As we start to head into the cooler months (at least in the Southern Hemisphere!) lip gloss and lip balm is one of those staple items to help protect our lips from chapping and cracking. Just like adults, children’s lips can suffer the same fate especially as their natural reaction is to lick their sore, chapped lips.
The main benefit of lip gloss is to help moisturise and protect our lips and for children this is no different. Children also love to emulate their parents by having glossy lips that smell and taste delicious!
But not all lip gloss and lip balm are created equal so let’s take a look at some of the considerations when choosing a lip gloss for your child:
- Look for a lip gloss that contains natural and organic ingredients: Natural and organic ingredients such as plant oils like Castor Oil, MCT Oil and Carnauba Wax and natural pigments & flavours can help protect children’s lips. Avoiding lip gloss products with synthetic ingredients and preservatives will ensure there is nothing harmful reaching their skin.
- Review the product label: It’s important to ensure the ingredients listed are not something your child is allergic to. All products should contain an ingredients list and Oh Flossy also publishes this list on our website.
- Look for age-appropriate products: Some lip gloss products may be designed for adults and not safe or suitable for kids. Oh Flossy’s range of products and lip gloss are 100% kid friendly. Our lip gloss comes in an easy to apply gel that squeezes gently out of the tube - perfect for little hands.
- Consider safe and sustainable packaging: Ensure the products are packaged safely and avoid non-sustainable packaging material
- Always test the product first: Test a small amount of the lip gloss to a small area of your child’s skin to ensure there is no allergic reaction or sensitivities to the ingredients within the lip gloss
- Consult with a paediatrician: If your child has a history of skin allergies or sensitivities, consult with a paediatrician before using any new lip product.
What is natural lip gloss?
Natural lip gloss is generally made from plant-based and organic ingredients making it safer and more effective for keeping kids lips protected and moisturised. Conventional lip gloss often contains ingredients which are not lip or skin friendly such as synthetic materials (especially for colouring and flavouring) and preservatives which can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions.
Examples ingredients that are found in natural lip gloss include:
Castor Seed Oil (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
One of the main ingredients in the Oh Flossy Lip Gloss range is Castor Seed 
Oil. Castor Oil is a plant-based oil which is achieved through cold-pressing the seeds of the Castor Plant (Ricinus Communis plant).
Castor Seed Oil properties include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and softening & soothing which makes it a perfect ingredient for soothing dry lips and creating a moisturising protective barrier.
MCT Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
MCT Oil is derived from Coconut Oil and Glycerine and contains beneficial fatty acids. Similarly, to Castor Oil, MCT Oil helps to prevent moisture loss in skin which makes it very important in the Oh Flossy Lip Gloss range, ensuring lips don’t dry out due to the elements. MCT Oil is also very gentle so can be used on the most sensitive skin (always patch test).
Carnauba Wax (Copernica Cerifera Wax)
Carnauba Wax is another plant derived ingredient coming from the Copernicia Prunifera plant that grows (wildly) throughout northern Brazil.
Carnauba Wax is known to be the hardest of all plant-based waxes with a high melting point which makes it a great addition to lip care products such as lip gloss and lip balms.
What are the benefits of choosing a natural lip gloss for your child?
- Safety: Natural lip gloss is considered safer as it uses natural and organic ingredients. These natural ingredients generally plant-based such as Castor Oil, MCT Oil (derived from coconut oil) and Carnauba Wax. Some conventional lip glosses contain synthetic ingredients especially for the colours and fragrances along with preservatives that can cause adverse reactions to your child’s skin, skin irritations or allergic reactions. Oh Flossy Natural Lip Gloss for Kids contains only natural ingredients including natural pigments and flavouring.
- Moisturising: Natural lip gloss is perfect for soothing dry, chapped lips. The natural oils help to form a protective barrier on the child’s lips to keep the elements out and the moisture in. It also helps to stop them from licking their lips!
- Gentle: As children’s skin can be more sensitive than adults, the natural and organic ingredients found in natural lip gloss are gentler on the skin and lips and therefore avoid irritations.
- Environmentally friendly: As natural lip gloss is made from natural and organic ingredients, these are often biodegradable and more sustainable forms of ingredients compared to the synthetic based lip glosses, making it better for the environment.
As you can see, not all lip gloss is created equal! For our little ones, safety & protection is important and so when choosing lip gloss, the key things to keep in mind include:
- Look for natural lip gloss alternatives to keep their lips protected and moisturised while ensuring no toxic ingredients touch their skin.
- Reviewing the labelling to ensure the ingredients are not something your child is allergic too.
- Gentle, nourishing and moisturising - it’s important that the lip gloss actually works!
- Fun for children including lovely scents, colours and flavours.
At Oh Flossy, we’ve spent over 12 months creating a natural lip gloss alternative that we feel meets all of the key requirements a parent, friend or family member is looking for - safe, effective and fun! You can find out more here - Oh Flossy Natural Lip Gloss Set.
