The Chapstick Debate
January 10th, 2007 @ 4:30 pm by Mrs. Peach
Alrighty, I know the use of chapstick was discussed a little bit when Miss Strawberry posted about Mr. Strawberry’s chapstick addiction and the groom’s cake, but the comments seemed to focus more on the groom’s cake.
So I’m writing to ask for your help on my quest for luscious lips!
(from Lancome)
Especially, but not limited to, the winter, my lips get really chapped. I’ve tried all sort of things from store bought items such as Chapstick, Vaseline, Burt’s Beeswax, Carmex, Smith’s Rosebud Salve to home remedies such as honey. But all of these were only effective for a short period of time before my lips become chapped again within hours.
Some people say chapstick makes it worse and that one should just tough it out and eventually it will get better. I really try not to lick them or pick at them, but sometimes when your lips are white and flaky you gotta do something! I surely can’t walk around work with bits of skin hanging from my lips¢¢â€š¬¦ And especially on my wedding day, I don’t want to have ugly chapped lips or worry about carrying around a stick or tub of chapstick with me or worry about it affecting my lipstick, etc.
Soooo I’m calling all you luscious lips out there or those who’ve tried- what’s your secret? What are things that work (or haven’t worked)? Anything special for the wedding day? Help a sister out, won’t ya?
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48 Responses to “The Chapstick Debate”
i have like the most chapped lips on earth. i have tried everything. nothing works. 
try aquaphor though - it might do the trick.
i’m a self proclaimed chap-stickaholic and I’ve never had problems with my lips getting too dry, probably because I’m always slathering on something.
I don’t use products like blistex, or carmex because IMO think there’s really something in them that dries your lips on purpose out so you have to continually buy the product. I wear lip gloss in the day time and regular chapstick at night (I put on a good coat)
Also, in the winter if my lips get dry when I brush my teeth I then rinse my toothbrush and use it to “buff” my lips, it helps remove any dead skin on them and leave the nice fresh skin ready for chapstick to protect it.
Aveda has WONDERFUL chapstick available at their salons. It’s like $8 but worth it! 
I use Mary Kay Satin Lips. It comes with a mask and a balm, you use the mask to exfoliate the dead skin every other day or so, and I use my balm once or twice a day. Works great for me.
FI has the WORSE chapped lips ever, but you just have to keep reapplying Chapstick throughout the day, and put a very generous coating on at night. After a few days of continued use, you should see vast improvement
I use the Aveeno kinds you can find in Rite Aids and CVS. They have three: one that’s essential moisurizer, one that is healing therapy (my fave), and some other cold sore treatment one. They are great and kinda cheap.
I’ve sadly been addicted to chapstick since the 5th grade and I would probably die without it. and I’ve tried lots of things because not only do my lips get chapped, they are very pale. so, when I’m at home, I’ll use chapstick, but when I’m out I’ll use the nicer more colorful lip glosses. the super lip balm by clinique is nice and compact with sheer color and is glossy and thick so it will stay on, right now I’m trying lancome juicy tubes in cherry burst which gives gives my lips color. I love it =] goodluck!!
i too would highly recommend brushing you lips maybe every other night and applying a generous coat of chapstick before going to bed. I use chapstick everyday and my lips are nice and moist 95% of the time. The other 5% is usually when there is horrible weather.
I’d hesitate to call my lips luscious (as I sit here gradually eliminating the bits of skin hanging from mine with my teeth… hahaha ok gross) but I love C.O. Bigelow’s mint-infused chapstick from Bath and Body Works — this one really works for me, and if you like the line they also have clear and tinted lip glosses as well!
i’ve heard to drink lots of water. dunno if there’s any truth to that or not.
Apply Vaseline at night, and drinks lots of water. My continuous use of Chapstick gave me a bad allergic reaction on my upper and bottom lip. I’ve since been using Vaseline at night. In the day, I do not need to apply anything, and my lips are not dry. Also, drink pleeeeeeeenty of water. It helps a LOT!
Aquaphor!! Its like vaseline, but better. My dad’s a dermatologist and its what he always recommends. Its also great on cuticles, so I apply it at night right before I go to sleep (really rub it in though) =)
I really like Dermatone when my lips are super chapped. Actually, any of the chapsticks made for skiers/outdoors are usually pretty good for serious chapping, as well as wind/sun/snow protection.
Laura Mercier Lip Silk is great. Less greasy than Vaseline, but the same concept and you only need a tiny bit.
I think you always have to use something to at least protect your lips from the elements, every day, like moisturizer. I am totally going to start brushing my lips, though - what a great idea!
