Mesquite Mama's belief is that "less is more", so each ingredient in her all natural lip balms is carefully chosen for its healing, soothing, protecting, nourishing, conditioning and moisturizing properties.
THE INGREDIENTS:
Beeswax - The Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera, secretes beeswax from wax glands on the sides of their bodies in order to build up a hexagonal cell in which honey is stored. Wax first secreted by the bee is a transparent colorless liquid, which turns into a semi-solid substance on contact with the atmosphere. Pure beeswax is one of nature's most perfect products. Beeswax works on human skin because of its compatibility and because it helps emulsify cosmetics and toiletries. It works well because of compounds called "wax esthers" that exist in both beeswax and human skin. Beeswax is a hydrating ingredient that increases skin's essential moisture.
Olive Oil - Olive oil is a very good moisturizer, not because it has its own healing properties, but because it attracts external moisture, holds the moisture close to the skin, and forms a breathable film to prevent loss of internal moisture. Unlike so many other substances used for this purpose, olive oil does not block the natural functions of the skin while performing its own. The skin is able to continue sweating, releasing sebum and shedding dead skin. Olive oil does not inhibit this necessary function. Olive oil's phenolic compounds carry the same pain-relieving benefits as ibuprofen. It keeps skin elastic and youthful looking.
Shea Butter - From the seeds of the Karite Tree (Butyrospermum Parkii), common to West Africa, a soft pliant "butter" is expeller pressed without the use of solvents, making it suitable for use in cosmetics. Shea butter is deodorized and filtered using natural clays to render a "butter" that is nearly white and odorless, better suited for use in high end cosmetics. Shea butter contains Vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. These vitamins are particularly helpful for sun damaged skin. They help prevent facial lines and premature wrinkles. Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator. Shea butter soothes rough, dry or chapped skin. It easily penetrates the skin, allowing it to breathe and does not clog pores. Shea butter has a high level of cinnamic acid, a natural sunscreen, so it provides some degree of protection from the sun. Shea butter is also anti-inflammatory. There is anecdotal evidence that it is very useful in treating minor skin conditions.
Vitamin E - Vitamin E promotes healing, protecting cells from free-radical damage and reducing itchiness. Vitamin E in a topical application moisturizes the skin from within, reduces UV damage, helps to protect against ozone damage and decreases redness of the skin after sun exposure. This makes it appropriate for use in sun care products like lip balm. Externally, it is healing to the skin. It is an effective membrane stabilizer that protects the skin from sun damage, reduces fine facial lines and wrinkles and generally improves skin smoothness. Vitamin E acts as a powerful antioxidant by neutralizing free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage. It also improves wound healing and helps preserve not only your skin, but the lip balm, too.
Red Raspberry Seed Oil - Red Raspberry Seed Oil is high in natural tocopherols and essential fatty acids, with a 30% Omega 3, 54% Omega 6 and 14% Omega 9 profile. It is a valuable cold pressed oil for natural cosmetics. Its high level of Vitamin E gives it an important role in skin repair and conditioning. It prevents many types of skin lesions. It is emollient, lubricating, conditioning, creates a lipid barrier providing protection to the skin and provides moisture retention. Its anti-inflammatory properties are greater than those of Avocado, Grapeseed, Hazelnut and Wheatgerm Oils. Red Raspberry Seed Oil may act as a broad spectrum UV-A and UV-B shield. It has shown an SPF of between 28 and 50 and thus is a valuable natural sunscreen and sunblock. However, adding a SPF number to lip balm changes the product from a cosmetic to an over-the-counter drug, so SPF numbers are not used. It also has a long shelf life because of its high phospholipid content, and may increase the stability of other oils when blended with them.
Essential Oil - Essential Oils are useful in the practice of aromatherapy. Essential Oil is not actually an oil, but the natural product extracted from the bark, flower, fruit, leaf or root. They deliver positive benefits to the body through smell or direct absorption into the skin. Benefits of essential oil include soothing, calming, stimulating, refreshing, centering and warming to the system. They are sourced from all over the word in their purest state. Essential Oils have cytophylactic (cell regeneration), antiseptic and wound healing effects, as well as anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, making them the ultimate active principles for holistic natural skin care.
NOTE: If you have extremely dry or rough skin compounded with sensitive tactile and/or olfactory afflictions caused by any number of issues - candida, fibromyalgia, parasites, excema, psoriasis, dermatitis, allergies, dehydration, high acidity, lack of beneficial oil in the body or even mental dysfunction are a few that come to mind - the vanilla or unflavored lip balms would probably be good choices for you. Even better would be the Cold Sore Remedy with Honey, because of the extra healing and soothing qualities of aloe, lanolin and honey.
COLD SORE REMEDY WITH HONEY INGREDIENTS
In addition to the listed ingredients in Mesquite Mama's All Natural Lip Balm above, the Cold Sore Remedy with Honey has included the following items. Honey has been substituted for the essential oil as flavor. All have been picked for their known properties to speed the healing process.
Aloe Vera - Aloe Vera contains numerous vitamins and minerals, enzymes, amino acids, natural sugars and agents which may be anti-inflammatory and anti microbial. The combination and balance of the plant's ingredients are what purportedly gives it its healing properties. It speeds the healing process, particularly in burns, including those from radiation. It helps moisturize and soften skin and relieves itching and swelling of irritated skin. It helps kill fungus and bacteria and improves the effectiveness of sunscreen products.
L-Lysine - L-Lysine is an amino acid well known to reduce the number of outbreaks of cold sores and alleviate the severity of the symptoms, as well as significantly shortening the duration of cold sores and herpes outbreaks.
Lanolin - Lanolin comes from the fleece of sheep. In the spring when sheep are sheared the lanolin is removed from the wool before the wool can be processed into yarns. In the same way that it protects sheep from the harsh effects of the environment, using cosmetic products that contain lanolin will help protect the skin as well. The composition of lanolin is very similar to oils found in human skin, and therefore, is very compatible with the skin. Among the many positive features of lanolin, one of the most outstanding is the ability to catch and hold water. This feature allows for the moisturizing and emollient effect when applied to the skin, creating soothing, smooth softness.
Honey - Honey is composed of sugars, minerals, B Vitamins and Vitamin C, as well as copper, zinc and iodine. Several kinds of hormones are also present in honey. It is anti-inflammatory. Its phytochemicals kill viruses, bacteria and fungus. It is a natural antiseptic, preventing infections with antimicrobial agents. Many types of bacteria cannot survive in honey, so wounds heal, swelling eases and tissue can grow back. Burns heal better with honey and accelerates skin healing. The sugar in honey absorbs water and helps trap moisture so bacteria and other microbes can't grow easily. It is a good source of antioxidants. It has a high content of alpha hydroxy and is safe for sensitive skin.
