By Thom Watson, founder of Phatstix, an independent British balm brand making a 30g, 100% natural lip and face balm in England. Thom started in beauty at 16 and has spent nearly two decades in the industry. He is a trained beauty therapist with an MSc in Psychology, and started Phatstix after years of frustration with his own chapped, eczema-prone lips.
The word "natural" on a lip balm label can mean one thing, something, or nothing at all. There's no legal definition in UK cosmetics law. A product with one plant-derived ingredient buried halfway down the INCI list can legally call itself natural. So a 100% natural lip balm is one where every single ingredient is natural in origin: no synthetic preservatives, no petrochemicals, no added fragrance, no colourants. That's the honest bar.
What does "natural" actually mean on a lip balm?
In the UK, "natural" is not a regulated term for cosmetics. Any brand can print it on a label without meeting a defined standard. The ISO 16128 standard provides a framework for calculating a product's natural-origin percentage, but most brands don't quote it, and they are not required to.
What this means in practice: "natural" can mean 5% natural ingredients, or 95%, or anything in between. Some products use it to mean "free from one particular ingredient" (usually parabens). Others use it as shorthand for "we're one of the good guys" without any supporting evidence.
The only reliable way to know what you're getting is to read the INCI ingredient list, or find a brand that tells you plainly what's in it and why.
What "100% natural" should mean (and what it means on The Balm)
For a lip balm to be genuinely 100% natural, every ingredient needs to be natural in origin: plant-derived, mineral, or animal-derived (like beeswax), with no petrochemicals, synthetics, or artificial additives anywhere in the formula.
The Balm by Phatstix contains nine ingredients. All nine are natural in origin.
| Ingredient (INCI) | Common name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Cera Alba | White beeswax | Animal (bee-derived) |
| Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil | Sunflower oil | Plant |
| Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil | Jojoba oil | Plant |
| Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil | Sweet almond oil | Plant |
| Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil | Grapeseed oil | Plant |
| Rubus Idaeus Seed Oil | Raspberry seed oil | Plant |
| Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | Shea butter | Plant |
| Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter | Cocoa butter | Plant |
| Mangifera Indica Seed Butter | Mango butter | Plant |
No water. No petrochemicals. No synthetic preservatives. No added fragrance. No colourants. No emulsifiers. That's what 100% natural means in the context of The Balm, and why we say it with confidence.
Is "natural" the same as "organic"?
No, and this distinction matters.
"Natural" means the ingredients are derived from natural sources. "Organic" means those ingredients were grown or produced to certified organic standards: no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, with third-party certification to prove it.
Some of The Balm's butters and oils are responsibly sourced and refined to a high grade, but the product as a whole is not certified organic under any scheme (the Soil Association, Ecocert, or similar), and we are not going to call individual ingredients "organic" as a selling point. We say natural, because that is what we can stand behind.
If you want a certified organic lip balm, look for the Soil Association or Cosmos Organic logo on the label. That's the honest signpost.
What about "clean" beauty? Is that the same thing?
"Clean" is even less defined than "natural". Different brands use it to mean different things: no parabens, no synthetic fragrance, no petrochemicals, no "controversial" ingredients (which list varies by who you ask).
The American Chemical Society and cosmetic chemists have repeatedly pointed out that "clean" is a marketing term, not a scientific or regulatory one. Calling a product "non-toxic" or "chemical-free" is technically meaningless. Everything is made of chemicals, including water.
We don't lean on "clean" as a claim for The Balm. What we do say is: 100% natural ingredients, fragrance-free, no petrochemicals, no artificial preservatives. Those are verifiable facts.
Why does it matter what's in a lip balm?
Lip balm sits on your lips all day. Some of it gets ingested. So the ingredient list is worth a look.
The main things worth considering:
Fragrance and flavour. Some people find synthetic fragrance or menthol irritating on their lips. If your lips are frequently sore or you find yourself reapplying constantly, fragrance is often the first thing to cut. The Balm contains neither.
Petrochemicals. Petroleum jelly (petrolatum) and mineral oil are safe, widely used, and inexpensive. They work as occlusives: they seal the surface. But they don't condition or nourish the skin, they just sit on top. There's nothing dangerous about them, but if you want an ingredient doing actual work (conditioning, restoring, protecting), natural oils and butters do more.
Preservatives. Water-based products need preservatives to prevent microbial growth. Anhydrous products (no water) don't, which is one reason The Balm needs no preservatives at all.
For a deeper dive into what the ingredient list on a typical lip balm actually contains, our hub article What's Actually in Your Lip Balm goes through it in full.
What makes a natural lip balm actually work?
Natural doesn't automatically mean effective. The formulation still matters: the right combination of emollients (which soften and condition), occlusives (which seal and protect), and moisturising agents (which lock in moisture).
The Balm uses:
- Beeswax is the occlusive backbone. It forms a protective barrier, reduces moisture loss, and has been used in skincare for thousands of years. A 2023 review of beeswax in skincare describes its barrier-supporting and soothing properties (Nong et al., 2023, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, doi:10.1111/jocd.15718).
