You’ve probably noticed the debate on whether or not you should use Blistex or Vaseline when your lips get chapped. What is the correct answer? It all depends on your goals. This article will discuss which product is better for particular purposes so that you can make an informed decision about which one to choose next time your lips need some TLC.
Ingredients in Blistex
1. Petrolatum (40%)
It works by creating a protective barrier on your lips that prevents water from evaporating. That makes it suitable for dry, cold weather because it traps the moisture in your lip area and keeps them hydrated longer.
2. Camphor (0.06%)
It increases blood circulation and warms your lips so that you can get rid of chapped skin faster.
3. Salicylic Acid (0.05%)
It works by softening your lips and breaking down the dead skin cells that are causing chapping.
4. Menthol (0.04%)
It creates a cooling sensation on your lips, making them feel better instantly when they are in pain or discomfort.
5. Phenol (0.02%)
It works by killing any germs on your lips to get rid of chapped skin due to an infection or cold sores.
Ingredients in Vaseline
1. Mineral Oil (13%)
It works by creating a protective barrier on your lips that prevents water from evaporating. It makes it ideal for dry, cold weather because it traps the moisture in your lip area and keeps them hydrated longer.
2. Petrolatum (25%)
It creates a protective barrier on your lips that prevents water from evaporating. That makes it suitable for dry, cold weather because it traps the moisture in your lip area and keeps them hydrated longer.
3. Lanolin (0.01%)
It softens your lips and breaks down the dead skin cells that are causing chapping in the first place.
Most ingredients are similar between Blistex and Vaseline, so many people wonder why one is better.
How Effective is Blistex?
1. Blistex Is Better For Moisturizing
The main ingredient in Blistex is white petrolatum which soaks into your lips to help them stay hydrated longer than Vaseline does.
2. Blistex Is Better For Preventing Chapping
Blistex contains ingredients that protect your lips from the elements, such as wind and sun damage. It also has an SPF of 30, providing more protection than Vaseline (which only blocks UVB rays).
3. Blistex Is Better For Preventing Cold Sores
Blistex contains ingredients that protect your lips from becoming cracked and chapped, which helps to reduce the likelihood of you developing a cold sore.
4. Blistex Is Better For Preventing Free Radical Damage
It contains Vitamin E, which protects your lips from the inside out by neutralizing free radicals that can cause cell death and wrinkles in your skin.
5. Blistex Is Better For Treating Blisters
Has camphor and menthol, which helps to relieve the pain associated with corns and calluses by opening up your pores so that they can drain properly.
How to Use Blistex
1. Apply A Thin Layer To Your Lips Whenever They Feel Dry
You can apply it throughout the day, but doing that often may lead to dependency on Blistex, and you will have chapped lips for longer instead of during cold winter months.
2. Apply Blistex To Your Lips Before Bedtime
Blistex will get absorbed into the skin more thoroughly, and you’ll wake up with soft, supple lips if you do this every night.
3. Apply A Thin Layer To Your Lips Before Going Outside
A sunscreen ingredient in Blistex will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays and prevent damage that can lead to wrinkling and cancerous tumors later on in life.
How Effective is Vaseline?
Vaseline makes a great moisturizer, but it does not possess any of Blistex’s other benefits.
1. Vaseline Is Better For Treating Chapped Lips Overnight
Both Blistex and Vaseline effectively moisturize skin barrier than white petrolatum your lips, but the main ingredient in Vaseline (petroleum jelly) soaks into your skin faster than white petrolatum does. You will wake up with softer lips if you apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly right before you go to bed, but it will not last as long if you use Blistex instead.
2. Vaseline Is Better For Treating Severely Chapped Lips
If your lips are dry, you should use Vaseline instead of Blistex because it forms a more substantial barrier on the skin than white petrolatum does. It won’t wash away quickly when you lick your lips, so it will keep them moist longer.
How To Use Vaseline
1. Apply A Thin Layer Wherever You Feel Dry Or Chapped
Vaseline is great for moisturizing your lips if they’re looking parched. Still, it’s not as effective at protecting them from the elements, so using Blistex instead of Vaseline on days when it’s freezing outside may be a better idea.
2. Apply Vaseline To Your Lips Before Bedtime
If you do that, wash it off when you wake up so that the petroleum jelly doesn’t clog your pores and cause acne.
3. Apply A Thin Layer To Your Lips Before Going Outside
A sunscreen ingredient in Vaseline will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays and prevent damage that can lead to wrinkling and cancerous tumors later on in life. If you apply it daily but remember not to use it much, it won’t be effective.
What About When You Have Chapped Lips?
If the backs of your hands and legs start looking like a desert because you have severely dry skin everywhere on your body for a long, Vaseline will not fix the problem. Therefore, you should seek professional help from a dermatologist who can prescribe skincare products that are stronger than those available on your grocery store’s shelves.
Blistex vs. Vaseline
You may need both of these lip balms, but for different reasons. Blistex effectively moisturizes your lips, so it is an excellent choice if you plan to spend more time outside during the cold winter months or when the air is dehydrated.
Vaseline will work faster than white petrolatum does since it quickly absorbs your skin, making it a good choice for overnight treatments when you need to fix chapped lips.
Don’t forget that it’s a good idea to combine both products to get the best results from each. For example, if your hands are dry because of work or play, apply Blistex before going outside and use Vaseline at night.
Both Vaseline and Blistex are great at moisturizing your lips, but there is a difference in the ingredients that make them effective. If you want to protect yourself from getting chapped lips or cold sores, use Blistex because it contains ingredients like white petrolatum and Vitamin E, which will help keep your lips healthy.
If you need some relief from really chapped lips, Vaseline is your best bet because it provides a more substantial barrier than Blistex does and helps to keep the moisture locked in for longer.
