Tight, painful cracked lips - any recommended chapsticks / balms etc?

[Aridane]

Normal chapstick not working , just 'pooling' on the skin.

Cannot smile as too painful!

Any recommendations? (or just go to the local pharmacy when it opens and get their advice?)

I use lasinoh but it’s an actual lip balm not the nipple stuff it’s fab.
Exfoliating lips helps I have cherry stuff from lush but bliss does a lovely set which I’ll buy when I’m not skint. Vaseline is horrid never used it never will. I have a little blue pot of blistex but it has a taste I can get over so rarely use it.
Trial and error really

Clinique do a moisture surge lip balm and it’s honestly the best one I’ve ever used, sorted mine out overnight.

Lansinoh nipple cream is THE best lip balm you'll ever find.
I've tried every other lip balm going and nothing works like that.
Yes it's almost £10 a tube but it lasts for aggggesssss

So I went to the pharmacist - in part because of @Duckbill794's post and because I had had to use hydrocortisone to clear a rash round my mouth. And it was hurting to smile.

Pharmacist recommended the good old blistex a number of you were recommending. She said it also had ammonia in it which would soften the lips and make smiling less painful.

If it doesn't clear up, she said to go to the GP.

@BuildBuildings I’ve used it as a barrier - to prevent nappy rash, and as a lubricant for things like stiff locks. Chapped skin like elbows, to prevent rub on fabric.

It’s a petrol derivative, it doesn’t moisturise. Despite what their marketing tells you!

The blistex in the metal tube is actually amazing if thats what you bought.

Yes, that's the one - already I can smile without bleeding!

Blistex - in the tube

Miraculously effective

You've had plenty of advice re balms & treatment, but it's worth mentioning that this can be a sign of several vitamin & mineral deficiencies. Zinc, iron, B vits such as b12 & folate & others. Definitely worth seeing your GP & reading up on deficiencies, not all are due to poor diet

In my teens I took I accutane (acne medication, one of the side effects is reeeeally dry lips) I tried everything mentioned on here and more. Only thing that ever works is bepanthen nappy rash cream.

Seriously, it will change your life. I preach this to anyone who will listen because I was pretty desperate until I found it!

I swear my lysine. You can buy it in pots from Holland & barratts

Burt's Bees - the Beeswax one, it's brilliant.

You need a moisturiser to correct the dryness - sudocreme works wonders - plus a barrier such as Vaseline on top to keep the moisturiser on your lips as long as possible,

I absolutely love Maybelline Baby Lips. They do tinted versions but I just use the normal one and have been amazed at how soft my lips stay x

Eucerin skin balm Amazing

A doctor once told me to use carmex as it heals and breaks the cycle, whereas with Vaseline you need to keep reapplying and become dependent on it.

It’s the only product I’ve ever used since and it works!

Holland and Barrats ‘Dr Organics’ lip balm. The honey one is a lifesaver and actually moisturises the lips and not sitting on the lips.

I second springferns suggestion of bepanthen. Its the only stuff that works. Blistex makes my lips sting (all versions).
I find it's important to stay hydrated too.

I like Burts Bees. I can't get on with Chapstick or vaseline type ones.

Thank you, all - the blistex has been a minor miracle worker! I can now smile again without pain / bleeding!

Lanolin or Burt Bees Lip Balm

layering.
a moisturiser first and then a lip balm on top.
I have a lip butter from nivea (small tin) atm which is creamy and feels nice.
also consider a vit b12 supplement as cracked lips can be a sign.

This will save you.

avodacoincident I was coming on to say exactly the same!

Everything else just sits on the lips. The boosted cream seems to go inside them. I always always have a stash in my bag and at home.