Back to blog
October 05, 2026

5 lip balm ingredients to avoid

The skin of the lips is thin and delicate. No matter the season, it is exposed to wind, cold and sun, and a good lip balm quickly becomes a must-have.

To keep a radiant smile, it is essential to take care of your lips by choosing a lip balm that is nourishing, tailored for your needs, and, most importantly, made without worrying ingredients that may be harmful to your health.

What we put on our lips doesn’t always stay there: some of it is swallowed when we eat, drink or lick our lips. That is why the ingredient list deserves a closer look.



Why check the ingredients in your lip balm?


According to a reference study on cosmetic use, a person who wears lipstick applies about 24 mg a day on average, and up to 87 mg in some cases.1 These data are for lipstick, but a lip balm, applied repeatedly throughout the day, follows the same logic: part of the product is swallowed.

The five ingredients below are often avoided as a precaution. Most are permitted when they stay within the limits set by authorities, so this is a choice, not a blanket ban. For each one, we summarize what Health Canada and scientific committees say.


1. Parabens


Parabens are preservatives that have been used in cosmetics for decades. They are regulated: the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) considers methylparaben safe up to 0.4% and butylparaben safe up to 0.14%, taking into account concerns about their possible effects on the hormone system.2,3 For butylparaben, however, the SCCS notes that without exposure data specific to children, potential concerns cannot be ruled out.3

If you prefer to avoid them as a precaution, look for names that begin with butyl-, propyl- or isobutyl- on the label.


2. Phthalates


Phthalates are not used to preserve a product: they are mainly used to soften plastics and as solvents.4 Health Canada considers that most phthalates do not pose a risk at current exposure levels, except for DEHP, which is banned from cosmetics in Canada.4

As a precaution, you can choose a lip balm whose ingredient list does not mention any. Their names end in “phthalate.”


3. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)


BHT is a synthetic antioxidant that prevents fats and oils from oxidizing. It was re-evaluated in Europe because of questions about possible hormonal effects. In 2021, the SCCS considered it safe up to 0.8% in other leave-on and rinse-off products, with lower limits for mouth products such as toothpaste (0.1%).5

To avoid it, look for “BHT” or “butylated hydroxytoluene” in the ingredient list.


4. Mineral oils and petrolatum


Mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum), petrolatum and paraffin are petroleum derivatives. Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, they are not prohibited in food in Canada: mineral oil, paraffin wax and petrolatum appear on Health Canada’s lists of permitted food additives, for specific uses.6

What matters is the degree of refining. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified untreated and mildly treated mineral oils as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Highly or severely refined oils are evaluated separately.7 Because the label doesn’t state the degree of refining, some people simply prefer to avoid these ingredients, especially since they come from petroleum.

What to look for in the ingredient list: mineral oil, paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, paraffin and cera microcristallina.


5. PEG-8


PEG-8 is a polyethylene glycol. PEGs are made through ethoxylation, a process that can leave traces of a manufacturing by-product, 1,4-dioxane.8 This by-product is never added on purpose. International bodies classify it among substances that can cause cancer in laboratory animals. The Government of Canada has concluded, however, that it is not harmful to the general population at current exposure levels, which are limited to traces in consumer products.9 1,4-Dioxane is on Health Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist.9

As a precaution, some people avoid ethoxylated ingredients in a product applied to the lips.




Can you eat lip balm? Is it safe to swallow?


Swallowing a small amount of lip balm, while eating or licking your lips, is common. A lip balm is not designed to be eaten, though. If a large amount is swallowed, especially by a young child, or if you have concerns, contact your poison control centre or a health professional.



How to choose a lip balm


A short ingredient list with names that are easy to recognize is a good starting point. Balms made with shea butter, coconut oil and other plant-based fats moisturize the lips without relying on petroleum derivatives.

Our Super leaves® lip balm is vegan, EWG Verified® and comes in a recyclable cardboard tube with no plastic.



Lip balm with SPF: non-nano zinc oxide


Lips get sunburned too. Our Sunly® SPF 15 Lip Balm is vegan and provides broad-spectrum protection thanks to non-nano zinc oxide, a mineral filter. It comes unscented, or in watermelon, pineapple or coconut. As with any sunscreen, apply it generously 15 minutes before sun exposure, then reapply at least every 2 hours and after eating or drinking. A sunscreen lip balm doesn’t replace other protective measures: limit your time in the sun and wear a hat and sunglasses.



What about kids?


Young children often lick their lips and are more likely to swallow their lip balm. Choose a simple formula, apply a small amount and keep the product out of reach. For any question about use in a child, ask a health professional.

 


Moisturize more than just your lips


Now that you know what to look for on the label, pamper your skin beyond your lips with our body lotions. You won’t regret it!




References

  1. Loretz LJ, Api AM, Barraj LM, Burdick J, Dressler WE, Gettings SD, et al. Exposure data for cosmetic products: lipstick, body lotion, and face cream. Food Chem Toxicol. 2005;43:279-91. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2004.09.016
  2. Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Opinion on methylparaben (CAS No. 99-76-3, EC No. 202-785-7), SCCS/1652/23 [Internet]. Brussels: European Commission; 2023 Dec 15 [cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/methylparaben-cas-no-99-76-3-ec-no-202-785-7_en
  3. Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Opinion on butylparaben (CAS No. 94-26-8, EC No. 202-318-7), SCCS/1651/23 [Internet]. Brussels: European Commission; 2023 Nov 6 [cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/butylparaben-cas-no-94-26-8-ec-no-202-318-7_en
  4. Health Canada. Phthalates [Internet]. Ottawa: Government of Canada; 2017 Oct 6 [updated 2020 Dec 4; cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemicals-product-safety/phthalates.html
  5. Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Opinion on butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (CAS No. 128-37-0, EC No. 204-881-4), SCCS/1636/21 [Internet]. Brussels: European Commission; 2021 Dec 2 [cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/butylated-hydroxytoluene-bht_en
  6. Health Canada. Notice of modification to the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Generally Accepted Uses as a result of the revocation of B.01.046 and B.01.047 of the Food and Drug Regulations [Internet]. Ottawa: Government of Canada; 2016 May 25 [cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/public-involvement-partnerships/modification-list-permitted-food-additives-result-revocation-b-01-046-b-01-047.html
  7. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Mineral oils, untreated or mildly treated. In: Chemical agents and related occupations. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2012. (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans; vol. 100F). Available from: https://publications.iarc.who.int/_publications/media/download/5286/a8645d1e836bf9f1c23e8cfaaecdd55d51b5f5f2.pdf
  8. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 1,4-Dioxane [Internet]. Sacramento: California Environmental Protection Agency; [date unknown] [cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/sites/default/files/downloads/factsheets/1%2C4-Dioxane_fact_sheet.pdf
  9. Health Canada. Archived 1,4-dioxane [Internet]. Ottawa: Government of Canada; 2009 May 7 [updated 2025 Jul 4; cited 2026 Oct 2]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/challenge/batch-7/1-4-dioxane.html
Written by Team ATTITUDE