I take feedback from the mindbodygreen beauty community very seriously. It means a great deal to me that you trust our advice, read our work, listen to my podcast, and even allow us into your beauty routine with our personal care line. The vegan base is a conditioning blend of sunflower seed wax, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter. These ingredients provide hydration, fatty acids, and antioxidants and create a protective barrier over the skin. We wanted something that was going to trap moisture underneath but still felt breathable. And I think this new iteration achieves that. The botanical oils and hydrating ingredients are still the stars of the show: Moringa oil, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid (as sodium hyaluronate) help soften and condition the skin, provide antioxidant protection against free radicals, and offer a subtle plumping effect. We also increased the ratio of castor oil in this formula, which gives it the increased staying power that users were asking for. Much like the first formula, we wanted a balm that provided a satin-like finish (read: not too glossy, not too dull), as we felt it was best for daily use. So, we made sure that element didn’t change in the reformulation process. But what I found with this new formula is that it pairs so much better with lip color. Applying a light layer before going in with lipstick helps the pigment settle more comfortably on the skin and provides a lasting base. More specifically with this lip balm, we wanted to make sure we weren’t using petrochemicals (like mineral oils), which are very common ingredients in traditional lip balms. Given these ingredients are fossil fuel derived, environmental concerns outweigh their benefits. Additionally, when used in excess, the ingredients can suffocate the skin, even causing damage to the skin barrier and disrupting the microbiome over time. But we also believe what you put on the skin should be beneficial; you can simply find better ingredients to actively replenish the skin barrier with healthy lipids and antioxidants, as opposed to ones that just sit atop the skin. And the high standards extend past the formulas. It’s also important to consider packaging. Our lip balm tube is housed in an Eco-Smart Resin © and is 100% recyclable with like materials. However, this material goes a step further: Eco Smart containers are a proprietary technology that enables plastic components to fully break down in biologically active environments, like landfills and marine environments. It is fully FDA-compliant and made in the USA. Our shipping boxes are made from 100% recycled paper and are fully curbside recyclable. And as always, our products are produced in a factory powered by 100% wind energy.
