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10 Best Lip Balms for Dark Lips in India

Mourbi Dutta

May 22, 2023

Angelina Jolie or Priyanka Chopra, who crosses your mind when you think of beautiful lips? Honestly, why think of anyone else when that person could be YOU? Adorning lips with colour or moisturising them is an ancient practice when people used natural ingredients from fruits and roots to look after their lips. So, caring for one’s lips is one of the best skin care practices, and with the help of our handpicked suggestions of the best lip balms for dark lips, we’ve made this task a lot simpler for you.

Our Top Picks:

Biotique

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Wild Nectar

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The Man Company

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Why Do Our Lips Become Dark?

Beautiful, soft, and rosy lips are often associated with attractiveness and good health. However, many people struggle with dark lips, which can impact their self-confidence. Several factors contribute to the darkening of the lips, ranging from lifestyle habits to medical conditions. Below we will explore the common causes of dark lips.

Sun exposure

One of the leading causes of dark lips is excessive sun exposure. The delicate skin of the lips lacks melanin, the pigment responsible for protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. As a result, lips are more susceptible to sun damage, leading to darkening, dryness, and chapping. Using lip balms or lipsticks with SPF protection can help shield the lips from harmful UV rays.

Smoking

Smoking tobacco is not only harmful to overall health but also affects the appearance of the lips. The chemicals present in tobacco smoke, such as nicotine and tar, can stain the lips over time. Smokers often experience darkened lips, along with other oral health issues like gum diseases and bad breath.

Dehydration

Lack of proper hydration can also contribute to dark lips. When the body becomes dehydrated, the lips may appear dry, cracked, and darker in colour. Drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day maintains hydration levels to prevent darkening and keep your lips moisturised.

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation refers to the darkening of certain areas of the skin, including the lips, due to overproduction of melanin. This condition can be triggered by various factors, such as hormonal changes, certain medications, and medical conditions. We recommend that you consult a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment options.

Allergic reactions

Certain lip care products, such as lipsticks, lip balms, or even toothpaste, can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Allergies can lead to inflammation, dryness, and darkening of the lips. Choosing hypoallergenic lip products or consulting a dermatologist for suitable alternatives can be beneficial in such cases.

What Should an Ideal Lip Balm Do?

Often taken for granted, our lips are delicate and prone to dryness and damage, especially during harsh weather conditions. Lip balm serves as a reliable ally, providing nourishment, protection, and much-needed hydration. Here are the various benefits a lip balm provides, which make it an essential part of everyone’s skincare routine.

Provides Moisturisation

One of the primary benefits of lip balm is its ability to moisturise and hydrate the lips. Our lips lack oil glands, which makes them more susceptible to dryness. Regular use of lip balm helps retain moisture, preventing dry, chapped and cracked lips. By creating a barrier on the lips, lip balm locks in moisture and promotes hydration, leaving them soft and supple.

Protect Against Harsh Weather

Extreme weather conditions, such as cold winds, harsh sun rays, and low humidity, can wreak havoc on our lips. Lip balm acts as a shield, safeguarding the delicate skin of our lips from these external factors. It forms a protective barrier that helps to combat the drying effects of cold winds, prevent sunburn, and shield against harmful UV rays. Using a lip balm with SPF adds an extra layer of protection against sun damage.

Soothing and Healing Properties

When our lips become dry or chapped, they can feel uncomfortable and even painful. Lip balm provides soothing relief by nourishing and repairing damaged lips. The nourishing ingredients of a lip balm work together to replenish lost moisture, promote cell regeneration, and restore the natural softness of the lips.

Versatility

Lip balms are available in various forms, including sticks, tubes, and more. Furthermore, lip balms are compact and portable, making them convenient to carry in pockets, purses, or bags. Their ease of application ensures that we can nourish and protect our lips whenever and wherever needed.

What Ingredients to Look for in a Lip Balm?

The key to finding the perfect lip balm lies in its ingredients. In this section, we have discussed the essential components that make up an effective and nourishing lip balm.

Natural Moisturisers

One of the primary purposes of lip balm is to moisturize and hydrate the delicate skin of the lips. Look for natural moisturising ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, or plant oils like jojoba oil or almond oil. These ingredients create a protective barrier, preventing moisture loss and promoting long-lasting hydration.

Emollients

Emollients play a crucial role in maintaining the softness and smoothness of the lips. They help to lock in moisture and prevent the lips from becoming dry and chapped. Ingredients like lanolin or natural oils are excellent emollients that provide a soothing and nourishing effect.

Antioxidants

Including antioxidants in lip balm helps combat free radicals, which can cause premature ageing and damage to the lips. Look for ingredients like vitamin E or green tea extract in your lip balm. They provide antioxidant benefits, protecting the delicate lip skin from oxidative stress.

Sun Protection

Protecting our lips from the sun’s harmful rays is essential to prevent sunburn, dryness, and potential long-term damage. When selecting a lip balm, opt for products that contain SPF. Active ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide help shield the lips from both UVA and UVB rays.

