Nipple Cream as Lip Balm? You Betcha!
Filed under: Beauty, Skin & Body
Balms away! Image courtesy of Lansinoh.
When I read that Angie Harmon swears by Lansinoh nipple cream as lip balm, my first thought was, Say what?
My second thought was to immediately log onto drugstore.com and order a tube for myself. And guess what? It's awesome. It's a thick, moisturizing cream with no smell or taste, and it really works!
Intrigued? Read more about Lansinoh and the other cool products we found with "secret" beauty uses:
Ah-ha Uses for Beauty Products
Your MacGyver guide to beauty! These clever "off-label" tricks for popular products will solve last-minute emergencies. These tips, culled from blog confessions, expert advice and our own experiments, will have you reusing your makeup in no time, not to mention save you money and get you out of emergencies.
TotalBeauty.com
Nipple Cream
Great as: Lip balm
Lansinoh nipple cream was intended for use by breastfeeding mothers, but the thick, moisturizing formula has gained underground popularity as a lip balm, too! Actress Angie Harmon is said to be a fan.
Lansinoh.com
Petroleum Jelly
Great as: Furniture fixer
You may have used your trusty Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly, $4.49 as lip balm, moisturizer, lash definer or makeup remover, but did you know it also camouflages light scratches in wood furniture? The Beauty Brains bloggers love this tip: Just dab it on and buff. You can also make light bulbs easier to unscrew by spreading a little around the thread of a new bulb before screwing it in.
TotalBeauty.com
Conditioner
Great as: Shaving cream
When traveling or just in a pinch, use the same trick employed by stars like Natalie Portman: Shave your legs with hair conditioner. It provides the same slickness as your shaving cream does, allowing your razor to slide over your legs and condition your skin without nicks and razor burn. (We like Paul Mitchell The Conditioner, $15.99.)
TotalBeauty.com
Oil-Free Moisturizer
Great as: Frizz tamer
Skin Rhythm blogger Jen confesses using a less-than-pea-sized amount of Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer as a smoothing cream for her very fine hair: "It smoothed and sealed my dry ends and added a bit of shine. It even added a bit of definition to my layers without weighing down my hair or causing it to look [flat and] oily, even hours later." You can use most any face moisturizer, lip balm or body lotion to smooth frizzy flyaways. Start by rubbing just a drop of the product together between hands, then smoothing over hair or along hair ends to tame frizz. (Curly hair tip: To help define curls, wrap one-inch pieces of hair around your finger.) Add more product if necessary, but use sparingly to avoid a greasy look.
TotalBeauty.com
Lip Balm
Great as: Cuticle conditioner, makeup remover
When you're done applying your lip balm (or virtually colorless gloss), don't just wipe off that leftover product on your finger. Rub it into your cuticles for a nice conditioning treatment. (Note: You can also do this with any room-temperature oil or butter you get on your hands while cooking.) Another tip for lip balm: Like petroleum jelly, it makes a great on-the-go makeup remover for that little eye makeup stain you get after washing your face. Just make sure you're not using peppermint or menthol lip balm as it could sting your eyes.)
TotalBeauty.com
Rubbing Alcohol and Hairspray
Great as: Stain remover
To remove home hair color stains on your skin, sink or even carpet, sponge it with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball or rag. Just be sure to apply with a cotton ball soon after you see the stain. If you wait too long, the stain gets harder to remove. If you don't have alcohol handy and the stain is on fabric, try this tip backed by Good Housekeeping: Saturate it with hairspray, which contains alcohol and can help loosen the stain. Then soak and launder as soon as possible.
TotalBeauty.com
Eye Shadow
Great as: Highlighter, contour creator, eyeliner and brow filler
Neutral metallic or white eye shadow (like Sonia Kashuk Powder Partners Eye Shadow Duo in Cocktail Hour, $7.99) can easily double as a highlighter, while matte eye shadow that's a few shades darker than your skin tone can be used to contour features. (Read TotalBeauty.com's highlighting and contouring how-to article for tips and tricks.) You can also use eye shadow as eyeliner by wetting an eyeliner brush, dipping it into the shadow and dragging it along your lash line. For brow filler, dab dry shadow on an angled dry eyeliner or brow brush and use a very light hand to fill in your brows.
TotalBeauty.com
Cleanser or moisturizer
Great as: Skin soothing treatment
Refrigerate cleansers or moisturizers in lotion or gel form and use them as a post-extraction soothing treatment or refreshing makeup remover for dry skin types. (Try Alba Sea Lettuce Cleansing Milk, $9.95). You can also do this with eye cream to give tired eyes a cooling, soothing effect.
TotalBeauty.com
Foundation
Great as: tinted moisturizer/concealer
Want lighter coverage than say, Nars Balanced Foundation, $40, without getting a new foundation? Create tinted moisturizer by mixing your current foundation (you can even do this with stick foundation) with a little moisturizer (we like Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer, $13.99). Do this on the back of your hand -- not in the bottles -- and experiment with the consistency and coverage until you get what you want. Apply with a fingers or a brush (a sponge may soak up too much product) and blend well. Don't forget to set with powder to make the coverage last longer.
Bonus tip: If you need a concealer when you've run out, dab on a bit of the foundation that has caked into its cap. The moisture there has evaporated a bit more, leaving your foundation with a thicker consistency. Blend outward with fingers or a concealer brush. (Watch this video for more tips on how to apply concealer.)
TotalBeauty.com
Leslie 6-02-2009 @ 4:36AM
There are tricks that actresses and super models use that keep them looking young and wrinkle free for their close-ups. As a former model I'll share a couple of their insider secrets with you.
