Are my lips basically ruined?! 😫

[Smutternutmosh]

Hi,

So possibly a slightly dramatic title, but my lips are soooo dry all the time!

They've been like this since I was a young teenager. Basically since I started slapping on the lip balms...but constantly! The more I used, the more I needed it and I honestly think it's ruined my lips. I'm now late 30's 😬

They're not just dry. They have this constant cycle of thick, dry skin, peeling off, then back to cratery dry skin again. Nice 👍

It doesn't matter what kind of lip balms, treatments I use. I've even tried that nipple cream (name escapes me) and I know that's very popular on here as a lip conditioner, but it just didn't really do anything. I do wear lipstick everyday, which probably isn't helping, but I feel a bit naked and plain without it. I always wear lip balm underneath though.

Any other magic suggestions? It really is driving me mad!

TIA 😊

Completely forgot this existed, but yes, I swore by this when I used to get very dry lips.

How good a lip balm is will depend mostly on the ingredients and they can vary massively.
Vaseline and Nivea use mostly petro-chemicals like petroleum jelly and mineral oils and silicones. I would have thought that these are the more addictive ones.
There are better ones out there that use more kinder ingredients like shea butter and beeswax and almond oil but not just as small natural extracts to lure you in.
Naturline by beauty kitchen in a tin that looks similar to vaseline tins is impressive because it uses mainly castor oil and a dash of beeswax. it is also unscented. It is brilliant.
I don't work of them, I'm just passionate!
Burts Bees is probably quite good as are ones from the likes of Neal's Yard and Lush.
Moo Goo is brilliant as is Lansinoh, but check you aren't allergic to lanolin because people can be.
I don't think the good ones are addictive.
Also, without being patronising, be aware that licking your lips makes them worse. Some people do it subconsciously.

Absolutely nothing wrong with mineral oil/petroleum jelly

I’m allergic to certain lip balms. Carmex in the yellow tube works well for me.

If you use a scrub it will pink them up a bit anyway. You could always stain them instead?

Several people have mentioned a possible allergy to common ingredients in lipsticks or lipbalms. I agree with this and would like to suggest another possible culprit. Do you drink from plastic bottles on a regular basis? I get really sore, peeling lips from some (not all) plastic bottles and I'm clearly not the only one:

mkfa.info/blog/when-you-have-an-allergy-to-plastic-water-bottles-a-follow-up
scud.my/dry-chapped-lips-avoid-plastic/

I completely avoid plastic bottles these days and my lips are in really good condition (don't even have to use lipbalm now).

There is, they make me feel nauseous.

I use organic lip balm with cocoa butter and beeswax.

I buy these on Amazon - similar to Burt’s Bees but cheaper.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00WK9U5TU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I like the Cath Kidson ones - they are really thick and almost like a gloss.

Something else to think about, I am very sensitive to toothpaste with sls in it and it leaves me with dry sore lips. You could also try swapping out your toothpaste for one without it. When I’ve had a bad reaction I swap to kid’s toothpaste for a week or so

I have always sworn by Cymex lip cream to heal sore lips.

My latest discovery is Laniege lip mask to wear at bedtime. You wake up with lovely soft lips.

kosas.com/products/wet-lip-oil-gloss
Lip oil might be a good compromise?

Oh that’s a lightbulb moment for me! I’ve gone through the toothpaste we have and yes, that’s my issue! I’ve been on and off having painful lips at night- and that’s a clear connection. It’s when I’m using my husband’s toothpaste

So after less than 24hrs of not wearing lipbalm, my lips already feel better.

Yes,it's magic stuff.

Lots of the lip creams you're being recommended have lanolin in them. I am allergic to lanolin and my lips do what you describe if I put it on them. Try one without - I like the Eucerin one, best I've found.

Slather lips on Sudocrem before bed & sleep in it.
Just remember the next morning before you answer the door to the postman looking like a racist extra from the Black & White Minstrels Show. Yes, that happened to me 🤦🏼‍♀️ BUT I did wake to lovely soft hydrated lips 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Polarbearyfairy do you know if that's in the 8 hr cream?

Elizabeth arden 8 hour cream contains lanolin

Sudocrem is drying though?

@traintraveller bah! Although tbf that might not be the problem for me. I guess we'll see.

I have the exact same problem. I’ve been using Elizabeth Arden for about 4 days now and I’m starting to see an improvement so fingers crossed it works for you

Vaseline can be addictive to skin and it's in many lip balms.

Try bepanthen on your lips overnight then wear lip oil or a gloss containing hyaluronic acid for the daytime. Vasaline at night also works. It sounds like you’ve developed an allergy to lip balm tbh.

8 hour cream is petroleum based also lime Vaseline so traps moisture rather than adds.

Like you, I've had to use lip balm since I was about 11 (40+ years ago). I know my lips will no longer produce their own moisture now, but I've never had the thick, peeling problem you describe. May be something worth discussing with your GP?