treating chapped lips

[zeebs]

I have chapped lips. No matter how much balm I apply they seem to persist. Any other tips would be appreciated.

[lov2read68]

Hi zeebs! I battle this too! Most balms & lipsticks dry my lips out to the point of peeling abt 4 hrs after applying. I apologize if that is TMI. I have a vaseline-like product that has shea butter mixed in. I apply a generous amt at bedtime & my lips are much better in the morning. I have tried applying a very light layer under lipstick in the morning to combat dryness but the color payoff is noticably dimished. Do notice if you lick your lips? I had a lip gloss that tasted like vanilla & finally realized that I was licking/biting it off. Is your nose stuffy due to allergies or a cold leading to more breathing through your mouth? Even with my allergy meds. I still do this some. Wishing you much luck as you work to find some relief!

[Xarata]

i battle with this off and on. The biggest thing I've noticed to help is to keep myself really good and hydrated overall by drinking enough water (i also drink a lot of hot tea). IMO, lip balms don't so much moisturize as seal moisture in so there has to be moisture there to begin with.

Personally, I'm still a diehard burt's bees fan- i appreciate that waxiness as it helps it stay on longer and i really don't mind the peppermint. Sometimes i layer it over something with extra good oils in it like silk naturals so that the oils get in to help hydrate and the waxy layer keeps it that way. Sweet almond oil and castor oil are both supposed to be great for lips.

I've also fallen in love with lip balms containing mowrah,hemp, illipe, sal, kokum, mango, or pumpkin see butters/oils but they're kind of rare ingredients and one of the few i loved is no longer made (company closed). Chagrin valley sells a few for $3.25/jar . Kokum and mango butters are really good for healing and regeneration. you can buy most butters at garden of wisdom.

[mgmsrk]

Hydrate

Exfoliate, toothbrush or wash cloth daily

Moisturize, I like natural oils and then non medicated lip balm, I make my own (bees wax, cocoa butter, almond oil and olive oil)

Next I will mix a bit of cortisone cream with my lip balm and apply it if nothing else is working, use for just a day or two and only a small amount.

[packgal]

i get horrible chapped and peeling lips in the winter as well. i second the tip on not licking your lips. i have also found that SN's brown sugar and vanilla lip scrub is awesome for this problem. i only use it in the winter, but as soon as i start getting chapped lips i use it every 2-3 days. and i start using the clear black label lippies way more than tinted ones. (i use the devil's food cake cause it smells so yummy). i find it so moisturizing, even more so than the colored black labels. if i want to wear a colored lippie, i put the clear on first and then the colored over it.

[karen]

I agree with everyone...if they're cracked and bleeding a regular balm may not be 100% the answer. Try rubbing some honey on them, and leaving it on for as long as you can. It has a lot of really beneficial things in it, and that should help a bit.

Meanwhile...I'm working on some balms too. Sam, how is it that just when I think I've bought every single last oil that exists you list more that I haven't played with...now I want some pumpkin!

[sunshinegal]

great tips ladies. I am going to check out that lip scrub.

I was horribly addicted to lip gloss and chap stick. I was applying it every half an hour and my lips still felt horribly dry. I took the hard way and just stopped applying until my lips hurt and I would have to apply for fear of them cracking. First week i was still applying every 30 minutes, second week like every hour and now about 6 months later I only need to apply like twice a day. Now I can use lip gloss and lip stick and have it last awhile and just use it for the color and not to hydrate my lips.

I still have a lip peeling problem so I think the scrub will help!

[Rhys]

I second the pumpkin - it's great. Coffee butter, too.

I love honey, but it's hard to not lick it off my lips too quickly! Still, very very moisturising. And make sure when you put on your regular face moisturiser, and especially the things under it like hydrating serum or HA, that you don't skip your lips.

[Cupcake]

That's made me think. For painful, bleeding lip cracks, I used to get some Blistex cream from the pharmacy in a little blue tube. That would sting, but do the job. I need something on my lips day and night.

The Black Label lippy is my intensive rescue therapy balm. Look away now if you're delicate but if you've got sore cracked skin anywhere else, it's excellent especially around the nostrils from a runny nose cold - and yes, I cut a bit off the balm stick, I don't wipe it on directly onto my nose. I also have used it as emergency hand salve. I like the Coconut Lip Balm for days when everything's already in good condition.

We could do with mini portable pots of intensive soothing balms, if possible?

p.s. you guys in America are so lucky to have all these lovely oils. I'm never heard of most of them. There are places in the UK which consider Jojoba to be exotic! We're sooo far behind you for availability personal care items and health foods / whole foods etc.

[xiaoyi]

Drink lots of water to keep your skin hydrated. I apply a moisturizing lip balm right after I take a shower to make sure I lock in the most moisture. SN's Black Label lippies are great for this. So are the lip balms made by Chagrin Valley Soap and Craft. I've also started using Chagrin Valley's squalane face and eye mousse around my mouth area and that has helped a lot.