Extremely dry lips...any ideas? - YouLookFab Forum

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Extremely dry lips...any ideas?

Maya

Veteran

Angie's post about dry skin reminded me to post this. My lips get very dry in the winter, to the point of cracking and peeling. It can be very painful. Has anyone found a remedy for this? I am currently using Burt's Bees, which worked well in the summer, but now it needs to be applied every couple of hours. I wonder if olive oil will work as well on lips as it does on skin. If so, I'd be interested to hear about a product that has olive oil as the main ingredient (since it isn't exactly practical to carry around a bottle of oil around in my bag).

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19 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Dawn

(website)

I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Chapstick during the winter and find that it's really good for badly chapped lips. I tend to get dried out lips from cycling & running and this works best for me, but I'm not too sure if this brand is available in the USA. Or I find that plain and simple vaseline works as well.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Carmex. It comes in little tub with a yellow cap. You can find it in any drugstore. Made in Wisconsin where people know a few things about cold (and chapped lips).

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Carmex. It comes in little tub with a yellow cap. You can find it in any drugstore. Made in Wisconsin where people know a few things about cold (and chapped lips).

Nicole

Veteran

I second Laura's recommendation of Carmex. The trick is to use it regularly--before your lips chap. Also pay attention to how often you lick your lips and if it's cold out, keep your face covered with a scarf or a neck roll. One day in the sun and wind can be killer on your lips.

Also, don't forget to stay well hydrated in the winter. I know I have to remind myself to drink water in the winter--but in the summer I drink water all day long.

Ellen

Carmex is wonderful. If your lips are very dry it may sting until they've caught up on moisture.

Also, Aquaphor is terrific, also for any dry spots on face, etc. It's a bit gentler than Carmex and doesn't have the sting. They don't sell it in Canada so I always pick some up when I'm on your side of the border.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Carmex is good preventative. If your lips are already chapped and cracked, I've found that putting on the Chapstick Medicated really helps my lips. I sometimes get a big crack in the middle of my bottom lip (sorry, I'm sure that's a lovely image), and if I don't have the chapstick with me, I come home and put it on, and reapply it a couple of hours later, and then before bed and sleep with it on, and usually by the next morning my lip feels much better. By the next day after that, it's totally healed. Brendan has the same thing, and it works for him too.

Ellen

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Lena

I have chronic dry lips and the only thing that works lately is Aquaphor by Eucerin (you can get it in small tubes). I've tried various oils (including olive oil) and surprisingly it made things worse (probably an individual thing).

And lip gloss on top of lipstick or chapstick. I dislike the shine and stickiness, but at least it takes away discomfort.

I think DHC markets itself as olive oil based skincare. I've seen mixed reviews of its products.

Debbie

Have you tried Aquaphor by Eucerin? I think it is great. It comes in a tube and I use it on my hands too.

Tanya

Veteran

I have found two things to work very well for me: Smith's Rosebud Salve and Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream.

shiny

Veteran

I used to have this problem, in a major way. I went to a MAC store (this must be 10 years ago now!) and they told me that the issue was using chapstick and similar - including Burt's Bee's.

The MAC clerk told me to:

1) Use my toothbrush every day to gently slough off the skin on my lips;

2) Throw away chapstick and similar lip balms and never use them again;

and

3) Wear lipstick and/or lip gloss as much as possible.

It worked, within one month. I have not had any major problem since. I apply lipstick or lip gloss in the morning when I get dressed, and re-apply throughout the day. And I do sometimes apply chapstick *over* the lipstick (kinda seals it on), but not under it.

Chapstick is very drying. It sets up a vicious cycle. Just say no!

susan

I also have dry lips during the cooler months. I use vaseline at night and Lancome lipstick-it doesnt' dry my lips out.

Violet

I use Carmex. I'm not crazy about the flavor, so I slather it on at night before bed. In the morning my lips are nice and soft and I can exfoliate any dead skin with a toothbrush like Shiny mentioned.

