Very dry, chapped lips have been a big problem for me ever since I could remember. I started using lip balms on a regular basis since the age of 15. As a result I’ve tried almost every single lip balm out there. Most of them do a decent job of temporarily moisturizing the lips, but the chapping and flaking are a bit tougher to deal with.
This is why I was so excited to finally come across not one, but two lip balms that actually heal AND prevent chapping and flaking. What’s more, they’re reasonably priced!
Carmex ($6.92, Amazon.com)
This is an oldie but goodie. Carmex was first concocted by Alfred Woelbing in 1937, who wanted to create something to treat his own cold sores. This is why it contains ingredients such as camphor and menthol, which are great in making chapped lips hurt less. Other ingredients, such as lanolin, beeswax and mineral oil, make it a super charged moisturizer for the lips. And the allantoin and salicylic acid content work to exfoliate and help heal the chapping and flaking. Carmex contains so many more ingredients known for their usefulness such as vitamin E, cocoa butter, dimethicone, and petrolatum.
This product is excellent in healing chapped dry lips, but not the best for extended use, as menthol and camphor can be a bit irritating. For long term use, the next favorite is more appropriate.
EOS Organic Lip Balm Sphere ($3.99, Amazon.com)
This became all the rage only a few years back, partly because of its unique and fun shape. EOS stands for “Evolution of Smooth.” I have to agree with the name; this is indeed a revolution in lip balms. The egg, or “smooth sphere” lasts a very, VERY long time. When applied, its effect is also very long lasting: it is one of the few lip balms that if you apply at bed time, you’ll still feel it in the morning when you wake up. It has many of the goodies in carmex (except petrolatum, which eos makes a point of stating it does NOT contain), and a few extra good ingredients such as coconut oil. Unlike carmex, EOS depends more on moisturizers than exfoliating ingredients. So it’s great for a more long term use, when the lips are neither chapped nor flaking, because EOS will help keep them that way!
EOS smooth spheres come in many “flavors,” although it seems only one (lemon drop) comes with an SPF of 15 to help protect your lips from sun damage.
Bottom Line (And Some General Tips)
These two finds do heal your chapped flaky lips with regular use. But the key words are “regular use.”
Along with constantly applying lip balms, I NEVER lick my lips, always use lip balm with SPF in the morning, and I steer clear from drying lip products.
To expand on drying lip products: lip stains and some lipsticks can be quite drying. For instance, I find that after a single use of my Maybelline Super Stay 24 hour color, at the end of the day my lips are flaking and very uncomfortable. I also have a favorite Elizabeth Arden lipstick that I can’t use often, and for the same reason (Elizabeth Arden’s Exceptional Lipstick in Wild Winterberry). For every day use I stick to very moisturizing lipsticks, which I will be talking about in my next post.
Stay healthy and beautiful.
Sources:
McKemy, D.D. (2012). TRPM8 Channels as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Pain, Analgesia, and Thermoregulation. In Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology (141-158). Humana Press.
Draelos, Z. D. ( 2000). Therapeutic Moisturizers. Dermatologic Clinics, 18 (1): 597-607.
Kraft, J.N., Lynde, C.W. (2005). Moisturizers: what they are and a practical approach to product selection. Skin Therapy Letter. 10 (5):1-8.