For long term smooth, healthy looking skin it's Caracol Cream http://cli.gs/AgeDefyingCaracol If you go to that web site and read about the ingredients in Caracol Cream you'll see why it is in a class by itself when it comes to reducing the appearance of wrinkles and giving the skin an amazingly healthy appearance.
Many of them also use BeautyLift. http://trulyflawlessskin.com/ It is the most potent doctor grade wrinkle erasing system available. Using Beauty Lift can prevent wrinkles as well as significantly reduce the wrinkles you currently have
For cellulite problems they use BodySolution http://cli.gs/BestCelluliteSolution a cellulite toning system that is clinically proven to smooth cellulite and firm in as little as 72 hours.
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SexySadie 6-02-2009 @ 9:13PM
Working as an esthetician I always get people asking what they can do about their wrinkles. I tell them about Belisi http://ultimateanti-aging.info and how it contains medical grade ingredients that tone and tighten the skin for a smoother, younger face. It's much better, safer, and less expensive than Botox. They always come back to tell me how great it is and how much younger they look. It’s a great product and I back it up 100%. http://ultimateanti-aging.info
Phittrimmom 6-02-2009 @ 9:15PM
I’m a working mom so I’m always on the go. Lack of sleep and constant stress meant I had noticeable dark circles under my eyes as well ass puffiness and swelling. After using http://youramazingeyes.com for 4 weeks I no longer need to use concealer under my eyes every morning. Friends and colleagues have been telling me I look 10 years younger!
jennifer 6-02-2009 @ 11:11AM
ive been using lansinoh for lip gloss for 3 years now since i started breastfeeding my first son! i also use it on my heels before bed and put on white socks it gets rid of dry cracked skin! its very moisturising and last for HOURS
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Jel 6-02-2009 @ 6:14PM
I think every mom who has ever given birth in a hospital that gives out those samples of Lasinoh knows this. For some reason in the hospital I never seemed to have my lip gloss handy but this was always around.
Just keep it on your lips and not the surrounding skin, it's SUPER shiny.
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pwsjls 6-02-2009 @ 6:19PM
It's also good for cracked heels. Works like a charm!
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chrissy 6-02-2009 @ 6:51PM
The product is 100% lanolin. I've said for five years (since my first kid was born) that a beauty company is crazy for not marketing it as a lip balm. It is absolutely the best! I'm long past using it for it's intended purpose but I'll keep a tube in my house forever...the stuff is fantastic!
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SAndre 6-02-2009 @ 6:52PM
I have been using this on my lips, heels, elbows and knees for about a year. I had all of these extra tubes lying around after I was done nursing my daughter and used it in a pinch one night that I was out of Vaseline. I still keep several tubes just for my personal beauty care now. Non-smelly and non-staining.
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Simona 6-02-2009 @ 6:55PM
I have been using this on my lips, heels, elbows and knees for about a year. I had all of these extra tubes lying around after I was done nursing my daughter and used it in a pinch one night that I was out of Vaseline. I still keep several tubes just for my personal beauty care now. Non-smelly and non-staining.
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Michelle 6-02-2009 @ 7:12PM
It is also a great diaper rash ointment.
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earthafan 6-02-2009 @ 7:25PM
So to apply you need a tube of the cream, a nipple, and 2 lips?
:)
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Julie 6-02-2009 @ 7:51PM
Its also good for lines around the eyes, be sure your in a cool environment(65-72 degrees) the ointment can absorb into your skin, and its also the best moisturizer for really dry patches you may have on your skin. Plus, it doenst cause breakouts, for me anyway.
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CrazyMamaANJ 6-02-2009 @ 8:37PM
Lanolin is wonderful stuff, and totally natural! Use it on dry, cracked skin, heat rashes/chafing, diaper rashes, anything that you need to keep mositure away from as it heals.
Who knew sheep could be so handy? :)
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KITZER 6-02-2009 @ 11:33PM
COME ON PEOPLE!!! MANY, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN USING "UDDERLY SMOOTH" UDDER CREAM FOR YEARS! JUST IN CASE YOU PAID NO ATTENTION TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGIONALLY DEVELOPED FOR, IT WAS FOR "COW'S UDDERS"!! NOW, COW'S "UDDERS" ARE "NIPPLES"!!! WHAT CAN POSSIBLY BE SO CONFUSING ABOUT THAT??? I, FOR ONE, AM GOING TO USE IT!!
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James 6-02-2009 @ 10:12PM
As a Guy first I would apply it to a convienient Nipple then apply it to my lips - I believe that would be the correst way to apply it as it is a nipple cream first.
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debra 6-02-2009 @ 11:22PM
cute
KITZER 6-03-2009 @ 4:22PM
JAMES--- YOU ARE A "BOOGER ON EVERY WOMAN'S THUMB, JUST WAITING TO BE FLICKED OFF"!!! AND THE SOONER THE BETTER!! "PIG"!!!
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Sarah 6-05-2009 @ 5:52PM
I have been using Lansinoh for years. Ever since I had my first child 14 years ago. I use it as a lip balm, for minor cuts and scratches and as a soother for chapped skin before I go to bed at night. I love this, even have my friends using it too.
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Bob 6-03-2009 @ 1:09AM
I'd feel silly putting it directly on my lips but I wouldn't mind getting some 'second hand'.
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W 6-05-2009 @ 5:52PM
I would imagine that a lot of women have used lip balm for "nipple cream", so what is the big deal? It is the ingredients IN THE TUBE that count, not the label ON THE OUTSIDE. No one would admit they cook with floor cleaner either, but a lot of the cleaners used for cleaning floors, windows, etc., are nothing but vinegar.
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