-smooth feeling. And its moisturizing properties are particularly long-lasting, so you can reapply less often.