- Shea butter is a rich emollient with evidence for skin-barrier support. Ours comes from women's cooperatives in Ghana, the same networks Thom worked with during his time at The Body Shop.
- Jojoba oil is technically a liquid wax rather than an oil. It absorbs well and is well-tolerated, and the literature describes soothing activity (Pazyar et al., 2013).
- Raspberry seed oil is included at a meaningful ~6%, rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids that help condition and nourish the lip surface.
- Sunflower, sweet almond, grapeseed are conditioning oils that work together to nourish and soften. Sunflower oil in particular is shown to support the skin's barrier and skin renewal (Lin et al., 2017).
Taken together, the formula is non-comedogenic (it won't clog pores) and suitable for all skin types. No filler. Every ingredient earns its place.
Is The Balm vegan?
No. The Balm contains beeswax (Cera Alba), which is animal-derived. It is not tested on animals, but it is not vegan.
If you need a vegan lip balm, The Balm isn't the right fit for you, and we'd rather say that than obscure it.
What about "made in the UK"? Does that matter?
For us it does, on two counts: quality control and supply chain transparency. The Balm is formulated and manufactured in England. It was developed with Here2Grow, a cosmetics laboratory in Yorkshire, and filled at a GMP and ISO 22716-certified manufacturer in Lincolnshire.
"Made in England" on The Balm means the product was actually made here, not just designed here with manufacturing elsewhere. It also means the product is fully compliant with UK Cosmetics Regulations and has a complete, up-to-date Cosmetic Product Safety Report.
How does The Balm compare to other natural lip balms?
There are genuinely good natural lip balms on the market. The honest comparison is mostly about size and format.
| Product | Weight | Price per gram | Natural? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phatstix The Balm | 30g | ~£0.80/g | 100% natural, made in England |
| Burt's Bees Original | 4.25g | ~£1.11/g | Natural, some synthetic preservatives |
| Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment | 9g | ~£2/g | Not 100% natural, contains synthetic actives |
| Fresh Sugar Lip Balm | 4.3g | ~£5.25/g | Contains synthetic preservatives and fragrance |
(Per-gram figures are indicative, based on typical UK pricing. Check current prices before relying on them.)
The Balm is 7x bigger than a standard lip balm (30g vs ~4.25-4.5g), lasts up to a year, and works out at around 25% cheaper per gram than a typical high-street balm (~£0.80/g vs ~£1.06/g), while being far cheaper per gram than premium balms such as Rhode (~£2/g) or Fresh (~£5.25/g).
One stick. No drawerful of nearly-empty tubes. That was the whole point.
What should I look for when buying a natural lip balm in the UK?
A few practical rules:
- Check the INCI list. If you see "petrolatum", "mineral oil", or synthetic preservatives like "phenoxyethanol" and you were expecting an all-natural product, that's your answer.
- Check what "natural" is based on. ISO 16128 percentage is the most useful figure. If no brand quotes it, that's telling.
- Don't confuse "organic" and "natural". Look for third-party certification if organic matters to you.
- Fragrance-free is a meaningful distinction. Especially if your lips are prone to irritation.
- Size and format matter. A 4g tube running out every six weeks is not good value, even at £4.
FAQ
Is The Balm 100% natural?
Yes. The Balm contains nine ingredients, all natural in origin: beeswax, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, raspberry seed oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and mango butter. No synthetics, no petrochemicals, no fragrance, no water, no artificial preservatives.
Is The Balm certified organic?
No. The Balm is not certified under an organic scheme such as the Soil Association, and we do not market its ingredients as "organic". We say natural, not organic.
Is The Balm suitable for reactive or eczema-prone skin?
The Balm is fragrance-free and made from 100% natural ingredients, which is why Thom developed it for his own eczema-prone lips. That said, it's a cosmetic, not a treatment, and if you have a skin condition you're managing medically, check with your GP or pharmacist before changing what you're applying.
Is there SPF in The Balm?
No. The Balm contains no SPF or sun-protection ingredients. (Raspberry seed oil is sometimes marketed as having a natural SPF. That claim is not supported by robust evidence and is not one we make.) If you need sun protection on your lips, look for a product with a tested, stated SPF.
Where is The Balm made?
The Balm is made in England. It is formulated with Here2Grow, a lab in Yorkshire, and filled at a GMP and ISO 22716-certified manufacturer in Lincolnshire.
How does The Balm compare in size to a standard lip balm?
The Balm is 30g. A standard lip balm is roughly 4.25-4.5g. That makes The Balm 7x bigger, and it works out at around £0.80 per gram, roughly 25% cheaper per gram than a typical high-street balm (~£1.06/g).
If you found this useful, our full guide to what's actually in your lip balm goes deeper into ingredients, what they do, and what to watch out for.
The Balm: 30g, 100% natural, made in England
One big, buttery stick for lips, faces and flaky places. No fluff. Just proper care.