I have a patch of skin on my upper lip that is chronically cracked, almost caloused, about every other week. I've been treating it by breaking open a capsule of vitamin E oil and rubbing it on them very generously before bed. I put some under my eyes too. Then I rub the lips with a warm washcloth in the shower the next morning. It works for me. I keep the capsules with me at work too incase they need saving.

I also don't wear lip color very often at all. I stick to burt's bees honey chapstick and re-apply liberally throughout the day. I think natural moist lips are sexier than waxy colored ones.

Anyway, the Vitamin E capsules might work better for you partly because of the E and partly because they are thicker and goopier than olive oil. Its like lip gloss that's good for you.

I've read that the skin on your lips and under your eyes lacks its own oil supply--it makes do by soaking it up from surrounding skin. So thats why both those areas age first and get all puckered and crinkly. Nothing wrong with helping them out.

Aww I hate it when lips go chapped!

Well some lipsticks can actually burn your lips. I don't remember the brand, but my nan (yeah so the brand must be quite old! :P) says she bought a lipstick and it burned her lips. I find that lipsticks I use just dry out my lips, so make sure when you go back to wearing them that you always Always apply some kind of 'layer' in between your lips and the lipstick - I use homemade balm, vitamin E or almond oil.

There are several things you can use, your main aim is to trap moisture there and keep it from evaporating off with an oily balm. I'd suggest purchasing some glycerin, mix about 1 tsp of it 50/50 with water and then just keep applying onto your lips as they continue to soak it up. The glycerin acts as a humectant, pulling in nearby water molecules. When you finish that up, cover with some vitamin E oil (like Monet suggested). Wait til that soaks in and the cover with a greasy balm (I make mine, 1 tsp beeswax, 2tbsp olive oil ,1 vit e oil capsule, sometimes cocoa butter: heat them all in a double boiler). I've found some petroleum based commercial balms, like Nivea, for example, to dry out my lips even more. Might just be me, but just a thought. Anyway, do that every night before bed and you should see an improvement. :)

P.S. You can also subsititute the glycerin with honey, but not so good in the summer months....BEES! And its so tasty I will just lick my lips (which dries them out more!)

blistex blistex blistex and don't lick your lips (olive oil doesn't work for me either)

Stay away from any products that contain petroleum its known to produce this reaction on lips. Lips seem to be dry cracked, and peel always rough unless slathered with product, dried chapped lips is also what an alergic reaction to petroleum look like..

For years it drove me batty, I would scrub my lips with exfoliating glove or my tooth brush trying to keep them smooth it wasnt until a lover who is also a Physician pointed it out to me and told me what was happing...

Since I switched they rarely ever dried and chapped or peeling.

Skin on your lips is very delicate, just as delicate as labia and you wouldnt use petroleum on them, least I hope not...

I stick to Burts Bees, Aveda, Origins, and Philosophy

hopefully, your lips are better by now. In addition the other suggestions, try TAKING vitamin e.