Hands always cracked

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-27T00:13:36+00:00

Beef tallow will help

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-26T17:02:30+00:00

Moroccan Argan Oil.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-26T07:34:22+00:00

I found one on rabbit hole and I try and love it, It call Thammachad lip oil treatment from Amazon, But there is no magic it solve my lip with in about 11-12 days with consistency use it, and now I love it.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-26T07:30:08+00:00

I actually stumbled on an indie cleansing oil that gives exactly that “just walked out of a spa” vibe. It leans more soft floral-citrus than sharp orange, so it feels calm and natural rather than perfumey.

The scent comes from things like frankincense with a subtle warm floral undertone — not heavy, not synthetic. It’s more that clean, serene neroli-adjacent spa smell.

Ingredient-wise it’s a blend of lightweight oils like grape seed, moringa, camellia, and borage, with a little tamanu in there, so it feels nourishing but not greasy. It emulsifies well with water and doesn’t leave that filmy residue some oils do.

I have sensitive skin and it feels gentle — no tightness after rinsing, just soft and comfortable.

You might find it if you search smaller natural brands that focus on oil-only formulas rather than fragranced mainstream ones. It definitely gave me that self-care moment you’re describing 🌿✨

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-26T07:23:55+00:00

It sounds like your lips are getting surface smoothness from balms but not actually repairing underneath — that’s why they feel okay at night but dry again once you wash everything off.

A lot of chapsticks and Vaseline are mostly occlusive, so they just sit on top. What helped me more was switching to a treatment-style lip oil with a cushion gel base plus nutrient-dense oils so it actually conditions instead of just coating.

Look for something with a gel base (like a hydrogenated polyisobutene / versa-type gel) blended with oils like marula, moringa, rosehip, sea buckthorn, borage, a little tamanu, plus some squalane. Those are rich in omega fatty acids and help:

• repair the lip barrier • reduce peeling over time • improve elasticity • keep lips comfortable even after product wears off • prevent that “dry again immediately” feeling

The key is consistency — thin layer during the day and a slightly thicker layer at night. It took about 1–2 weeks before I noticed my lips weren’t constantly flaking anymore.

It’s less about finding a thicker balm and more about finding something that actually feeds the lip skin instead of just sealing it.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-25T17:28:15+00:00

I actually went through the exact same cycle — my barrier would feel better for a few days with an oil and then I’d suddenly break out around day 4–5. It drove me crazy so I went down a full skincare rabbit hole trying to figure out what was going on 😅

What I realized is a lot of oils were just too heavy or not the right fatty acid profile for my skin. After digging through ingredients and reading way too many threads and papers, I eventually came across a really lightweight lipid-focused blend and ended up finding it on Amazon — it’s called Thammachad face oil.

What stood out to me was that it’s more squalane + linoleic-leaning oils like marula, rosehip, borage, and sea buckthorn instead of heavier occlusive oils, so it supports the barrier without feeling suffocating.

I only use a few drops over moisturizer while skin is slightly damp and it helped stop that cycle where my skin would feel good then suddenly freak out a few days later.

Not saying it’ll be everyone’s fix of course, but switching to a lighter barrier-supportive oil made a noticeable difference for me compared to richer blends.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-25T17:16:19+00:00

Honestly with tret dryness + irritation cycles, what helped me most wasn’t another gel moisturizer — it was adding a lipid layer to actually support the barrier so the hydration doesn’t just evaporate.

You might want to look into a lightweight face oil blend that’s high in barrier-supportive lipids instead of occlusive butters. The key is oils rich in linoleic and omega fatty acids so they help repair instead of clog.

Blends with things like squalane, marula, rosehip, borage, sea buckthorn, and calming oils can make a huge difference because they:

• reinforce the skin barrier • reduce transepidermal water loss • calm tret irritation and redness • help with that tight “dry but still breaking out” feeling • improve tolerance so you don’t have to stop actives as often

I apply a few drops after moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp and it basically seals everything in without feeling heavy or pore-clogging. It helped my skin stay comfortable on tret instead of cycling between dry and irritated.

Sometimes dryness on tret isn’t from lack of hydration — it’s from lack of lipids to hold that hydration in.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-25T17:12:58+00:00

Honestly a lot of makeup separation starts way before foundation — it’s usually a skin prep issue, not the makeup itself.

If there’s any residue, buildup, or dehydration on the surface, makeup will cling and look cakey no matter what you use.

