Are you a Chapstick addict?

Posted Jun 11th 2007 at 3:45PM by Anne Metz (Subscribe to Anne Metz's posts)

The phrase "I am totally addicted to X" is not uncommon in the beauty industry. In these instances, what people usually mean by addiction isn't real addiction -- it's addiction as in "I love it so much I can't stop buying it."

Putting these hyperboles aside, there are number of people I know (myself included) who claim to have an addiction to lip balm. And by addiction we mean chemically dependent in that 12-step program sort of way.

Seriously, I can't leave the house without some kind of lip moisturizer. And it isn't just about vanity -- my pout doesn't produce its own moisture anymore! Anytime I forget to put something on my lips, I end up paying for it with a painfully cracked mouth.

I only know one person who has beat the addiction, and that was by sheer crazy willpower. So I was wondering, do you know anybody with a lip balm addiction? Have they ever tried to give it up?

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Tags: cosmetics, lip balm, LipBalm, skin care, SkinCare

jlw 6-11-2007 @ 4:46PM

I know a little boy (4) that is. I keep extra chapstick around as a reward for good behavior. He'll go to C.A. meetings when he decides to kick his habit!

chris kahn 6-11-2007 @ 8:18PM

My sister is addicited to chapstick. She always carries one or several with her, in her purse, in her car, in the house, the kids all have their own, and she has 3 daughers who also carry chapstick or at the very least have several from different Christmas Stocking, or Easter basket or trips to Walmart. It is amazing. I read once that your lips produce less of their own moisture as they adapt to years of applied moisturizer. She enjoys her chapstick or other lip balm and sees no reason to stop using it. She does live in Florida and spends a lot of time in the sun, so i guess it's a good thing if it's got sunscreen. Good luck with your addiction, if you really want to cure it.

robert 6-11-2007 @ 9:47PM

Rosie is a BIG FAT PIG!

Maria 6-12-2007 @ 8:07PM

I was addicted to chap stick for a short time, but i just kicked the habbit randomly after always forgetting the lip balm at home.

kay 6-11-2007 @ 11:13PM

I have serveral lip balm or chapsticks stragetically placed around the house. I have serveral for my purses, and one to be left in the car. I have awoke from my sleep to reapply. I believe that it does prevents my lips from being chapped and dry. If I have an addiction, it is small in comparision to being addicted to food, drugs, or alcohol.

estieste 6-12-2007 @ 9:02AM

I am totally addicted to all forms of lip products =P
Can't remember when I picked up with this addiction, just know that I first have all the favours of Chapstick and now -- all different favours, especially the interesting ones .... from chemical to organic ones ( orange flower is my favourite ) , and strawberry to iced lemon tea.
Worse is that another friend of mine picked up this addiction, too. We have the habit of buying lip balm for each other and once she got me 6 lip care from Nivea in Japan. One crazy act!

Liz 6-13-2007 @ 12:48PM

I've used chap sticks or lip balms for more than 40 years. It may be considered an addiction by some people but I prefer my lips to not be dry and cracked! I keep sticks & pots all over the house, in my desk at work, in my purse, my golf bag and my car. I make sure I have my chapstick in my pocket if I go into a meeting at work (more important than my coffee) and I buy new flavors or receive them as gifts all the time. I have to guess that I have more than 20 kinds in the house right now.

pat 6-12-2007 @ 11:10AM

I am a chap-oholic. I keep Burt's Bees chap stick in my purse and apply it constantly during the day, at night it's Carmex before I go to sleep, during sleep and first thing in the morning. I think the older you are the more you need it. I doubt if I will kick the habit, would not want to think what would replace it!

latertater 6-12-2007 @ 11:13AM

I've always had a thing for chapstick- but the worse was when I got on a Blistex Medicated (OTC- in a tube). Whenever I went too long without reapplying , my lips would start to swell!!!!!! Detox of the lips- can you get a sick day for that?

Beth 6-12-2007 @ 3:53PM

There really is such a thing as chapstick addiction- Look at the label, many products contain Phenol, which is actually a Drying ingredient... Those sneaky manufacturers add it to keep you applying the stuff all day! I myself suffer from severe chapstick addiction and carry 3 or 4 varieties with me at all times... sigh. Birts bees is definitely my favorite, followed by chapstick brand mint flavored.

Pauline 6-17-2007 @ 6:30AM

I have been using various types of lip balm regularly for the past 12 years or so -- when I started early on, I even had a co-worker once "accuse" me of getting her hooked on lip moisturizers as well (that was the first I'd ever heard of anyone getting "addicted" to it)!!

If I run out of Chap Stick or __(generic brand here)__, I'll usually slather on clear lip gloss. Anything with moisture; I'm that desperate.

If I stop "using", I end up with annoying flakes on my lips that peel (and sometimes makes my lipstick look like that of the Living Dead). Pretty gross, huh.

MJ Allen 6-17-2007 @ 6:52AM

After reading the 10 comments above mine....wow.
I do not have an addiction, but a friend of mine claims she medically needs chapstick, because otherwise her lips crack and peel excessively. I found in an herbal remedy book that this is caused by a vitamin/mineral deficiency. Sorry I don't have the book with me to give details but the book is called Natural cures for health disasters. Good luck!

Randy 6-17-2007 @ 6:59AM

I've rarely ever used chap stick, only on special occasions like skiing or camping. I've always believed that chap stick is not chemically addicting, but it is definately moisture addicting. Once your lips get used to be constantly wet, you have to keep them that way. If you never start, your lips will stay wet all on their own.

Lynne 6-17-2007 @ 7:05AM

I did a proposal for a marketing research study for lip balm and learned
as part of this that lip balm that users do become dependent upon them, addicted if you will.

Martin 6-17-2007 @ 7:19AM

Is a diabetic addicted to insulin? Are all of us addicted to air? Duh!

Kathi 6-17-2007 @ 7:30AM

I was dependent on Chapstick, but then I switched to Vaseline Lip Therapy and my dry lips became much improved. You may wish to try this.

diamond 6-17-2007 @ 8:11AM

i have chronically chapped, dry, peeling lips, and use Chap Stick all the time, and the comment above about PHENOL is very true. I switched to the ChapStick all Natural, and my applications are only habitual now, not medically necessary!!! They recently switched the formula and added coconut oil, i don't like it as much,, so when i go to the stores now, i dig in the back and get the old formula with the green lettering on the label, it's the good stuff!!!

Bette 6-17-2007 @ 8:21AM

I have an addiction to chap stick. It started out that I only used it in the winter, but not its all year long. Where ever I go I always have 2 tubes with me but if I leave home without one, I freak. I have to stop and buy one someplace, and I am picky as to which brand I buy.

Elisabeth Sharff 6-17-2007 @ 8:27AM

There is a big difference between "addiction" and "dependence". I am on 37 different medications and dependent on all of them. I am also dependent on lip balms to keep my lips moist, My medications tend to keep my skin dry and that includes my lips. I am down to wearing very little makeup. (never dreaned I would get to that point) Little Southern ladies never and mean never went anywhere without makeup and at one time hat, heels, dresses and gloves. My heavens, no one showed up anywhere out of the house with hair in curlers. You slept in them so that you could style your hair in thie morning. Another addiction?

Sincerely,
Elisabeth Sharff

Amy 6-17-2007 @ 8:31AM

I am 37 years old......and have been addicted to lipbalm, lipstick and lip gloss since I was eleven............I AM NOT ASHAMED..... Why should I be , I say "May our lips be soft and smooth for life". Oh yeah Lizard Lips is an awsome product

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