This Really Works: A Cure-All Lip Balm

An anesthesiologist is not exactly the first person you’d think of asking for advice on chapped lips. But for Edward Akkaway, M.D, an anesthesiologist in Southern California, the two go hand-in-hand. He started noticing that his patients were coming out of surgery with extremely dry lips so he took it upon himself to try to fix the problem.

Unimpressed with what was already available, Akkaway began mixing different ingredients to try to find a natural but effective cure for chapped lips. For his efforts, he earned the nickname Dr. Dewy. After years of positive feedback from his patients, Akkaway decided to turn his experiment into a business, and launched the cult-favorite lip treatment brand named for his hospital moniker.

“I found out during my research that the market was lacking effective lip therapies, as opposed to simple lip balm, formulated from natural plant extracts, waxes, and oils,” says Akkaway on why he chose to get into the business. “I was astounded that the overwhelming majority of products out there are comprised of petrochemicals and animal ingredients as well as preservatives, artificial flavors and colors.”

Dr. Dewy Lip Cure is made with plant oils, essential fatty acids, natural waxes, powerful plant extracts, and potent antioxidants. It works really well, but it also has a very nice scent. “The only ingredients in the formulation that significantly contribute to the scent are licorice root extract, which also has anti-inflammatory properties, and natural vanilla extract,” says Akkaway. “We did not want to add any artificial colors, scents or flavors.”

Besides helping his patients, the Dr. Dewy hydrating balm comes in handy for Akkaway’s other passion: surfing. “For me, the mecca is Indonesia, especially the Mentawai Islands,“ he says. "I have not found another place in the world yet that provides the same variety of waves and perfect weather. It’s a two-day grind to get there, but it’s well worth it.”

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