I always slather on a coat of Vaseline right before bed and a little bit over my lipstick in the morning (it adds a great gloss)… no problems with dry lips!
oh! to follow up, Bath & Body Works is selling the CO Bigelow lip buffer (buffing/exfoliating beads for lips) right now and it is fantastic - I just started using it once a week and love it. Makes your lips tingle with minty freshness too!
I am surprised no one has said Kiehl’s lip balm yet!
chapstick doesn’t work at all for me, not even in the few hours after i apply it… i usually apply aquaphor at night before i go to sleep and my lips aren’t chapped when i wake up. plus, i don’t have to reapply for another week+ ! 
I use Kiehl’s Lip Balm every night after I brush my teeth and I reapply after I finish a drink during the day. I used to have chapped lips and this seems to do the trick for me.
Miss Peach– Thanks so much for your post. I have the same problem! The skin on my lips peals off and the corner of my mouth gets really dry. I use heavy duty Kiehl’s moisturizer for the corners of my mouth in the morning, but it doesn’t work. I think I’ll need to try reapplying it several times during the day. For the lips, I’m going to try Miss Ant’s suggestion of brushing them at night.
My sister actually did have an addiction to chapstick–it go to the point where she had to reapply it constantly. When she tried to kick the habit, her lips dried out the moment they were bare so she actually had to get medical help. Her doctor said not to use chapstick anymore, and gave her a prescription lip conditioner that seems to be working. I forget the name of it but I’ll post it later after I talk to her!
Neotrogena’s new Moisture surge lip gloss stuff in the tube works great! I’ve also heard that Sephora’s lip balm is good. And the rosebud salve is great — but better for cuticles.
Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick is what you need. This is the only chapstick that touches my lips and it specifically states “does not create a dependency” It feels more like a light, absorbing lotion rather than an oil spill on your lips. The price is a bit steep but well worth it - $12 at sephora and whole foods. I have also heard great reviews by the chapstick from fresh. Good luck!
Putting something very moisturizing on every night is key. You’re sleeping, so it’s not going anywhere while you sleep - no licking or reapplying, just sleep through an 8-hour treatment.
The Walmart brand (”Equate”) of Eucerin is great. A little dab at night anywhere (hands, feet, lips, legs) and you are MOIST in the morning. Water beads off my skin, and I’m not greasy. Plus (last time I bought it, in Maryland) it’s $3.44 for the big tub so you feel free to use it regularly and liberally.
I’m taking accutane right now (clear skin for the wedding!), so my lips are A MESS. Aquaphor hasn’t done tons to help me–I find that the most effective remedy is Neosporin, which I put on a few times a day.
i’ve been researching this because i’m too addicted to carmex and it might not be great.
did you know there’s a lip balm blog? reading through the reviews gave me some ideas to try.
my lips have been compared to angelina jolie’s…and i use bare escentuals buzz latte most of the time…otherwise it’s the c.o. bigelow mentha lip shine or lip smacker’s strawberry gloss.
The best thing that you can do? Run humidifiers. Run one in your bedroom, and then one or two in the rest of your apartment or house. Particularly the one in the bedroom overnight is the best way to keep your lips, your skin, your hair, even, looking good all winter. I started doing it because I got nosebleeds all winter–now, no nosebleeds, no chapped lips, my hair and clothes are much less staticky. On top of that, my favorite thing is Mentholatum. It’s just Vaseline with menthol and camphor, but it’s like a little security blanket to me. I have a tub by my computer, one in the bedroom, one in my office, one in my bag…my whole family uses it, because we all get nosebleeds. Basically, I think if you can keep your lips covered with some sort of balm all day, and then run the humidifier at night, you should be pretty good. Just watch out for moldy windowpanes!
I love vaseline. I use it at night and it the morning. During the day, I just wear lip gloss.
I recommend Chapstick brand lipmoisturizer spf15. I’ve tried 10+ brands and this is the best (for me) second to actually drinking enough water and being more thrifty with the acne meds. The humidifier suggestion is good, as is using a product like Eucerin or aquaphor at night. Exfoliation techniques are also a quick fix…but trying to figure out the underlying issue would be best (ie hydration).
For the shiny lip look, I like Philosophy brand cinnamon buns. However, this lip shine should not be used if there is long hair and wind in the forecast.
Did you try L’Occitaine Honey Balm ? I really like it. Try to put it on little thicker in the evening when after you stop eating and leave on so it has time to really seap in. And by no means lick your lips. That ruins them.
I use Blistex Lip Infusion. Within seconds of putting it on, my chapped lips are soothed and moisturized. It lasts for hours, although I tend to reapply it often just because it really makes your lips feel great. It’s really shiny, though, if that’s a problem.
WOW! thanks everyone for their input so far! so many choices to choose from! ^_^
i too am self proclaimed chap-stickaholic and I’ve never had problems with my lips getting too dry since I am always putting some one thru.out the day as well. I’ve used pretty much every brand that has been recommended and only one that I am sticking with is BURT’S BEE! It is amazing and I love the little yellow tube~ conivenent and afforable (less than $3)!