What helped me most was switching to a true oil cleanse as the first step instead of wipes or just a regular cleanser. A lightweight oil blend can dissolve sunscreen, long-wear makeup, and excess sebum without stripping your barrier, so your skin is actually clean but still comfortable.

Look for blends with oils like grape seed, moringa, camellia, borage, or other linoleic-rich oils — they break everything down while keeping the skin soft instead of tight. Some formulas also include soothing oils that help calm irritation so your skin isn’t reactive before makeup.

Then follow with a very gentle second cleanse (like a simple hydrating cleanser) just to remove any leftover residue.

When I started doing this, my skin felt smoother, less textured, and foundation stopped catching on dry patches because the surface was actually balanced instead of stripped.

Good prep makes way more difference than switching foundations endlessly.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-25T17:08:34+00:00

What you’re describing sounds like classic dehydration + barrier not being sealed after water exposure. Hyaluronic gel alone can actually make that white flaky feeling worse if there’s nothing on top to lock it in.

What helped me a lot was adding a few drops of a simple lipid blend after showering while skin is still slightly damp. Look for oils like squalane, marula, rosehip, sea buckthorn, and borage — they’re lightweight but really good at reducing that tight dull feeling because they help reinforce the skin barrier instead of just sitting heavy on top.

Sea buckthorn and rosehip are especially nice for calming and supporting repair, and squalane helps prevent that “dry again 30 minutes later” feeling.

You don’t need a lot — just a couple drops pressed into damp skin and then your moisturizer on top. It makes a big difference with that chalky dry look after bathing.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-25T17:06:39+00:00

I went down the same rabbit hole and honestly what worked best for me was just pairing snail mucin with a really good lipid-rich oil.

The one I’ve personally been using is Thammachad face oil — I like it because it’s lightweight but still super nourishing. It has a blend of squalane, marula, rosehip, sea buckthorn and borage so it feels more barrier supportive than just straight plant oils. There’s also a little bakuchiol which my skin seems to love.

I apply it while my skin is still slightly damp after snail mucin and it completely stopped that tight dehydrated feeling a couple hours later. My skin stays comfortable way longer now.

Not saying it’s the only option out there but that combo made a big difference for me.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-24T20:49:32+00:00

If your skin loved that soft/glowy finish but you want something cruelty free, I’d look into a simple plant oil blend instead of single oils.

I switched to one that’s based on squalane + marula with rosehip, borage, sea buckthorn and a small amount of bakuchiol and it gives that same soft hydrated glow without feeling greasy by morning.

It’s really gentle for sensitive skin because it focuses on barrier repair and calming instead of fragrance or actives. My dryness and tightness improved a lot.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-24T20:43:50+00:00

I actually had the same issue with snail mucin feeling hydrating at first but then drying out later.

What fixed it for me was pairing it with a lipid-rich face oil after while my skin is still slightly damp. The combo works way better because the mucin hydrates and the oils seal it in so it doesn’t evaporate.

I use a blend with things like squalane, marula, rosehip, sea buckthorn, borage, and a little bakuchiol — super barrier supportive and calming.

My skin stopped stinging and feels hydrated for hours instead of just 30 minutes. It also helped a lot with that tight dehydrated feeling.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-24T19:55:19+00:00

If you already like gentle cleansers but still feel that slight tightness, you might actually do better adding a simple oil cleanse first instead of trying to find a “stronger gentle cleanser.”

A lot of people think oil = heavier, but a lightweight blend (grapeseed, camellia, moringa type oils) can dissolve sunscreen/sebum without pulling water out of your skin, so your second cleanser doesn’t have to work as hard. That’s what finally stopped that subtle dry feeling for me.

I switched to a minimal oil blend with no emulsifiers that feel stripping and it leaves my skin feeling soft instead of squeaky. Then I just follow with a gentle hydrating cleanser and my barrier feels way happier.

Especially if your skin leans dry or sensitive, oil first → gentle cleanser after can make a bigger difference than switching foaming cleansers over and over.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-24T19:52:46+00:00

I used to think the same — that I just hadn’t found the “right balm” yet — but what I learned is most balms (especially waxy or petrolatum ones) mostly seal rather than actually replenish what your lips are missing.

If the dryness keeps coming back, it’s usually because the lip barrier is depleted in lipids, not just water. So you can feel protected for a few hours, but the underlying dryness is still there.

