In the name of science: The great lip balm challenge
There’s a good chance that if you’ve ever spent time in a cold climate – perhaps a winter in Chicago or Vermont or Utah – you’ve used some lip balm. It’s cold; your lips are chapped; you remember that old commercial from the 70s and you go digging through your pockets or the 7-11 in search of something to soothe your lips.

I grew up in the harsh winters of Indiana – where the ground freezes and the wind blows so hard you can hear it shaking the house. We don’t really get snow, but we get cold. Bitter cold. Then I moved to New England where they snow and cold (although usually not so bitter) and then to Chicago where the wind is harsh, the temperatures are miserable and the snow is sometimes unstoppable.

I know a thing or two about lip balm.

First, you know if your lips are dry, cracked and chapped you might need to drink more water. Or increase the humidity in your space – any lip balm can only do so much. If your skin, in general, is parched – you’re not going to get great results.

The Balms – you basically have two options: the waxy and the squishy. The waxy are the kind you find in little tubes – like Chapstick, Blistex, and the like. The squishy are emollients that are very moist like shea butter or petroleum jelly.

And FYI – that weird urban legend you may have heard about getting “addicted” to lip balm is just that. A weird, legend. (Chemically - I mean - I needs me some lip balm, so I guess there's a psychological component as well....)

In the name of science, I’ve recruited another regular balm user (and blog without pity reader) Nabbalicious, to provide additional input on the various balms. It's the first ever blog without pity crossover. Please note it in your calendars.

Alyssa’s List:
Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer (tube)
Blistex Medicated (tube)
Blistex Spa Effects with SPF 15 (tube)
True Blue Spa Wet Your Whistle shea butter (tube)
Sally Hansen Lip Quencher Daily lip Moisturizer with shea butter (angled tube delivery)
Vaseline petroleum jelly (jar)
Neosporin Lip Treatment (angled tube delivery)
Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer (tube)
Chapstick

I like all my varying lip balms. I tend to keep one in each coat – my husband carries some and we keep spares in the glove compartment. I keep two in my bathroom and one by my bed – so I’ve spent some time thinking about this. Chapped lips do not make for a happy woman (or man for that matter.)

I could weigh the relative merits of each balm – but that would be boring. But here is my best suggestion; if you have actual damage – cracks and serious chapped lips – get thee some Neosporin Lip Treatment stat.

You will be incredibly happy that you did. I have used all the balms listed above for years – but I’ve never actually had something that healed damage. I’ve had balms that soothe or reduce damage, but do not fix it. The Neosporin stuff works well – provides pretty decent coverage and smells a bit like oranges.

Who doesn’t want soft lips and the sweet smell of oranges, huh? NO ONE.


Previously In the Name of Science
Ziploc vs. Gladware
Robitussin PM vs. NyQuil
Ragu Light vs. Healthy Choice
More than you wanted to know about Seasonale