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Rosebud! Rooooosebuuuud!

Published 12.27.2006 | Permanent Link | Comments (20)

Dear Amalah,

I have a sickness. It is called 'Constant Lip-Balm Application' or CLBA. A couple of years ago I attempted to heal myself by ditching lip balms that, by their very design, perpetuated the vicious cycle of CLBA, at least for me (ie, Chapstick, Blistex, even Burt's Bees). I was eventually cured of CLBA by restraining myself from constant reapplying with other products and by consciously thinking about how often I licked and pressed my lips together (I know it’s gross but I have a lip licking, and sometimes picking problem especially if my lips are already chapped).

Fast forward a couple years. I have been using Clinique's 'Superbalm' (tinted lip treatment) for almost two years without any problems, until now. About a month ago the top half of my upper lip (the actual lip not the skin above it) started to feel funny, almost as if the lip was being pulled tighter. Soon thereafter, that part of my lip started to flake and become very chapped and no amount of application with Superbalm seems to help.

As you can see, I am now back to CLBA, which leads me to my question: do you, or any of your Alphafoxymamas know of a healing lip balm that will NOT eventually lead to CLBA? Or is it like shampoos and conditioners where you have change it up every once and a while? There doesn't appear to be any 'trigger' factor associated with this problem either -- I haven't changed my beauty regimen at all and if it was just the cooler, drier weather, you'd think the rest of my lips would be affected, right? I need your help!

Thanks!!
Another Amy

As you probably already know, there is zero evidence that anything in lip balm is ACTUALLY addictive. The urban legends abound, but in the end, it’s just an addicting habit. I'd put it on the same level with nail biting, actually. It feels good right when you do it, releases some minor level of stress or something, and then the moment passes and it doesn't feel as good anymore. So you either look for another nail to chew on or you reach for the lip balm. But it's not an addiction, per se.

rosebud.jpgAlthough I haven’t applied my lip balm in a few hours and while my lips are in no way chapped or dry, I’m still thinking they would feel better if I got up and smeared some Rosebud Salve on them.

*taps keyboard aimlessly, eyes handbag*

Again. My lips are not chapped. They are fine. I haven’t even thought about lip balm in hours until I read your question.

*dives into handbag, digs around for tin, pops it open and…*

Much better! Yay for lip balm!

It’s tough to dig through all the crazy Internet urban legends about lip balm (Chapstick contains fiberglass to make you need more! Blistex contains cocaine!) and the corporate shill info (Not addictive! No tolerance! Nothing wrong with applying our wonderful product 14 trillion times a day!), so I’m just chucking all that out and going with my own potentially misinformed opinion, which is that yeah, it sounds like you’ve developed a bit of a tolerance to the Clinique stuff. It’s time for a switch.

I alternate between Rosebud and Burt's Bees, neither of which I'd rank really high for someone trying to curb the frequent application. Rosebud Salve doesn't have the tingle of Burt's or Blistex, but oh, the velvety richness! The lasting glossy shine! The thick lucious goopiness! Smear it on your lips, your cuticles, even your elbows and...

*dives into handbag, digs around for tin, pops it open and...*

Wait, what was I talking about?

Oh, right. So you want something that will heal your lips, but won't heal your lips in that I'll-have-what-she's-having sort of way. Which means you'll want to avoid anything fruity or candy-flavored, along with anything that boasts tingling ingredients like cinnamon and cloves. Basically, if it sounds delicious, it probably is, and who among us hasn't possibly applied our lip balm in a long pre-lunch meeting just to tide us over before some windbag stops talking and lets us go eat some sandwiches?

A couple potential options (that I have not personally tried, unfortunately, because my lip balm loyalty remains with Rosebud and Burt's, despite the compulsive qualities): Philosophy's Kiss Me Exfoliating Lip Scrub, Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Lip Care Stick (it specifically boasts that it doesn't cause dependency, but whatever, dude), and the LORAC Vitamin E Stick.

Readers? Any recovered CLBAddicts out there with a recommendation to share?

