Unlike the skin on your body (with about 16 layers) your lips have only 5 layers of skin. There are no sweat or sebaceous glands on the lips either to form a protective layer and keep them moist. For this reason lips dry out quickly, become chapped and split easily. Many commercial Lip Balms are made with petroleum or paraffin based oils which actually have the effect of drying out lips even more. They form an impenetrable layer on the lips which does not allow the skin to breathe or to heal. Some also contain lanolin which adversely affects many people. These drying products are the cause of 'lip balm addiction' especially in young girls where they constantly apply gloss only to lick it off again! Our all-natural Lip Balms are made from a blend of Organic Sunflower oil infused with moisturising plant based ingredients, Aloe Vera gel, Shea Nut butter, Vitamin E oil and a high percentage of Northumbrian Beeswax which form a protective, breathable, non-greasy barrier on the skin to prevent chaps and cracks during even the most adverse weather conditions. You can also apply our product under the nose if it is irritated by too much nose-blowing. Because our Lip Balms are a totally natural product you don't need to apply so much, they will last longer and have a firmer texture than many commercial brands so we recommend softening a tiny amount between your fingers before smoothing on your lips. Likewise, the skin around the eye - known as the periocular area is also thinner. All the skin on the body will regenerate over a period of time This skin renewal process is known as desquamation. Desquamation is an ongoing process which takes about two weeks in a young person, and significantly longer – about 37 days for individuals over 50. This build up of old, dead skin looks dull, callous or dry. The eye area is the first to show significant signs of ageing. Skin feels and looks rough and its ability to retain water becomes impaired. Eye irritation and infection are also more likely and a 'dragging' feeling can occur when rubbing eyes denoting a lack of moisture. Although a certain amount of oil is helpful in moisturising and cleansing the eye area, products containing heavy oils can clog glands around the eyes leading to styes and other ocular problems. Contact lens wearers in particular, should avoid products containing heavy oils which not only stick to the lens causing blurred vision, but can also cause permanent staining. Products packaged in a manner that requires dipping fingers into a jar may cause more harm than good as contamination is possible. Also, products containing alcohol and chemicals are best avoided as they irritate and dry out the skin even more. Here at Woadworks our eye products contain natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) - a group of naturally occurring substances found in a variety of fruits, sugar cane and milk. They gently exfoliate, combating the build up of dead skin cells. The epidermis becomes smoother and softer, and the appearance of fine lines is reduced. By thinning the dead cell layer, AHA’s enhance the penetration of our other soothing natural plant based ingredients. AHA’s also act as a superb moisturiser due to their hydroscopic (water binding) ability. We steep herbal extracts of Eyebright, Chamomile, Cornflower and Ladies Mantle in a light dry oil such as Melon or Raspberry Seed to add moisture, diminish fine lines, decrease redness and puffiness to nourish, revitalize and rejuvenate the skin.