I'm so extra.

I don't know if this is part of getting older or if I was just always picky and didn't realize it, but I've been very selective about my personal care items lately. Specifically, for my skincare, if the product has "fragrance" on the ingredient list, I want no parts of it. NONE.

I've only recently come to understand how irritating fragrance can be in skincare items, because the term "fragrance" can be made up of hundreds of nondescript ingredients. One product it's hard to find a quality fragrance-free version for is lip balm - quality lip balm. Sure, I could use vaseline or plain chapstick, but I was tired of buying ones that wore off after 20 minutes. I've spent too much of my life chronically applying lip balms; I am taking my power back.

So, when I say I "made" a lip balm, I don't mean literally or from scratch. I took one ingredient that's a miracle worker for my skin and transferred it to some empty lip gloss tubes.

May I present the star of the show: lanolin.



I randomly used this stuff on my lips one day while I was in the nursing moms room at work. My lips were dry, and the only thing I had with me was a travel-size tube of Lansinoh nipple cream that came in a breastfeeding goodie bag. I figured if it was good enough for my nipples, it had to be safe for baby to ingest, which means it'd probably work on my lips. So I gave it a try and loved it. I looked up the ingredients and realized there was only one: lanolin.

Ever since then, I've been on the hunt for lip balms that include lanolin. Glossier's Balm Dotcom is pretty good, but I hate the packaging. It's rough on the lips if you apply it directly. Also, it's overpriced in my opinion.

I started reading the reviews of the Lansinoh cream, and so many reviewers mentioned how they use it as lip balm. The next day, I got a large tube from Target and ordered empty lip gloss containers from amazon. Bonus: they included a syringe!



Once they arrived, I put on my chemist hat and got to work decanting everything. The Lansinoh cream also included a travel version. I transferred that into the new containers as well.

It's only been a couple weeks, but I'm loving it. Instead of constantly reapplying, I only put it on once or twice throughout the day, depending on what I eat or drink. It doesn't just sit on top of the skin; it penetrates, and you know I mean business if I'm using the word penetrate.

Even when it seemingly wears off, my lips don't feel dry or chapped. They feel noticeably bare but still hydrated.



I would like to mention that some people may have an allergic reaction to lanolin, so it's not for everyone. But if you've ever used Aquaphor Healing Ointment or Glossier's Balm Dotcom with no issues, you're likely not allergic.

Goodness... all this for some lip balm! But it's not like I have places to go or people to see right now, so. yeah.