Ok ladies, I think I tried them all (except for aquafor which I’ll buy this week-end).
What does work for me, who by the way had chapped lips even in 90 degrees weather and used to start bleeding while talking?
1. Drink a lot of H2O
2. Buffer every night my lips with toothbrush
3. ELIZABETH HARDEN 24H MIRACLE CREAM
Ok this last one is a face-cream for wrinkles. I know, I know…I t comes in a tiny tube and is like $30+ but I share it and divide it with my friend since I don’t need it too much.
Just apply it at night before going to bed. IT MAKES MIRACLE!!! Promise :))
I am obsessed with the Sugar Lip Treatment by Fresh. It tastes great but not overpowering and it makes my lips stay soft for a long time. Its a little expensive, but worth it Burt’s Bees isnt working for ya. I think its a little textured too, to help exfoliate the lip, but im not sure.
Mary Kay Satin Lips! I got my mom that for Christmas, and she said my dad took it from her. He gets really chapped lips, so he tried it and now he won’t give it back! I guess I know what I’m getting him for Christmas next year!
A toothbrush works wonders too!
I was on accutane for about 6 mos and the first thing my doctor warned about was dry lips…during those 6 mos before I would brush my teeth at night, I would squeeze a little bit of kiehls lip balm onto my ring finger and dip that into a little big of sugar, then buff away. Then rinse off. After I finish brushing my teeth, I would apply some kiehls lip balm again before I go to sleep. Now that my lips aren’t as dry, I would use the toothbrush method every once in a while.
i am definitely a burt’s bee addict… now i am crazy about FRESH’S SUGAR LIP TREATMENT… it cost $22.00, but i love love love it…
i also have mary kay satin lips. bought it from a co-worker… but does miracles… the mask is great and the satin lips… like the name is smooth… i wear this at night only though… when i remember
A reaally easy and cheap way to exfoliate your lips is to get your lips stick first with some lip balm and rub sugar on them! It gets a little messy but it’s so easy and plus you’ll taste really good, Mr. Peach will try to kiss you all the time
I’ve been a lip balm addict for way too long. But, a few years back I found one that I’ve finally settled on, and use it almost exclusively. It isn’t the easiest to find (I usually just buy it online now), but worth tracking down. It is the Vanilla Shea Butter lip balm from La Natura.
I also have the mango, but the vanilla is my favorite. The sunscreen one is good for when I’m in the sun, but it isn’t my favorite for everyday use. I also recently purchased one of their new “juicy” ones, and while it is better than most out there, the vanilla is still my favorite.
I occasionally still use the Blistex ointment, but otherwise I’m very loyal to the La Natura. It is worth it to hunt them down.
my only suggestion is to find a balm that contains spf. my lips would be chapped in spite of loading on the lip balm all the time until i started using khiel’s w/ spf. made a huge difference for me!
My sister swears by Carmex, and I swear by Burt’s Bees. Not sure if it’s known nationwide, but it origionated in NC. Locally it runs from 80 cents to 2.50 per container. They have giftbags that would be great for BMs, too, with a wide array of products.
*Edit: Here’s the Burt’s Bees website
http://www.Burtsbees.com
Never underestimate H20. Drinking lots of water everyday has helped me get rid of chapped lips and dry skin.
I love Fresh Sugar lip treatment and bought the new lip gloss that supposedly has the same formula. However, my lips became dry, cracked and peeling. I can’t use the gloss anymore. Has anyone else had this problem?
Dear Reader,
I’m an author in the process of researching the possible allergic reactions and possible addictions of Chapstick and other LipBalm type products for a book that I am writing.
If you have ever, or know someone who has had an allergic reaction or addiction with these types of products, and would like to be interviewed please contact me.
Chris@alleywolf.com or kingnopo@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Chris Vaughn, author
Member PNWA & SCBWI
http://www.Alleywolf.com
Miss Peach, New Jersey/Atlanta
Age and Occupation in 07: 25, Mechanical Engineer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Student
Engagement Date: January 27, 2006
Wedding Date: March, 2007
Venue: Korean Presbyterian Church of Atlanta + Flint Hill
About Me: Mr. Peach and I started dating our senior year of high school when we both lived in Georgia. Since then, we spent 6 years in a long distance relationship. And now by the grace of God, we've made it through; we are living in the same state again (NJ) and we are gettin' married! I was originally going to ask if I could be Miss Mango bc I loveee mangos sooo much, but in the end decided to be true to my GA peach roots! woot!
i know that our friend w_sun brushes her lips with her toothbrush every night to buff them and then puts vaseline on them. her lips looks pretty luscious to me.