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Shania Twain, 59, slathers this surprising product on her skin to combat dryness
Bag Balm is trending on TikTok right now, but Shania Twain was singing this simple salve's praises back in 1999.
It's not just your clothing and footwear that need to change as the weather gets cooler; so does your skin care. Cold, dry air that's common during the fall and winter months can mean redness, peeling and flaking if your skin isn't adequately protected and moisturized.
Yes, there are countless luxury and drugstore beauty brands that make great face creams these days, but there's a surprising product that folks on TikTok are turning to for maximum hydration. Bag Balm has been delivering results since 1899 (not a typo). Influencers like Alix Earle have talked recently about the product, but songstress and performer extraordinaire Shania Twain praised the product as her go-to back in the '90s, explaining that she uses its moisture-packing properties on her face and even hair.
Made with lanolin and petrolatum, this balm was originally created to soothe cow udders during Vermont winters in the late 1800s. People caught on to its power and it's been used to heal dry, cracked skin from head to toe ever since.
Okay, ready for a fun fact? Bag Balm was originally designed as a soothing salve for cow's udders. Yes, really — those are the bags they're talking about. Over time, farmers started using the balm for other animals; some used it on goat's hooves, others on their dog's noses and paws. Eventually, they started to notice their hands felt more supple after being applied to their animals. Humans became hooked and the rest is history!
These days, there are lots of reasons people crack open their tins of Bag Balm. The healing goop works especially well on dry, cracked skin whether that's on your hands, feet, elbows or even your lips. People also look to it as a diaper rash miracle cure — and to soothe irritated skin on other parts of the body, too. Skincare obsessives say the product is ideal for slugging, and folks who have issues with chafing say this simple solution keeps things smooth and comfy. So yeah, there's not just one reason you need Bag Balm — there are many!
Before Bag Balm started trending on TikTok, it was a skincare staple for many who'd experienced its moisturizing goodness firsthand over the years. The salve has nearly 15,000 five-star ratings. Ready to hear them? Let's go girls.
"I'm addicted to this!" one happy Amazon customer titled their review on the site. "This stuff is a game-changer for dry skin. I've struggled with chapped lips and dry patches for years, trying countless products with little success. But Bag Balm is the real deal. The lanolin in it works wonders, leaving my skin feeling hydrated and smooth. I apply it before bed and wake up with noticeably softer lips and skin."
If you need a quick fix for your tootsies, consider this comment from another satisfied shopper: "I've used all sorts of foot ointments to keep old heels from cracking and flaking. But then I remembered using Bag Balm — yes, on actual cows' udders, years ago. And we also used it on our hands. It is the best solution for cracked heels I've found, without question."
If you're sensitive to scents, then proceed with caution. One shopper who raved about Bag Balm said, "It works way better than petroleum jelly!" but added, "The only drawback is the smell—[it's] very medicinal!"
Another person agreed, saying, "Since using this product, this is the first winter that my hands were not cracked and dry. It doesn't smell great, but it works."
Is there anything Bag Balm can't do? Talk about a multi-taking powerhouse! "This is like one of those products that can be used for so many different ailments," one shopper wrote. "My dad would use this when I was younger for his feet, and ever since then it’s been a staple in my life. Right now I’m using it for right around the rim of my nostrils that keep cracking. I’ve also used it for my dry hands."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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