Pow! How to Get It Right in the Kisser

By Heather Won Tesoriero

'Tis the season to be walking around with chapped lips. Keeping lips moist and healthy is a seasonal struggle for many. But don't just reach for whatever tube is sitting next to the cash register. A little product research can help you find a lip balm just right for your kisser.

Lips are kept healthy by lipids, which are naturally produced by the body but tend to dry up in extreme climates. The goal of lip balm is to keep those lipids moist. Dr. Sandy Tsao, a dermatology instructor at Harvard Medical School, advises, "You should look for products that contain petrolatum, glycerin, lanolin or a combo of all these things."

And what about the popular notion that lip balm can actually dry out lips, forcing people to apply more? Doctors say the dreaded cycle is caused not by the lip balm but by the user. "What really happens," says Tsao, "is that when we use lip balm, we tend to lick the lips a lot more. It's the saliva that causes the drying." So steer clear of flavored and scented lip products, which encourage lip licking. In extreme cases, chapping leaves lips vulnerable to cold sores, which are caused by the herpes virus and triggered by stress, colds or flu. Treat those separately; lysine supplements or a cream with docosanol may give some relief.

TIME tested six lip balms under $10 to see which ones successfully soothed our smackers. The results:

--CARMEX contains menthol and camphor, a natural oil that is meant to soothe but leaves a slight burning sensation.

--BLISTEX LIP MEDEX is 59% petrolatum, a high content that means fewer applications.

--NEUTROGENA LIP MOISTURIZER, with SPF 15, is particularly good for outdoor winter sports.

--NEOSTRATA'S EXUVIANCE is another good product for outdoors--smooth, subtle and not too waxy.

--KIEHL'S LIP BALM #1 has the right ingredients, but it's a bit greasy.

--EUCERIN'S AQUAPHOR works well, and a dab will last you all day.

--VASELINE PETROLEUM JELLY, which is all petrolatum, is still the best overall. If you find it too greasy, doctors suggest using it only at night and switching to lip balm for the day.

You can write to Heather at htesoriero@aol.com