Love Letter to Chapstick

Photo by Vie Studio from Pexels.

Bella Orozco

It's that time of the year again. Valentine’s day was last week, days are getting longer, the weather is still chilly and lips are getting more chapped. I think we all know the solution. Here is my love letter to Chapstick.

Dear Chapstick,

You’ve been there for me for so long. Throughout all seasons, friendships, tests and vacations. You’ll always be with me and I’m so grateful for it.

Your tiny container fits right in my pocket. With a light swipe like a kiss you rehydrate my lips so that I may take on a chilly day or a dry classroom. You can even provide relief to a raw nose after blowing it so many times during cold and flu season.

I think I may even be addicted to you. It’s most definitely unhealthy. You’re so easy to lose and for some reason I haven’t learned to purchase backups. And when it is time to replace you, the better flavors are always sold out.

In fact, I no longer use the name brand Chapstick. I’ve had to move on to natural lip balm that is more expensive, yet the most effective lip balm that I have ever used. There is a particular reason for this.

Think of your favorite lip balm brands. You might come up with Chapstick, EOS, Carmex, and Aquaphor. What do they have in common? Some of their products are medicated.

You may think this is a good thing. That the medication will heal your chapped lips faster and keep them healed. This is far from the truth. After a while your body builds a tolerance to the medication and the lip balm seems to work less. This makes you use more and buy more to no avail. 

Speaking from personal experience, I did have an addiction to Chapstick. Specifically the peppermint kind that was only sold during the holidays. I had literally been using it for three years and one day freshman year it simply stopped bringing my lips the relief they needed. I ended up switching to an EOS balm and then to Blistex in hopes of finding something that would work, but I had such a tolerance built up that they didn’t. Until I was given the Holy Grail of gifts.

A natural lip balm (from a small local business)!

At first it was kind of yucky to use, I will admit. By that I mean the essential oil scent was not my favorite. The balm I use also doesn’t maintain as soft of a texture as drug store balms, so it can be a bit worrisome to apply. But it is a miracle worker. I have been buying it ever since. It does put a bit of a dent in my wallet because it is three dollars a tube, but I use it less than I would a medicated balm, so I’m buying less product overall and probably saving money.

The thing with natural lip balm is that you can make them at home, so the cost for you over time can be even less. Most are made with things like shea butter, coconut oil, or beeswax and a little essential oil for scent. Natural balms are a great way to heal your lips after a tolerance has been built to medicated balms. But after that, you could go back to your Chapstick if you wanted to because at the end of the day, no one likes the feeling of dry lips or skin and any relief is much appreciated.

With all being said, this has turned into less of a love letter to Chapstick and more of a love letter to any hydrating product on the market. Seriously, an amazing gift for your honey next Valentine’s day would be lotion and lip balm. You’re welcome.

Hugs and kisses,

Bella