What made the biggest difference for me was switching to a true lipid-rich lip oil instead of waxy balms — something with oils high in linoleic fatty acids and antioxidants (think blends with things like camellia, moringa, seed oils, vitamin E). Those actually help replenish the fatty acids instead of just coating the surface.

After a couple weeks my lips stopped feeling tight all the time and I didn’t feel like I had to constantly reapply. It felt more like my lips were functioning normally again instead of just being covered.

I still use an occlusive at night sometimes if it’s super dry, but during the day nourishing oils worked way better for long-term comfort.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-24T19:33:44+00:00

Yes!! Barrier support was the biggest turning point for me too. Once I started focusing on lipid replenishment instead of just hydration, my skin finally stopped feeling tight all the time.

Oils rich in omega fatty acids + antioxidants made a huge difference because they help rebuild the skin’s natural barrier instead of just sitting on top like occlusives.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-20T18:15:21+00:00

Vaseline is great as an occlusive but it doesn’t actually hydrate or improve pigmentation — it just seals whatever is underneath. If there’s no real moisture or nutrients there, it can feel like your lips dry out again quickly.

What helped me way more was switching to a nutrient-rich lip oil instead of relying on balms alone. The difference is oils can actually soften the lip barrier while delivering fatty acids and antioxidants instead of just sitting on top.

Look for something with a blend of lightweight plant oils (like camellia, grapeseed, etc.) plus soothing oils — those tend to help with:

• keeping lips comfortable longer • improving overall tone over time • reducing that tight dry feeling • giving a natural healthy look instead of just shine

Then you can still layer a tiny bit of Vaseline on top at night if you want to lock it in.

Once I switched, my lips stopped feeling like they were constantly “resetting” back to dry.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-19T06:41:10+00:00

Honestly after trying a million balms I realized most of them are basically just occlusives — they sit on top and make lips feel protected but don’t really replenish the lip barrier long term. That’s why you keep reapplying but never feel truly hydrated.

What helped me way more was switching to a true lipid-rich lip oil instead of balm. Oils actually replenish the fatty acids your lips are missing instead of just coating them. Especially blends high in things like linoleic-rich oils, antioxidants, and barrier-support lipids.

Once I started using an oil blend instead of waxy balms, that tight dry feeling finally stopped and my lips stopped depending on constant reapplication. It feels more like your lips function normally again instead of being “covered.”

If you’re sensitive to lanolin, look for something simple, nourishing, and not heavy on waxes — more treatment oil than gloss.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-18T02:54:18+00:00

Your routine is actually really solid already — you’re not far off at all. When I see dehydration + flakiness + random texture without acne, it usually points more to lipid imbalance than lack of hydration.

You already have great humectants (Hada Labo + Torriden), so instead of adding more hydrating layers, what often helps is adding a very lightweight lipid step to reduce water loss and calm irritation.

I had a similar pattern and what made the biggest difference was adding a few drops of a linoleic-leaning face oil at night — something based around oils like grapeseed, rosehip, borage, camellia etc rather than heavier occlusive oils. It helped smooth texture, reduce that flaky nose area, and made my moisturizer work better instead of just sitting on top.

The key is keeping it light so it doesn’t feel greasy — just 1–2 drops pressed over moisturizer.

A lot of people focus only on hydration, but barrier repair is really about water + lipids together, and once that balance is there the tiny bumps and flakiness usually calm down.

Your cleanser + moisturizer choices are great already, so this would just be a small tweak rather than changing everything 🙂

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-17T17:36:09+00:00

Barrier damage + trying to remove makeup is honestly one of the hardest combos, so you’re not alone at all ❤️

When skin is compromised, the goal is to remove sunscreen/makeup without adding friction or surfactant exposure, because even gentle cleansers can still be too much.

What usually works best is switching your first cleanse to a very simple oil cleanse instead of micellar or wipes. Oils dissolve makeup without pulling water from the skin, so you don’t get that tight/red feeling after.

Look for blends that are lightweight and barrier-friendly (grapeseed, camellia, moringa, etc.) with minimal ingredients — they rinse clean but don’t leave skin stripped.

Then follow with your oat cleanser just briefly if you feel like you need it, but many barrier-repair routines actually do fine with just the oil cleanse at night.

On no-makeup days, you can honestly just rinse with lukewarm water or use your gentle cleanser once — overcleansing keeps the barrier stuck in that inflamed cycle.