List of Top 10 Lip Balms for Dark Lips in India

Biotique Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm

Starting off the list with one of the top lip balms for dark lips, the Biotique Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm. The brand needs no introduction when we talk about skincare and personal wellness products. It was founded in 1992 by Vinita Jain and has become a true sensation in India today.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Biotique Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm:

• It has the goodness of ingredients like Angur, Mulethi, Badam, Kusumbhi, and Til, which help lighten dark lips
• The herbal constituents can help with depigmentation
• The fruit contents in this lip balm revitalize your lips, adding to their natural glow
• Has essential vitamins that smoothen the texture of your lips and make sure you have a flawless pout
• Comes in a mini jar and weighs 12 grams

Pros:

• Has mulethi extracts that keep your lips supple
• Enriched with Vitamin E
• Compact and travel-friendly packaging

Cons:

• Everyone may not like the bright pink tint

The Man Company Lip Balm for Men

The Man Company is one of India’s leading grooming brands that’s totally dedicated to men. It was founded in 2015 by Hitesh Dhingra and has its headquarters in Gurgaon. Its products are completely free of chemicals, parabens, and SLS.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of The Man Company Lip Balm:

• Has almond Oil that nourishes the lips by keeping them moisturized
• It prevents chapping and reverses sun damage
• It is a natural emollient known to make your skin soft and supple
• It also has Vitamin E, which improves blood circulation, thus helping make your lips a new version of themselves
• Comes in a retractable stick form and weighs 4 grams

Pros:

• UV protection
• Smells amazing
• Compact packaging

Cons:

• Stick may feel hard while applying

Price: Rs 199

Wild Nectar Organic Lip Balm for Lip Lightening

Wild Nectar Organic is a rapidly-emerging skincare brand that’s catching a lot of attention for its natural products. It makes premium quality products that are ISO certified and free of parabens.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Wild Nectar Organic Lip Balm:

• This gentle sugar lip balm scrub gently melts away dry, dead skin to reveal plump lips
• Its specially formulated ingredients prevent your lips from further darkening and provide exfoliation, hydration and nourishment.
• Made of natural and organic products which effectively reduce lip pigmentation
• It has the goodness of beetroot, strawberry, and rose, ideal for smokers with dark lips to get back your natural pink lips
• Comes in a small jar

Pros:

• No parabens
• No sulfates
• ISO-certified

Cons:

• It may take a lot of time to lighten your lips

Price: Rs 699

Namyaa Natural Lip Serum Lip Balm

Namyaa is popular personal care and skincare brand that’s based in Delhi. It is owned by R.G Biocosmetic Private Limited, which is a decades-old company.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Namyaa Advanced Brightening Lip Serum:

• Formulated to nourish, hydrate, and shield lips from harsh elements
• It protects and moisturizes all day for lasting relief. It lightens dark lips and prevents further darkening from smoking
• It even repairs damage caused to lips because of cosmetics
• It comes with advanced brightening therapy that helps you get naturally pink lips
• Helps heal chapped lips in the process
• Comes in a tube

Pros:

• 100% Natural
• Helps lighten lips
• Affordable and effective

Cons:

• Strong fragrance

Price: Rs 240

Urban Gabru Lip Balm For Lightening and Brightening Dark Lips

Founded in 2017 by Hemant Kumar, UrbanGabru is a popular fashion and grooming brand for men. It retails great quality clothing and grooming essentials such as skincare and hair care products for men in India.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the UrbanGabru Lip Balm:

• Contains shea butter, beeswax & vitamin E which treats wrinkles and heals dry lips
• It relieves chapping, dryness, and prevents it from worsening
• Creates a barrier between your skin & environment; it stops moisture from escaping, keeping them soft
• Weighs 20 grams
• Suitable for men

Pros:

• Reverses sun damage
• Suitable for smokers
• Sulfate-free

Cons:

• The smell may not be very pleasant

Price: Rs 450

Organic Harvest Pomegranate Lip Balm

Organic Harvest was founded in 2013 and is known as one of the most loved organic skincare and personal care brand in India. The company manufactures top-notch items that are made with natural and organic ingredients to ensure that you get no side effects.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Organic Harvest Lip Balm:

• Has a rich concoction of pomegranate, lanolin
• Packed with vitamin E, the properties of nourishment are par excellence
• The product is ideal for removing dead cells and surfacing new cells, leading to youthful and plump lips
• Can be used by both men and women to counter dry and chapped lips
• Comes in a mini jar

Pros:

• Pleasant pomegranate flavour
• Butylparaben Free
• Easy application

Cons:

• Not easily available in stores

Price: Rs 199

Vaadi Herbals Strawberry Lip Balm

Vaadi Herbals is a natural skincare, hair care, and personal care brand that was founded in 2006. The company is based in Delhi and exports to the USA, Russia, China, New Zealand, South Africa, and many other countries around the globe.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Vaadi Herbals Lip Balm:

• Provides long-lasting moisturization while satisfying your senses with its tempting strawberry flavour
• It nourishes your lips, heals and prevents cracking, keeping your lips soft and supple
• The strawberry extracts present in it prove to be effective soothing agents for dry, chapped, and blistered lips
• Honey traps moisture and keeps the lips hydrated for a long time
• Offers UV protection

Pros:

