Dry lips

[courtshoe]

Hi all, not sure this is the right topic but I'll try.
I'm looking for advice re dry lips treatment. This is chronic. Been suffering for about three years and it's driving me mad. Especially in the winter.
Carmex used to be my go to, and it worked exceptionally well. However I've developed an allergy to it so can no longer wear it.
So many of the over the counter ones, similar allergies, or just not effective enough.

I use Lucas pawpaw just now. No reactions to it, but it's only slightly helpful. My lips are just badly cracked with fine lines developing ( previous steroid cream to help with allergic reactions).

Any miracle products or ideas. Please no MLMs. Thanks

@courtshoe

Thanks again for all your helpful comments. I could drink water more. That I do know.

Toothpaste isn't a problem. I actually am a dentist irl, so no stranger to mouth/lip issues. I've ruled out infections.

So Amazon delivered the O Keefe lip balm and overnight balm this evening. I'll try them first, and drink more water.

Stupid question - could you have become sensitive to the masks you wear?

Eucerin intensive lip balm is fantastic. I tried O'Keefes and found it a bit gritty, although it did help a bit.

The best one I've found is Clarins - I can't remember the name but it's in a blue squeezy tube and although it isn't perfect, it does help 'seal' very sore lips. I'm a terrible picker at my very dry lips and often have raw patches, and it helps with those. After reading this thread I'll be trying some others, though. Interested to hear how you get on with your trials!

@Unmerited
Stupid question - could you have become sensitive to the masks you wear?

Definitely not a stupid question. I think this might be something to consider. Not so much the actual masks, as I've been wearing them my entire career (20 years)), but definitely the problem has become worse since we've been forced to use reusable FFP3 types. Recently I've stopped cleaning the inside with anti viral wipes, and use soap and water now. Early days but it might help a bit.

However the dry lips occur all the time, even when I'm on holiday from work. Sun tends to help. This time of year is the worst!

Laniege lip mask for night time and nuke for day time the rose ine is very good as well

Nuxe ffs

I’d recommend trying one of the pure lanolin ones (lanolips do one but also that lanolin nipple balm you can get for breastfeeding also works and sometimes works out cheaper!) rather than one of the ones with added scent/colour/etc if you’re not sure what the allergy is

I know it sounds a bit stupid but things I was fine with for years have started to cause me issues in my 40s. Dermatitis, almost burn like, breakouts from seemingly bland cleansers I’ve used for years. I had to take it back to almost nothing and reintroduce them and now it’s pretty much ok. I think the extra air filters often running now seems to add to it, dries everything out so those previously tolerated things can get past your usual barriers more easily. Maybe something like a barrier (lanolin / petroleum jelly) between your lips and mask?

The Nuxe arrived. It's such a lovely honey/vanilla/orange smell. Divine. I'm trying that just now. Hope it's not too scented/perfumes for me.

Let us know what you think op.

How much water do you drink? I find I get chapped lips if I don't drink enough. I drink 2-3 litres of water a day and I rarely get sore lips now.

Almost all lip balms are petroleum based. That's the barrier that stops moisture evaporating. It's the evaporation that causes your lips to be dry.

A lip oil will do the same thing. After that it's a case of which flavourings etc you prefer. Carmex and it's camphor flavouring can be an irritant, as can the perfumes in almost all others.

There are so many threads on this subject on MN and the consensus is always that there is no one answer.

Blistex has phenol in it, which a lot of lip balms don't, and it does give quick relief. It also has camphor and a mild analgesic plus menthol, so there's a lot that can also irritate.

I am also someone who stopped using them altogether and my lips are fine now. While I was using lip balms ( and I have tried them all!) my lips were in a terrible state. I think your lips need to be a little "weathered" to be able to resist the effects of the environment.

I use a lip scrub from time to time and that's it. I only use lip balm when I want to tone down a very vivid lipstick and make it more sheer.

Ive used the Nuxe one for the last 24 hours, and my lips are the best they've ever been. Early days yet, and I suppose I could still develop a reaction, but good so far.

Believe me, I've gone without anything on my lips to "weather" them many times in my quest!!

As stated previously I know I need to drink more water. I am trying

Thanks for the feedback I need to try harder with the water intake too. Tempted to order the Nuxe stuff now.

I am also working my way through a number of lip balm purchases from a search a couple of weeks back on mums net. I ended up getting Nuxe, Elizabeth Arden 8 hour, and l'occtaine, I am wearing them at different times (I keep l'occtaine at work and obvs the EA one at night, Nuxe when at home), they do need very frequent application, so would like to try and find the kind you need to put on once. But, my lips have dramatically improved, the dryness of them was starting to spread down onto my chin, and looked like dry hard skin. Expensive purchases, but worth it for lips not to hurt and crack. Will be interested to see how you get on too.

Elizabeth 8 hour cream.
Original and the night balm. Put it on at bed and it's still on in the morning.
You won't look back!!!
Not the best taste but who cares if they're not dry and scaly

Like you, I find lots of them don't work. Carmex makes my skin itch. The best one ever is a Nivea honey one that is made for the Japanese market (not the same as the UK Nivea honey one.) You can buy it on Amazon. It's expensive because it's an import but it really works.

Alpha H lip perfector - really good, very moisturising. I apply it in the morning and it lasts all day.