What is the preferred lip balm of trumpet players?

[Bruin]

If you like Chop Saver, Canadian Brass is running a pretty good special with Berp Bio Oil. I think the savings is pretty good if you like both products, which I do.
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[deleted_user_fdb91a0]

*CHAPSTICK ALL-NATURAL*
--No chemicals
--Only natural ingredients
--Medium viscosity, with no oily feeling
--No petrolatum

I've tried ChopSaver, and I couldn't stand it. I'm not sure why people rave about it being non-greasy, because it was the greasiest stuff I have ever put on my face. Like bacon grease dipped in olive oil...gross!

In reference to the comment made about lip balm not being needed if you're playing enough, there is some credence to that. Is it a good idea to use it anyway, in order to keep the lips soft and supple? Absolutely. If one is playing so much that his chops are the consistency of a catcher's mitt, lip balm will help. I spent nearly a decade playing high-lead for 10 hours a day, every day, in the sun, whilst running around on a football field. The chop time was great for endurance and power, but had I not used lip balm diligently, that schedule would have destroyed me.

[trumpetp1]

I like ChopSaver, but it costs more than just about anything else in my area (Neutrogena, Burt's Bees etc.). So, I usually just use Chapstick All Natural (clear tube) or Blistex Complete Moisture (blue tube). Inexpensive and effective!
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[spacekillguy]

i dislike ALL lip balms, i think its just me though because i swells my lips like a balloon, and it takes like 5 hours to unswell, even with ice!

and yes i mean all lip balms, even chopsaver

but i like to use chopsaver on those super dry winter days that can seriously crack your lips

and i usually use burts beeswax AFTER i play my instrument, which is like at 10 pm at night, and i wipe it off after i feel i've had enough

of course thats just me...

[pepperdean]

Doc Rheinhardt always said to beware of most lip balms because they contain eucalyptus oil. His assertion was that it gets in your pores and comes back out, making your chops slippery, when you play.

His recommendation was White's Vitamin A&D ointment. Works for me.

Alan

[Craig Swartz]

Forgot to mention Preparation H. Helps with the swelling, too.

[Ellsworth]

[PH]

I prefer Chopsaver. However, Badger, Burt's Bees and Lipsyl are all quite good, too.
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[CJH]

Chapstick for me. I use the stuff in the blue tube with spf. I don't know why I use that one particularly, I just do, I'm used to it, and it works great for me on the nasty dry cold winter days.

[Yamahaguy]

Carmex

[LeeC]

I couldn't resist re-telling this story. Was back in winter of 1977-78 or so and our band was traveling through New Hampshire playing the local dives.

This group required a non stop un-amplified brass section going five hours an evening. Took me about a year and a half of this pounding work to get to a certain point where I was largely unaffected by any lip problems. Either playing or weather induced.

During a particularly cold snap the rhythm section players were going through a nasty bout of chapped lips and gums. The bass player announced:

"Let's go find out what lip balm Lee is using. He's gotta know what to do".

Sorry to tell them that i wasn't using anything at all. Heck during that winter I could have kissed an iceberg at forty below and not missed my next entrance.

Another thing about long term heavy playing matters: When playing long hours for months or years in a row, you don't need much of a warm up most times. Playing the trumpet becomes the natural condition. We don't need to "warm up" our feet before going for a leisurely walk.

Unless our opening show started with notes well above High C I wouldn't need to warm up. Most times back in those days my "warm up" consisted of two parts

1. One glass of C-O-L-D Gin ("hold the tonic") and immediately jumping on stage.

2. Pulling tuning slide out at the end of the first number as the horn went sharp after the temperature rise.

Beginners should consider adding tonic seltzer to recipe No. 1. This is an advanced players warm up (wink)

[dershem]

[tipo mastr]

I use chopsaver, not because it somehow "saves" my chops, but rather that it can lock in moisture without leaving a residue that has to be wiped off minutes before playing. that last part is the most important part for me...if I apply it, I want to be able to take it off at any time and start playing.

Regardless, I try not to expose my chops to the elements...when I'm outsde on really cold windy days, I usually cover my mouth.

[rbdeli]

hhmmm. I think you might be making a good point about becoming addicted to lip balm. I might be guilty of that.

What happened to me is that I changed trumpet teachers back when I was about 16 years old. I used to play with my lips dry. He made me start playing wet, and my lips have been chapped ever since - even though I rarely play anymore! Now I am addicted to Mentholatum Stick Lip Balm!

[rbdeli]

Burts Bees feels great on the lips, but it goes on like white lipstick and ends up making you look like a clown with white lips. I already play like a clown why would I want to look like one too?

[rbdeli]

I think he was talking about our playing.

[Umyoguy]

[thedevilisbad]

[Crazy Finn]

[thedevilisbad]