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Comments (20):

Tracy said:

Um...

*eyes the 5 tubes/tubs of lip salve within arms reach of the computer...Aveeno, Chapstick, Burt's Bees, blistex, and some other "bee" variety...*

Uh...nope, no advice. But you're not alone...

Posted on December 27, 2006 11:28

LauraLou said:

As a recovering CLBA addict myself, I recommend Kiehls lip balm #1. It's very moisturizing but not sticky at all, and it lasts longer than anything else I've tried (thus helping the CLBA). Plus, a tube is only about $5 and lasts for months. They also have tinted versions, but I like the original best.

Posted on December 27, 2006 11:40

Talix said:

I would just like to proudly announce that I actually own a product Amy mentioned! The Philosophy Kiss Me is the best - just don't forget to have a tissue to wipe off the grits once you're sufficiently scrubbed.

Posted on December 27, 2006 12:01

Shawnee said:

I love love loooooooove Aveda Lip Saver. The texture is luscious & it's waterproof, so it stays on even when I lick my lips. SPF 15 AND it's in a regular stick applicator (like Burt's or Chap-Stick), not the dreaded slant-tip applicator.

Posted on December 27, 2006 12:12

Katie said:

I've used a lot of lip balm in my life and have found that Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is the best thing out there.

Many years ago, my lips (and face) were bone dry due to the Accutane I was taking for ye olde zit problem. Kiehl's was THE ONLY balm that helped my incredibly dry, pealing lips. Post-Accutane (and several years later), I still used Kiehl's but developed CLBA. It was an annoying habit. I had to get off the balm.

What I discovered is that I can slap on a nice coat of Kiehl's at night before I go to bed and then slough it and the dead skin off with a wash cloth or loofah in the morning. My lips are smooth, plump and moisturized and I don't have to apply the balm AT ALL during the day. (Seriously, not once.) Of course, during the winter, my lips do chap more than usual so I do have to apply as needed, but the CLBA has been cured.

I also find the the dryness of my lips is dictated by how hydrated I am. If I detect some dryness, I have a glass or two of water. Staying hydrated is one of the best/healthiest beauty tips out there.

Good luck CLBA sufferers!

Posted on December 27, 2006 12:35

Shalini said:

As a serial lip balm collector, I can vouch for the Dr. Hauschka although I think I prefer the Kiehl's lip balm #1. Not only does it work great (my lips are horrifically dry) but you only need a teensy tiny bit each time and the tube is ginourmous. Hooray for CLBA!

Posted on December 27, 2006 12:37

Amy Mingo said:

No advice, but I can totally relate. Also, I asked for lip balm for Christmas as a stocking stuffer and Santa (read my husband) took me seriously and bought me about 12 different brands/kinds so now I am all up in lip balms.

Posted on December 27, 2006 12:52

KJ said:

Mad gabs moose smooch or bear smooch. I live in Alaska and this stuff rocks. I put it on at night and first thing in the morning, and I'm usually good to go for the whole day. Drinking lots of water also helps.

Posted on December 27, 2006 14:02

mdvelazquez said:

I second Burt's Bees and suggest Sephora's Super Shield Lip Saver SPF15. I seem to apply these less frequently than the others.

Maria
*I have two lip balms on and one in my desk. I have the Super Shield and 5 lip balms in my purse.*

Posted on December 27, 2006 14:07

Deborah Svoboda said:

No new input from me, I bought some Rosebud Salve for myself for Christmas at our fearless Leader's suggestion and I LOVE IT. My only other lip balm is Burt's Bees. Although, if you use the new "honey" formula, it's not as yummy as the mint, so you might not lick it off.

Posted on December 27, 2006 14:23

Miranda said:

I love Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant. It's a little pricey ($18 at Sephora) but worth every penny. I use it in the morning and follow with a dab of plain old vaseline. Sometimes I have to reapply with a lip balm after lunch but usually I'm good to go until bedtime.

