Shea Butter
★★★★★
Reponse to Sandy regarding her peeling lips: I have had similar reactions after using lipstick from MAC a few years ago. However, I discovered after spending weeks trying to heal them that most lipsticks and even chapsticks, balms, etc. (even the natural ones) contain some type of alcohol! So the peeling cycle never ends. I believe this is a marketing scheme by the companies that manufacture the products. If your lips are dry you will continually apply the product -- very sneaky!! I suggest you only use 100% natural products like shea butter (my favorite, worked in 2 days after applying 2x a day). Coconut oil might also work. I have also used Vaseline but it didn't work as fast as the shea butter (which I bought very cheaply at iherb... make sure it's 100% shea). Hope this helps. Please give us an update!
Sugar, Oil, Vaseline, ACV
★★★★★
After trying numerous kinds of lipbalms and oils i realised that the only way to stop my lips chapping all year round 24/7 was to apply method and technique.
With 4 magical ingredients:
1) Sugar
2) Oil
3) Vaseline
4) ACV
Using a clean toothbrush i do a gentle sugar and oil scrub on my lips morning AND night to brush away any dead skin cells and keep them at bay.
At night i swipe on some ACV from a cotton disc before applying oil again (this also removes dead skin while keeping lips plump, bacteria-free and nourished).
- If not too bothersome i would even advise re-applying ACV during the day before any balm (especially for those who get chapped lips despite adding balm like me!).
As for morning routine i brush my lips with vaseline before stepping out into winter weather (this protects them well - you can feel they become less sensitive to the cold).
My lips have always been extremely chapped and simple balms have never been enough for me. Things i have learnt which have allowed me to have beautifully smooth lips were,
1) the above
2) avoiding mouth area when washing face with cosmetic products however,
3) scrubbing lips with natural products on a daily (lips love exfoliation as does the skin on our face!)
Supplements
(Please post question on site) I love your site and have been going to write for months now. I apologize for sending you all of this feedback and these questions at once, but today is the day that I have time. Does anyone out there have a cure for peeling lips? I have always been prone to chapped lips and living in Nevada doesn't help, but about a year and a half ago I tried one of those 8 hour, last all day lipsticks and had a reaction to it. My lips burned and hurt! The pain left eventually, but since then my bottom lip is in a constant state of peeling. It is getting better, but I am so tired of it. Please help me out. As a side note, I am now using all organic/natural cosmetics and beauty products with guidance from the Environmental Working Group site.
To Sandy (littledove): Try some Vit. A&D ointment on those peeling lips. You can also open a Vit. E capsule and apply it to your lips. Both of these are soothing and healing. You also note when the peeling is worse- following mouth wash use, etc. One mouth wash in particular made my entire mouth burn and peel. I have to steer clear of all Avon lipsticks (everyone I tried caused peeling lips).
(Harrison, Id)
01/16/2009
Sandy re: peeling lips I too have suffered dry,cracked, constantly peeling lips. I have found out two things. The first is that the skin on the lips is very thin and will absorb Vitamin D from the sun very quickly. For me that meant if I ever was outside sunny or not I would end up with cold sores/fever blisters unless I have SPF chapstick or lipstick on. The blisters are a result of too much Vitamin D and no where to go. Vitamin D helps deliver calcium into your body, so a very fast and effective way to get rid of the breakout is to drink anything high in calcium, milk, ensure, breakfast mix w/milk and calcium supplements. I usually drink 8oz glass of milk w/breakfast every 2 hours until the tingling or heat starts to subside. I have found though as I'm getting older (50 yrs old) that I have also included taking calcium supplement, usually take 2000mg with magnesium 200mg with each 8oz drink. If I get to it early enough it's usually within the day, if not it could take 2-3 days for the blister to go away.
The second is with my chronic dry lips I use a all natural lip balm that comes in colors. There are several out there but only one of them really works for me to keep my lips moist "Alba Terra Tints". They have real natural looking tints or colored tints. They should be in your local health food market, if not I'm sure you can get them online.
(NY, NY)
01/17/2009
(Boca Raton, Fl)
02/27/2009
2 common causes of Lip problems are:
Angular Chelitis (cracking of the corner of the mouth)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_cheilitis
"Studies have linked the initial onset with nutritional deficiencies, namely riboflavin (vitamin B2)[1] [2] and iron deficiency anemia,[2] which in turn may be evidence of poor diets or malnutrition (e.g. celiac disease). Zinc deficiency has also been associated with angular cheilitis.[citation needed]"
Fordyce's spots on the lips
http://www.steadyhealth.com/fordyce_on_lips___think_I_have_found_a_cure_t78306.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fordyce's_spot
