MetaChat - Tips for Winter Chapped Lips?

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20 January 2008

Tips for Winter Chapped Lips? →[More:] I've been doing the exfoliate with the toothbrush thing, but I think it might be counter-productive. It seems to be getting worse.

I'm warming coconut oil for my hands and feet and lips right now.

Gimme your lip tips! It's fifteen degrees out!

post by: rainbaby at: 20:47 | 22 comments

Vaseline.

posted by bonobo 20 January | 20:49

I know from Vaseline. I need more. Vaseline sits on the surface, it seems, but it is the default quick fix.

posted by rainbaby 20 January | 20:50

Coconut oil and shea butter!

posted by iconomy 20 January | 20:52

Trumpet player of 31 years here.

1. Don't lick your lips.
2/ I use Trader Joe's mint lip balm every time I go out a building or come in. I never use Chapstick - it contains lanolin, which makes my lips swell a wee bit, but is noticeable to me.

posted by plinth 20 January | 20:54

i am having the same problem. The top edge of my top lip has been a mess all day. i have been putting all kinds of crap on it and nothing is working, and i mean the really good stuff and everything else. It seems i have isolated a drought.

posted by ethylene 20 January | 20:56

When things get bad, Blistex Lip Ointment will sink in and really get things healing. I find it's good to use this, and then layer something thick over it- Vaseline, Kiehl's Lip Balm #1- to seal it in. I must say, I haven't gotten really chapped lips in years- the pro of drinking lots of water and carrying around at least 10 lip balms at all times :-D An ounce of lip balm is worth a pound of.. lip ointment?

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 20 January | 20:59

Cherry Chapstick has worked for me for over ten years. In fact, I think one of mine is over ten years old. Maybe even much older. I think it's time I checked.

Anyway, the trick is too really work it into your lips after the basic surface application.

posted by Ardiril 20 January | 21:06

I'm a big Burt's Beeswax fan. I am a perennial chapped lipped sufferer (whilst in the United States). I have had tremendous success with this brand. I think it works especially well because it is a local brand (I am in the Chapel Hill area, and BBW is produced in Durham, the next town over).

posted by msali 20 January | 22:04

Burt's Bees items are available in my area, and I, being the lip balm addict that I am, find myself "chewing" it and other products with a taste from my lips. I notice a surge of pomegranate fruits and products in my region (W. KY, US) and Burt's Bees (now part of Clorox) makes a pomegranate balm that actually works pretty well for me; however, I still rotate portable products (Vaseline Lip Therapy, Burt's Bees Pomegranate, or Blistex Medicated in my pocket) and use basic Vaseline at home

posted by bonobo 20 January | 22:22

Put Vaseline on at night before you go to sleep, and sleep with a humidifier by your bed.

posted by amro 20 January | 22:36

My friend J, who suffered chronic, painful chapping of lips and hands, finally went to a dermatologist, who prescribed a tiny draught of evening primrose oil every night before bed, and an extra glass or two of water each day.

J was completely cured of her various chappings, and even stopped carrying lip balm.

disclaimer: I know nothing about such things --- I just know she told all of her friends about this for months and months. Boy, was she delighted.

Me, I use Burt's Bees lip balm.

posted by Elsa 20 January | 23:34

Carmex.... same difference.

posted by Doohickie 20 January | 23:35

I've been having serious problems with chapped lips, too. A friend recommended Neosporin (or Mycetracin, or Vitacilina, whatever you call the ointment you use underneath a bandaid/plaster), and it completely cleared up my problems in two days. All the cracks have closed, too! Best thing is, you can get the kind that has a mild pain killer. That helped me while the cracks were healing. It didn't look as greasy as Vaseline, and it even blended well with my lipstick.

Good luck!

posted by mosessis 20 January | 23:40

Vaseline only. I like the virgin coconut oil, but I have sensitive skin so I can't use it when my skin is irritated in any way. Vaseline is the cure allllll. Be sure to buy one of the gentle face scrubs and take a minute to do your lips. When you get out of the shower, then just slap on some vaseline immediately.

My lips are never chapped now, unless I forget my little pot of vaseline and then say, eat something salty and then start licking my lips...that is as terrible a vicious cycle as nail biting is!

posted by SassHat 20 January | 23:56

I have used Burt's Bees lifeguard lip balm. But I do not think I can buy another tube after reading this.

So I don't know what I'll use now but I need something.

posted by danf 21 January | 00:14

Aquaphor

posted by WolfDaddy 21 January | 01:03

I have had chapped lips my whole life too. Here's what helps:

*Lipbalm with sunblock in it. Lots!
*As little petroleum product as possible- get the hippy stuff.
*No menthol- that means no Blistex and no Burt's Bees.
*Sunblock lipbalm!
*Lots of lipbalm but if that still isn't working, use Neosporin with it,
*Take a multivitamin (ESPECIALLY if you have cracking in the corners!)

That's about it.

posted by small_ruminant 21 January | 03:13

One man's chapstick...

I'm a nightly vaseliner year round. Does the trick for me. If I know I'm going to be outside for an extended period I'll hit it with chapstick.

posted by chewatadistance 21 January | 08:12

Chapstick just as I'm about to go out the door in the morning, Vaseline when I get into bed at night. Extra Chapstick (PRN) if I have a cold or it's blowing a gale outside or something.

posted by goo 21 January | 10:32

My lips have been super chapped this winter, and during the day Mac's lip conditioner stick has helped a lot. The key seems to be to keep something covering my lips at all times, though, not just at night or when I notice they're dry. At night I use Eterna 27 face cream and put it on my lips too (they feel really nice and soft afterward), and when they were cracked and really grumpy I put a little vaseline over that until they healed. Like I said, for me it's really important to keep something on them CONSTANTLY or they lose all moisture really quickly.

posted by angelique.eek 21 January | 11:44

Vitamin E - break open the capsule and smear it on your lips. It's really heavy and sticky, so I usually do it at night before bed, after brushing teeth.

posted by Melinika 21 January | 13:21

You can also just buy little bottles of liquid vitamin E.

posted by box 21 January | 14:13

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