This $2 lip balm nourishes and protects my painfully dry lips better than anything else I've tried

I've always thought of the winter season as a hellscape. When temperatures plummet, my lips morph into what can only be described as scorched earth inflamed by blustery dry air and winds. What I'm left with is a painful inconvenience: cracked lips that burn and hurt to the touch.

I've dabbled in numerous remedies — some effective, others not so much. After years of testing "cool" brands, I endured a ghastly rash and learned that my lips are quite sensitive and require simple ingredients — not cute packaging and products with bold promises that only dried my lips further. Following in my mom's footsteps, I now use Vaseline Lip Therapy — a basic yet tried-and-true solution.
 

How and why Vaseline Lip Therapy works

Vaseline seals in moisture and nourishes parched lips with petroleum jelly, a gooey-like substance comprised of a mix of oils and waxes. While it doesn't technically have healing properties on a chemical level, it acts as an effective barrier, much like a Band-Aid. I find this ideal for when my lips are scaly and cracked, as they need extra shielding against the elements.

Vaseline Lip Therapy doubles as a soothing treatment similar to a lip mask and a plumping gloss, sans the sticky formula and drying nature of conventional lip glosses. As an overnight treatment, I slather it on in a thick layer. Come sunrise, and my lips are soft and smooth for the day — with the occasional reapplication post-lunch. For going out, I typically apply it over dry matte lipstick or opt for the Vaseline Rosy Lip Therapy if I want to sport a subtle pink hue.

The packaging is nothing special (it comes in both tins and little plastic pots), but at just two bucks, it's a no-brainer compared to high-end glosses and lip therapies.