Allergic to Lip Products?

[Karoru]

I am 18 years old, and I have never been allergic to anything in my life. As part of my nightly routine, I've always put on lip balm before bed. However, late last year, my lips started to get more dry and chapped than usual, even itchy. They felt like sand paper and often developed tiny bumps. If rubbed hard enough, the bumps would produce a clear liquid. The edges of my lips also sometimes felt very raw and red. These symptoms would last around a week.
At the time, I had been using just plain Burt's Bees Lip Balm for many weeks. When I got the symptoms, I used a bit more of the balm than I usually did, thinking it would help the dryness. When nothing seemed to be working, I stopped using it altogether. In time, my lips healed, and I switched to Softlips lipbalm in both vanilla and peppermint flavors. I showed no reaction from their usage for about a month. Then, I started getting the same reaction that I got from the Burt's Bees Lip Balm. That was when I figured I was developing an allergy to lip balm. Over time, I also realized I was getting the same reaction even faster from lipstick and lipgloss. That meant I was allergic to all lip products across the board.
I began researching into the symptoms and the ingredients in lip products, especially ones that commonly produced allergic reactions. With that knowledge in mind, I've tried many other balms these past months, including ones by Blistex and Kiss my Face. I'm even allergic to plain Chapstick. At first, I would not show any symptoms at all, but they would eventually show up within a few weeks, sometimes days. I even tried alternating the balms every night, which helped slightly but I would eventually get the reaction again. Nowadays, I only wear lip balm every few nights because I can't stand having chapped lips, but never multiple nights in a row. Even then, there's always a chance of my reacting to it.
I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact ingredient that I'm allergic to, and I'm hesitant to spend any more money to try more products. I haven't changed anything about my diet, makeup, facewash, mouthwash, or toothpaste, so I am very certain that it's the lip products. After my research I've also found that other people have had the same problem.

Has any product been found that works but doesn't trigger a reaction from people with my allergies?

I've heard that Vaseline is possibly the only solution, but because of my research I've been staying away from products with petroleum and petrolatum in them. Should I try it out anyway?

[srtapalasky]

Blistex Silk and Shine-THE BEST THING EVER. I cannot wear ANYTHING else. I have used this for years and literally panic if I'm without it. I met a girl once who also swore by blistex Silk and Shine (grey tube). Aquaphor was just like vaseline and offered me no relief.  

[lilkni]

I'm so glad I'm not alone in this! A few months ago, after one night, I got a huge reaction (i THINK it was Aquaphor, but not 100% sure, too scared to try it again even with all the good reviews for it.) Now I use vaseline, but I still get little bumps on the edge of my lips from week to week, sometimes with liquid coming out and I am thinking of seeing a dermatologist soon to check it out. Keep me updated on your experiences please! Hope someone finds a CURE soon

[kitcotton]

Thank you for starting this post. This is my life ling struggle. And I've tried pretty much everything under the sun. As just like most of us, Nothing works. Or even if it did work, it only work for so long then the sensitivity kicked in again.

I found a similar post once and remember that the conclusion from that threat was that we could be allergic to a certain type of preservation that the lipstick/balm contains. So we could watch for that. And yes beeswax is ridiculous. My lips would peel of like big piece of skin, it's crazy.

What I found works for me for a long time is Clamex, BUT only in stick form, not the tube, not the jar. Coconut oil doesn't work because it's too thin that it actually trigger the dryness and the lips chapped, same as Vasline.

My tips is, to not using any lips product until your lips get better, then you could try lipstick one by one. It's a long process but it works for me. So now I have a few lipsticks that I could use and I don't need lip balm. My lips are not fine without lip balms. The lipsticks that work are Makeup Forever, BITE, YSL and some from Clinique.

[kitcotton]

Thank you for starting this post. This is my life ling struggle. And I've tried pretty much everything under the sun. As just like most of us, Nothing works. Or even if it did work, it only work for so long then the sensitivity kicked in again.

I found a similar post once and remember that the conclusion from that threat was that we could be allergic to a certain type of preservation that the lipstick/balm contains. So we could watch for that. And yes beeswax is ridiculous. My lips would peel of like big piece of skin, it's crazy.

What I found works for me for a long time is Clamex, BUT only in stick form, not the tube, not the jar. Coconut oil doesn't work because it's too thin that it actually trigger the dryness and the lips chapped, same as Vasline.

My tips is, to not using any lips product until your lips get better, then you could try lipstick one by one. It's a long process but it works for me. So now I have a few lipsticks that I could use and I don't need lip balm. My lips are not fine without lip balms. The lipsticks that work are Makeup Forever, BITE, YSL and some from Clinique.

[Trixie_poo]

Nappy rash cream at night - it really works and is very gentle.

[JModds]

Hi!!
I have been having literally the EXACT SAME issues you've been having!! Same symptoms and the same changing and trying of different products with the same results!! I also have just been using Vaseline lip therapy for over a year now & it's the only thing I use that doesn't bring the allergic reaction back. I hope it goes away for both of us!