I've always been prone to sore, chapped lips and unfortunately not just in the cold winter months, I can get an attack at any time of the year leaving my lips sore and uncomfortable. I've tried all sorts of treatments including those prescribed by doctors but nothing has given the relief and helped healing like Vaseline, I tend to stick to the small Lip Therapy tins as they're perfect to throw in your handbag or keep in a pocket and nowadays I don't leave the house without one.

Vaseline is a form of petroleum jelly, used for all sorts of skin complaints and burns, and its Lip Therapy products are simply smaller, conveniently sized tins of the product. Available in regular (in the blue tin) Aloe Vera (in the green tin) and SPF 15 (in the yellow tin) a pot 20g will cost in the region of 99p with the SPF 15 variety slightly more expensive at £1.50. The tins are small round metal pots, with the Vaseline in the bottom half while the lid can be completely removed, it has a small lip around the edge of the lid allowing for easy removal of the lid, the tins can become quite battered and dented over time but I've yet to lose a lid while carrying a pot around in my handbag. The Vaseline itself is quite thick and solid while cool, if warmed it is a lot softer and easier to apply but also more prone to attracting particles of dirt, clear but slightly yellow in colour it applies to the lips with a gloss like shine and if you aren't used to it can feel quite slimy, you're certainly aware you're wearing it.

I have used both the regular Vaseline and aloe Vera versions and have had success with both varieties, the Aloe Vera version smells quite menthol to me and gives a gentle tingling sensation to your lips when applied, while the regular version simply soothes the skin. When I'm wearing the Vaseline my lips feel soothed and don't sting, I can go out in the heat, cold, wind or rain and they feel protected, this protection allows them to heal much quicker then any product I've ever used. Of course the use of the Vaseline isn't restricted to chapped lips, even though that's my primary reason for using it, you can use it to soften dry skin and is great for dry tough skin on the feet, I've even heard it recommended as a cream for treating nappy rash although I've never used it for that. Vaseline doesn't absorb easily into the skin though so I wouldn't recommend it as a general moisturizer.

Like I said I've suffered with the problem with my lips for many years and it was a while before I discovered the wonders of Vaseline, it would take other treatments weeks to heal my lips and as soon as I stopped using them the problem returned, Chapstick even made the problem worse leaving the skin dry and very sore, since discovering Vaseline though I can go many months in between bouts of soreness, I've been able to start wearing lipsticks and in general feel much more happy and confident, heck I'm positively kissable!

If you can bear the texture of the product then I can highly recommend it, I wouldn't be without my Lip therapy tins and the SPF 15 version is a fabulous idea for protecting our lips during the sunny summer months. Thank goodness for this product is all I can say because before the introduction of these small tins I was carrying around larger sized tubs of the stuff which would always raise a few eyebrows! The small 20g tins last quite a while if you're only using it for the lips and at 99p is totally affordable.

For more on Vaseline Lip Therapy and other Vaseline products go to- http://www.unilever.co.uk/ourbrands/personalcare/v aseline.asp