I heard if you lick your lips too much, it actually makes your lips more chapped (does that make sense?). So try not to lick your lips too much. Other than that, why not use plain chapstick? They're not very girly and they could help.

bearaholic :   I've heard the same thing about licking lips, which is why I only do it on ocassion, in case it's true.

As for regular chapstick, most of them are fairly stiff and not soft or 'creamy' enough. This means that it just pulls at the dried skin sticking up off my lip, irritating it instead of smoothing it down or moistening it.  Does that make any sense?  I'm not sure how to describe it accurately.

Have you tried drinking more water? That usually does it for me.

I think I see what you're doing wrong. When applying lip balm, you don't do it on the dry skin. You have to first remove the dead skin on your lips by gently rubbing them off with a warm wash cloth until all the dead skin on your lips aren't there anymore, then you apply the lip balm. As for what type of lip balm to use, a lot of girls like using Burt's Bees because of its natural ingredients. I myself haven't tried it because a generic chapstick would work well for me anyways, so it is only a suggestion. 
 

I get chapped lips pretty often, especially working in a filthy, cold environment like I do. Several methods to help my lips include using the "creamy" Blistex, which soothes my lips for a bit. Does not always help, however, so sometimes Vaseline or petroleum jelly on the lips can help too.

I was not aware of what bearaholic said about getting the dead skin off the lips with a warm cloth though! Already drink lots of water to help, and avoiding too much dry heat so it does not exasperate the lips.

Well although it has been said before, I need to say it again, you are NOT drinking enough water. Make it a point to drink way more water as Dehydration is the primary cause of chapped lips.

It seems like the experts like Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 containing squalane and natural oils. The experts also like the petrolatum-based Aquaphor Healing Ointment and Vaseline Lip Therapy.

Singelli : It is very important on a number of health levels to drink more water. Studies show that when you actually "feel" dehydrated is way past the time when you actually are. The signs of your lips are VERY telling that you are in fact not getting enough water.

Singelli :
No it does not say creamy on the box, I just did not know the name for it, haha. I have a box in front of me now, though. It says "Blistex: Medicated Lip Ointment. Helps heal severe dryness and relieve cold sores. Penetrating Medication And Moisture." Instead of having a flat head like normal, waxy chap stick does, it has a tube similar to toothpaste (but smaller of course) and a head that is slit and more form fitting for the lips.

Here is a reference picture. It is what I use when it is really bad, but otherwise, I use the waxy chap stick for PREVENTING the chapped lips.

Until it heals, you can try putting on neosporin at night, but that could get really obnoxious. The biggest thing to remember is that chapstick is a preventative measure. So when you're getting ready in the morning, if it feels cold out, just apply a little to your lips before you head off to work.

Not sure for you, but I get that bad chapping quite often too, but usually I can feel it coming about a day or so ahead of time, and I start applying chapstick then. Usually it's too late to completely stop it from happening, but it only lasts a day instead of a week if I catch it.

Jordanv78 :
My husband is always telling me to drink more water, and you're both right.  I need to, and I'm proud to say that for the past four days, I've only had water.  Not much of it, but it's still more than I normally have.  I've had at least one large glass each day.  I didn't know you can be dehydrated without feeling so though.

Over the past few days, my lips HAVE been much better.  I don't know if the water actually worked that quickly, or if it's simply a lapse in the dryness.  In any case, I'm going to keep up with the water because I trust all of you that it will solve the problem.  Thank you VERY much... I don't think I ever would have considered that a cause of the problem.

ruesen :
Thanks for the information and the picture! I've never seen that before, but I'll look for it the next time I'm in Wal- Mart.  I normally use Carmex when my lips aren't like this.  Do you think that will suffice when my lips heal, and then if they get this bad again, use the Blistex?  I really don't want to keep damaging my lips by tearing them up.

Lazlo Falconi : *winces*  Neosporin, you say?  I've never heard of people using that on their lips, but then again I've never used it myself.  I might try that as well until my lips heal this time.

I don't really know that I can tell in advance, as I never really pay it much mind until pain sets in or I'm dealing with one of the dry pieces sticking up off my lip

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Thanks for all the great advice everyone.  It's been entirely helpful, and I'm definitely going to keep them in mind.  *ticks off on her fingers*  Wet rag for the dry skin, neosporin at night, Carmex as a preventative measure, and Blistex when it starts to get bad.

Thank you all VERY much.  As always, you didn't fail me.  You guys are just plain awesome!

Local Mods :  I think this can be closed, unless someone else wants to chime in.

I'll close it up for you. Hope your lips get better and all the advice helps you out.

*Closed*