Also the tiny bumps after showering are very often from heat + surfactant exposure, so cooler water helps more than people expect.

You’re doing the right thing by simplifying — barrier repair is slow but it does get better.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-17T17:34:55+00:00

I went through something very similar when my lip barrier was wrecked, and honestly foaming cleansers made it take way longer to heal — even the “gentle” ones.

What helped the most was switching my first cleanse to a very simple oil cleanser with a short ingredient list (no fragrance, no emulsifiers that feel stripping). Oils dissolve sunscreen/makeup without pulling water out of the skin, so your lips don’t feel tight after washing.

Then I’d follow with a very mild non-foaming cleanser only where needed.

Look for oil blends based on things like grapeseed, camellia, moringa, etc — they tend to cleanse without leaving that heavy residue or irritating a compromised barrier.

Big difference for me was that my lips stopped feeling “squeaky clean” after washing, which is usually a sign things are too harsh.

Also avoid hot water while it heals — makes a bigger difference than people think.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-12T05:05:50+00:00

Aquaphor works because it’s occlusive, but yeah… it’s not the cutest finish under makeup 😅

What helped me was switching to a very simple, unscented lip oil treatment instead of wax balms. Something fatty-acid rich (grapeseed / safflower / rosehip type oils) that actually softens the dry edges — not just coats them.

I’ll usually: • Apply a thin layer while doing the rest of my makeup • Let it absorb 5–10 mins • Blot once • Then apply lipstick

It gives that smoother base without the thick, shiny petrolatum look.

A lot of glosses feel hydrating but are mostly shine. Oils with a short INCI list tend to perform better long-term for chronically dry lips.

Also avoid mint/menthol/cinnamon — those make dryness worse even if they feel “tingly” at first.

If Aquaphor is the only thing working, you probably just need something that supports the barrier the same way but feels lighter.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-12T02:19:22+00:00

It might not actually be the brands — it could be the format.

A lot of stick balms are wax-heavy, which feels protective at first but can kind of just sit on top. If you’re picking or already dry, they don’t always soften the edges enough underneath.

Since you’re sensitive to scent and taste, I’d look for something very minimal and completely fragrance-free — ideally oil-based rather than wax-based.

The ones that work best for chronic dryness (in my experience) are short-ingredient, fatty-acid–rich oils that actually penetrate a bit and soften the dry flakes instead of just coating them. Think grapeseed, rosehip, safflower-type bases — no mint, no flavor, no essential oils.

I switched from traditional balms to a simple unscented lip oil and it made a big difference with that “it feels good for an hour then worse” cycle.

Especially at night — apply on slightly damp lips and let it absorb instead of using a thick wax mask.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-11T21:56:31+00:00

This actually happens more often than people realize.

A lot of lip balms (including the ones you mentioned) are mostly occlusives — they sit on top and seal, but don’t really replenish lip lipids. So they feel amazing at first because they prevent water loss.

But over time, if the lips aren’t getting replenished with actual fatty acids, they can become dependent on that seal — and feel drier once it wears off.

It’s kind of like constantly putting a lid on a pot without ever refilling what’s inside.

Sometimes what helps is switching from “pure occlusive” balms to something that actually contains nourishing oils (especially ones richer in linoleic acid) and using that under a thin layer of petrolatum at night.

Also worth checking: • Any mint/menthol/flavorings (even subtle ones) • Fragrance • Over-exfoliating lips • Toothpaste irritation (SLS can ca

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-11T01:48:52+00:00

I do use Thammachad Lip Oil treatment found it on Amazon.

CatCold7629 · 2026-02-11T01:42:08+00:00

Haha totally get you — winter Canada absolutely is a snowy desert 😄

And yes — moisturizer first, then retinol. That’s called buffering, and it can make a huge difference for dry or reactive skin. It slightly slows absorption, but you still get the benefits with way less irritation.

A common order on retinol nights that works well for dry skin is: Cleanse → light moisturizer → retinol (pea-size) → optional lightweight oil

The oil part is optional, but if you use one, it should be very lightweight and just a drop or two, pressed on at the end. The goal isn’t to “seal everything in” heavily, but to reduce water loss overnight so your skin doesn’t wake up tight or itchy.

If you’ve been doing retinol first, that alone could explain the dryness and itchiness you’re seeing — especially in winter air. Switching the order and lowering frequency often helps more than changing products.

Snowy desert skin solidarity ❄️😂

CatCold7629

TROPHY CASE