Annoying New Habit Of Mine

[SiouzQ.]

Apparently I subconsciously press/suck my lips together all throughout the day because they are now chapped beyond anything I can get rid of. I am also a Chapstick addict (and have been since high school). No matter what I do I cannot get the chapped redness to go away. They are to the point of peeling and flaking and it is red around my mouth (outside the lines of my lips). I have never had this problem this bad before and it is driving me crazy. I've been using Trader Joe's Chapstick, Vaseline, soimetimes coconut oil and nothing is working. I am trying to be more aware of when I am pressing my lips together tightly (usually when I am concentrating hard on something (artwork, guitar, the deli case at work).

Anyone have any ideas about this?

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Wish I did have some ideas about this because I have the same thing going on and have been for YEARS. I don't have the redness around my mouth, but just very very dry lips that I constantly need moisture for. I have chap sticks in my bathroom, living room, kitchen, car, knitting bag, purse, at work....anywhere I am or likely to be. Sometimes when I am reading I find myself nibbling at my lips and I try so hard to stop. I've never understood how or why I cannot control this small thing, but I have never been able to.

[SiouzQ.]

Oh, I know ~ I have multiple chapsticks all over the place too! I have never had it this bad though; it is really dry and cold here in Michigan right now. The relative humidity is only 78%. I have been slathering my body and hands with lotion and I still feel so dry...

[ApatheticNoMore]

Some people say that petrochemical products (vaseline, chapstick) etc. just dry your lips out more and more, don't know about that but then natural products like coconut oil should be better. Also I've heard your skin will be less dry if you are getting adequate fats especially omega 3 fats, there seems some truth to it in my experience. I don't tend to dry skin or anything, just winter sometimes, such as it is :).

[Tradd]

Burt's Bees

[CeciliaW]

What Tradd said.

Chapstick makes it worse.

Try Burt's or Blistex or something more liquid than solid when applied.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Burt's BeesBurt's Bees - stashed all over the place. Good product, but still have to re-apply over
& over.

[fidgiegirl]

I made this and started using it at night on my lips and up my nose (sorry if TMI). Nose issue has cleared up completely. I could stand to bring some of this around during the day for my lips now that the temp has dropped and everything is so very dry. It says it is a wood polish recipe but it is the same as a body product recipe I have in a book, I just used her method of making it in the microwave.

http://www.amberdusick.com/woodmouse_loves_crafts/2010/07/how-to-make-beeswax-wood-polish-woodmouse-recipe.html#comment-6a00e54f0d38018834019b0094dacc970c

I am also a Chapstick addict and I believe there is something to what ANM says . . . makes sense after all, because one would then have to buy more chapstick . . . I am liking the homemade recipe a lot. Beware, it makes a LOT!!

I used olive oil in the recipe because it's what I had on hand.

[JaneV2.0]

Add more fat to your diet, and make sure you're hydrated.

[Azure]

The air in stores is very drying. If you are at work every day that could be the biggest part of your issue.

I know my lips are terrible when I work a lot. I am still searching for something that works to my liking. At work I like C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve. Very soothing But if I use it all day everyday then it is irritating.

I haven't found any Blistex that works great for me. I have several types. Burt's Bees is ok. Carmex - eh. Eos- eh. I keep trying stuff but so far nothing is just right.

Currently trying the very expensive Nuxe Reve de Miel. So far I like it a lot but time will tell. It is a .52 oz jar so even though it costs a lot I think it will last a long time since I only need a small amount at a time.

ETA: It may also help to use a humidifier at home.

[rosarugosa]

I like Alba Botanica, but I'm not entirely brand loyal. I put it on every night before bed, and I almost never have chapped lips. I also apply a natural lip pencil (Gabriel) and lipstick every morning, but don't reapply during the day. We have steam heat at home, which I think is a bit less drying, but it's dry heat at the office, in the train, and in the car.

[catherine]

I agree that lack of humidity in the environment could contribute. I never get chapped lips, and I'm not a cream/lotion/chapstick user, but when we turned the heat on a few weeks ago, my face/lips got really dry. So I just increased my water intake, and if it had continued, I would have either bought a humidifier, or boiled water on the stove.

[larknm]

I've had the problem from as early as I can remember, as do others I've known from Dallas. I've lived in lots of places and it stays the same. I think mine has a lot to do with allergies--I am environmentally sensitive. I'm allergic to bee stings, so my dr. said stay away from beeswax. I know petroleum is out. I try new stuff all the time, but figure I'm stuck with this problem for life, just can relieve it. I'm glad you brought this subject up.

[SiouzQ.]

I bought Desert Essence Lip Rescue from work (Whole Foods - there are all sorts of products there to try, at many different price points) today - it has shea butter and gingko bilboa, etc. Crossing my fingers that it will work. So far, so good, and I am trying to be super aware of NOT licking my lips, pressing them together, and biting my bottom lip while concentrating. Trying to drink LOTS of water. Plus every evening I have been boiling a big pot of water on the stove top.