Maya

Veteran

Wow that's a lot of good advice. I'll try one thing at a time and see how it goes. Shiny, was this in reference to ALL chapstick? I chose Burt's Bees because it's all natural. I can't see myself ever wearing lipstick every day. Maybe lip gloss. I'm not sure why but wearing any makeup just makes me feel silly for some reason even though I used to wear it all the time when I was in college. Guess I had more of a social life then...

Lena

Some "all natural" chapsticks have essential oils like peppermint or orange that may be irritating. It's a trial and error thing. For example, anything with camphor or menthol drives me crazy.

As for exfoliation, toothbrush is too harsh for me at wintertime. I use plain vaseline, wait a few minutes and then exfoliate with a cotton pad.

tarzy

Veteran

I love Burt's Bees also. I keep the tubes everywhere - in the car, in every purse, in my nightstand - I even have one next to the couch. I read somewhere that Chapstick is actually NOT good to use.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I came to second (or third!) Aquaphor by Eucerin.
My husband had severe acne for awhile and was put on Accutane for a period of several months. Accutane dries out your skin and lips like you wouldn't believe. So his dermotologist told him to get Aquaphor. Now that he's off Accutane (and his skin is much improved) we still buy this stuff. It is the only chapstick I use. It also works great as a night cream for dry areas on my face, as well as elbows, etc. Love it!

Nicole

Veteran

My friend's son has to use Aquaphor on his hands for chronic excema. I never thought to use it on lips...good idea.

I read somewhere that you can exfoliate your lips using a dry washcloth. That may be a little less abrasive than a toothbrush, but more effective than a cotton pad.

A little off topic but.... if you are suffering from more than just chapped lips--if you have mouth sores or anything like that--you should try an OTC supplement called "L Lysine". It is highly effective at reducing the length of time for the sores to heal. (This includes canker sores and fever blisters too). You can also take L-Lysine preventatively if you are prone to these sores, or if you are going to have any kind of oral surgery. I don't like to suggest medicine to people in general. Our society promotes too much OTC medication and I fear what it will do to us in the future--but L-Lysine is a naturally ocurring amino acid, and adding this supplement to your diet can work wonders.

shiny

Veteran

Just last night I read in O magazine that lip balms containing phenol - which is an antibacterial - strip the top layer of skin off your lips, and set up an unhealthy addiction to them. So check the labels!! You want to look for formulations with shea butter, beeswax, or jojoba oil.

I do like Burt's Bees but the problem with it is that it wears off quickly so I'm constantly reapplying it as well. However, I do find it works great used gently over lipstick to "lock in" the color longer.

Burt's Bees (at least I think it's BB) also offers tinted formulations. If it's not BB, and you shop at some place like Whole Foods, look around the checkout. This is also carried at major drugstore chains. It's same consisitency as BB, but with a very very subtle tint.

As for vaseline, this is exactly what the doctor ordered for my daughter, who has allergies. Apply at night before bed - not just on her lips but inside her nose too.

However, vaseline and me just don't mix. It makes me itch and break out in a rash. I guess I am sensitive to the petroleum or something.

As for wearing lipstick, Maya - you don't need one with a pigment. Clear gloss works fine too (though can be sticky). Or something very subtle. I stick to basic garden-variety drugstore brands. I would tell you my current favorite, but it has no logo on it (weird!!). But it is a gloss that has a subtle tint. I have this brand in three different shades - one neutral (great for weekends - and perfect for summer ), one very subtle mauve (perfect for office), and one slightly darker mauve (for nighttime).

Stay away from long-lasting stuff (4-hour, 8-hour, 12-hour); those can be extra-drying. (I do use these anyway - dry lips haven't been much of a problem for me in recent years, since religiously applying lipstick instead of chapstick every day.

Sally Hanson makes a lip product I tried awhile back that was excellent. The color was eehhh... kinda boring... it comes in just three shades. But it was awesome for restoring moisture and improving flaky lips - as long as you stuck with the program and applied it religiously.

Just be leery about SH's lip plumper... my DD tried that and she ended up with scary looking lips!!