Dr. Dan's CortiBalm

Name: CortiBalm
Brand: Dr. Dan's
Rating: 5.00 (1 reviews)

5.00 · 1 review

A highly rated lip moisturizer with 4 ingredients.

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Overview

What it is

Lip moisturizer with 4 ingredients

Cool Features

It is reef safe

Suited For

It has ingredients that are good for dry skin

Free From

It doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates

Fun facts

Dr. Dan's is from United States. This product is used in 13 routines created by our community.

We independently verify ingredients and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Does this product need an update? Let us know.

What's inside

Ingredients List

4

Active Ingredients

Hydrocortisone 1%

Inactive Ingredients

Beeswax

Emulsion Stabilising

0-2 / 0 Bad for Acne Prone Skin Icon

Petrolatum

Emollient

Paraffinum Liquidum

Emollient

0-2 / 0 Oil Icon

Active Ingredients: Hydrocortisone 1%
Inactive Ingredients: Beeswax, Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum

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Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Explained

Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is the name for the hormone cortisol when used in medication.

It is medication and not technically a cosmetic ingredient. Most countries allow topical creams to contain up between 0.05 - 2.5% (depending on the country) of hydrocortisone without a prescription. Higher amounts usually require a prescription from a professional.

Hydrocortisone can help relieve rashes, eczema, itching, and other inflammation induced skin conditions.

We recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient.

Learn more about Hydrocortisone

Beeswax

Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees to build their honeycomb.

Because it forms a protective layer on your skin, it can help lock in moisture and reduce water loss. It is also widely used as a thickener and emulsifier in lip balms and lotions. Research suggests beeswax containing moisturizers can support skin barrier integrity.

In comedogenic testing, Beeswax scored a 0-2, which is on the low end. Whether or not a product clogs your pores really comes down to the formula as a whole (not any single ingredient on its own).

Cera Alba is the white, bleached form of this ingredient.

Just so you know, beeswax is not vegan since it is animal-derived. It cannot be removed with water, but can be taken off with an oil cleanser.

People with a known Propolis allergy also report to have reactions from beeswax.

Learn more about Beeswax

Petrolatum

Emollient

Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.

This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.

Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.

The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand. Most cosmetic petrolatum has gone through several purification stages.

Another benefit of occlusives is it protects your skin against infection or allergies.

Petrolatum is fungal acne safe. It is a hydrocarbon with no fatty acid structure, so Malassezia cannot metabolize it. In-vitro studies support negligible growth stimulation as well.

It's also worth noting that petrolatum has a comedogenic rating of 0. In updated rabbit ear testing (and in human testing), petrolatum was found to be not comedogenic. This means it didn’t promote comedone formation in standard models.

Learn more about Petrolatum

Paraffinum Liquidum

Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Paraffinum Liquidum is a highly-refined cosmetic-grade mineral oil. It is also known as liquid paraffin.

Despite its controversial reputation, the science is pretty clear: it's one of the most well-studied and effective moisturizing ingredients out there.

As an occlusive, it forms a protective layer on the skin that locks in moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This makes it especially great for compromised skin barriers.

The "it clogs your pores" myth has been around for decades; a study found that industrial-grade mineral oil may be comedogenic but cosmetic-grade mineral oil is not (these two are very, very different).

A 2017 review concluded that cosmetic use of mineral oils and waxes does not present a risk to consumers due to absorption.

Mineral oil got a bad rap from the old rabbit ear studies. When tested on actual human skin, cosmetic-grade mineral oil showed no comedogenic activity. The rating of 0 is a correction of outdated science.

Mineral oil is an inert substance with no fatty acids so there's nothing to feed Malassezia. This ingredient is fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Paraffinum Liquidum