• Protects from sun damage
• Organic
• Cruelty-free

Cons:

• Smell may not be pleasant

The Body Shop Lip Butter

The Body Shop is one of the most popular cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance brands in the world. It was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick and has its headquarters in London, UK.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of The Body Shop Lip Butter:

• It is your perfect bet if you need to get rid of hyperpigmentation
• Has a glossy finish
• Suitable for dry skin types
• Free from harmful substances

Pros:

• Cruelty-free
• Beautiful satin finish
• Smells amazing

Cons:

• A little pricey

Khadi Herbal Lip Balm for Lip Lightening

Khadi Essentials is another remarkable Indian brand that makes natural products. The brand was launched in 2019 by Shreedha Singh and Param Bhargava. Although a relatively new brand, Khadi Essentials has managed to win the hearts of thousands of customers in India today.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Khadi Essentials Herbal Lip Balm:

• Has rose petals to remove dead skin and initiate new cell generation
• Geranium oil and kokum butter keeps lips nourished
• It is advised to use the balm as a part of your night-time beauty ritual, having it work your lips overnight
• Comes in a jar and weighs 5 grams

Pros:

• SLS-free
• Paraben-free
• Comes in multiple flavors

Cons:

• A little expensive for the quantity

Price: Rs 495

Nivea Lip Balm

Founded in 1911, Nivea is popular skincare and personal care brand of German origin. It is owned by Beiersdorf Global AG, which is a Hamburg-based company. The brand is quite popular in India, and millions of people use its body lotions, creams, and lip balms daily.

Product Specifications:

Prominent Features of the Nivea Lip Balm:

• Comes packaged in both a tube and a tiny jar with a lid
• The main ingredients used are cream and Cocoa butter, making it smooth on application
• Not too harsh on your pocket and definitely a lot milder on your lips
• Works well in treating your dark lips
• Weighs 4.8 grams

Pros:

• Keeps lips moisturized for 24 hours
• Prevents moisture loss
• Suitable for all skin types

Cons:

• It May not be nourishing for very dry lips

Price: Rs 140

How to Apply Lip Balm Properly?

Here are the steps to help you out so that you can apply lip balm correctly:

Exfoliate

Before applying lip balm, you can exfoliate your lips to remove any dead skin cells. You can use a gentle lip scrub or make your own by mixing sugar with a small amount of honey. Gently massage the scrub onto your lips in circular motions, then rinse and pat dry.

Cleanse and Moisturise

Ensure your lips are clean and free of any residual makeup or lip products. Use a washcloth to gently cleanse your lips. Then pat dry with a soft cloth or towel.

Use the Right Amount

Take your lip balm and apply it to your lips with the applicator. If using a stick or pot lip balm, you can also use your clean finger to apply it. Avoid excessive application, as it can create a heavy, uncomfortable feeling on your lips. Start with a thin layer and build up if needed.

Application

Apply lip balm using gentle, smooth strokes. Start from the centre of your lips and work your way towards the corners. Ensure complete coverage by applying the balm evenly to both your upper and lower lips.

Reapply as Needed

The frequency of reapplication depends on various factors like weather conditions, indoor heating, or personal preference. As a general guideline, you can reapply lip balm as soon as you feel your lips getting dry or chapped. Quality lip balms keep your lips moisturised for a long time.

Natural Remedies for Dark Lips

While there are cosmetic products available to lighten dark lips, natural remedies are a safer and more affordable alternative. Here are some effective natural remedies to help you achieve luscious, pink lips and enhance your smile naturally.

Exfoliation

Regular exfoliation is a key step in achieving lighter lips. It helps remove dead skin cells and impurities, revealing fresh and vibrant skin. To exfoliate your lips, you can make a gentle scrub by mixing equal parts of honey and sugar. Apply this mixture to your lips and gently massage in circular motions for a few minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry. Repeat this process once or twice a week to maintain smooth and lighter lips.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice contains citric acid, which helps exfoliate and remove pigmentation. Cut a lemon in halves and gently wipe the juicy portion over your lips before bedtime every night. Wash your lips with cold water in the morning. Repeat this remedy every day for a month to see noticeable results.

Beetroot

Beetroot is known for its natural pigment and can effectively lighten dark lips. You can take beetroot and process it or blend it into a fine paste. Apply the beetroot paste to your lips twice a week. Then rinse off after 5 to 10 minutes of letting it sit. Apply a thin coating of petroleum jelly after your lips are clean and dry. Regular application of beetroot juice will gradually lighten your lips, giving them a natural rosy hue.

Almond Oil

Almond oil is rich in nutrients and can help moisturize and lighten dark lips. Before bedtime, apply a few drops of almond oil to your lips and massage gently. Leave it on overnight, allowing the oil to nourish and hydrate your lips. In the morning, rinse your lips with lukewarm water. Regular use of almond oil will leave your lips softer, smoother, and naturally lighter.

Aloe

Research suggests that aloe vera contains a component that reduces the formation of melanin. Apply a small coating of fresh aloe vera gel on your lips once each day. Then rinse it off with warm water when it dries. If you continue to do this, your lips will become soft and bright in some weeks.

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