Posted on December 27, 2006 14:36

Courtney said:

Oh, MAN. I am the queen of CLBA. It doesn't help that my fiance feeds my addiction by buying me lip balm all the time - I probably have upwards of 30 currently.
Anyway - I like the raspberry flavored Burt's Bees (makes lips very soft and smooth but not sticky), Rosebud Salve (slightly tinted and helps soothe rashes!), Kiehl's tinted balm, and the new Chapstick all natural shea butter. My friend claims it's the petroleum in the balms that make them addictive, so maybe look for some without if you're trying to reform?
Anyway, the best product I've found for when your lips are all chapped and peel-y and gross in the winter is Carmex. Seriously. Apply a few times, loofah off all the dead skin, and then you can go back to your regularly scheduled lip balm applications.
P.S. I just applied my new honey/shea butter lip balm while typing this. Addiction!

Posted on December 27, 2006 16:18

Teeny225 said:

It's so good to know there are other CBLAddicts out there - I thought it was just me! I was addicted to Blistex Lip Conditioner for years and panicked if I went out without it. I eventually weaned myself off the stuff, and now use good ol Vaseline.

Posted on December 27, 2006 19:43

RaiderCake said:

Delurking to say: VASELINE! Nothing in there to get addicted to. Sleep with it at night and your smoocher will feel like buttah in the morning. Trust me -- it works! And it doesn't taste good (or bad, no taste at all really), so you won't be tempted to lick it off.

Posted on December 27, 2006 20:45

epoh said:

I just want to ditto the vaseline comment. I am totally obsessed with lip gloss and chap sticks and lip balms. At this very moment I have a tube of lip gloss, a stick of SPF 15 lip balm and a tube of shea butter & sweet almond oil lip balm (all from bath & body works for some reason) in my purse, plus 2 tubes of chapstick on my desk. I love them all. But vaseline at night is what really works.

Posted on December 28, 2006 09:45

birdgal said:

Thanks amalah! And thanks everyone for all the ideas, you've given me lots of choices to check out. It's good to know I'm not alone in my need for CLBA! :)

Posted on December 28, 2006 12:38

JackieJoy said:

Damn, I just left a long comment and it disappeared because I wasn't signed in! Yar!
Okay. I am a member of the CLBA club. The first rule of CLBA club is that you don't talk about the CLBA club. (Did someone already make this joke? I never make it all the way through the comments before my need to interject my own opinion takes over.)
I have at least seven lip balms in my life. I used to love the Burt's Bee's Honey Lip Balm (I love the smell of anything that proclaims to be honey.) but found that I had to apply too much. I hate the sting of Carmex. I love my Mentha Lip Balms from Bath and Body but trust me, you will lick those off--they taste so good. So what really works? As others have said, good, old fashioned, dollar-at-Target Vaseline. Every night I apply a craploud to my lips and the corners of my mouth (which split a few months ago when I had an infection.) and in the morning I have extra-soft lips that love having gloss or lipstick applied.
Oh! And make sure that if you buy Keihl's you actually get the number one version. I bought a tinted one and the formulation is different and it sucked.

Posted on December 29, 2006 13:44

JackieJoy said:

Umm, that was crapload, not craploud.

Posted on December 29, 2006 13:46

queenann said:

Does anyone still have dents in their lower lips from their braces? my problem is that no matter how much balming i do, the moment they get a touch dry my lower lips split right in the two spots where my braces used to hit. so now i nervously chew them when that happens. help help help.

Posted on January 3, 2007 13:26

lucyrupert said:

Keihl's & Rosebud just don't work for me anymore. Caudalie makes the absolute best lipbalm - and I am addicted to it!!! You must try it - I've got 5 tubes stashed everywhere I might need it.

Posted on March 11, 2007 22:54

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Amalah is a pseudonym of Amy Corbett Storch. A Washington D.C.-based freelance writer. The Smackdown is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can follow Amy's daily mothering adventures at www.amalah.com. Also, it's pronounced AIM-ah-lah.

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