Softwear Exfoliating and Hydrating Daily Lip Treatment with Squalane + AHA — Reddit Reviews
by Experiment
Updated October 9, 2026
Squalane-heavy lip treatment with light exfoliation; hydrates dry lips overnight.
What the community says
A thick, fragrance-free lip treatment built around 63% squalane, petrolatum, and a light exfoliant. Reddit reaches for it on chapped, dry lips and cold-weather damage. It’s pricier than people want, and the moisture is often more short-term than lasting.
What this means for you
What people love
- 63% squalane plus petrolatum
- Thick, scentless, minimal shine
- Good on dry, wind-chapped lips
Watch out for
Product details
Skin type data limited
Where to buy
What the science says
Skin Barrier
Some evidence
Petrolatum: 13 studies tested it on its own. See all 22 studies
What the studies found
- Most studies found it helped the skin barrier
- It often helped dry, rough, or itchy skin look and feel better
- It helped the skin's protective layer heal faster after damage in some studies
- It could lower water loss through the skin, even after a single use
- Some studies found no clear difference for diaper rash or irritated skin
Eczema
Some evidence
Petrolatum: 8 studies tested it on its own. See all 11 studies
What the studies found
- Most studies found it helped eczema or dry, fragile skin linked with eczema
- It often improved dryness, helped the skin hold more water, and lowered water loss through the skin
- Some studies found calmer skin, with less scaliness and better overall skin changes
- It worked about as well as some other barrier creams in one clinical trial
- Some studies found it worked less well than certain other treatments
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 6 mentions across 5 threads
Experiment Softwear Exfoliating and Hydrating Daily Lip Treatment with Squalane + AHA on Reddit, in one place — 5 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare and r/SkincareAddiction, summarized.
“Right now, I'm using Experiment Softwear (clear) that I got as a gift, usually before bed.”
Cautionary
“It does leave my lips looking better for a day, but it doesn't seem to help longer term”
Cautionary
“and it's expensive for a tiny tube.”
Cautionary
“Softwear by Experiment. It’s thick, but not sticky or overly greasy feeling”
Positive
“It has no taste or scent to it, and minimal shine”
Positive
“it held up pretty well during the extremely cold and windy snaps we had in the NYC area in January and February”
Positive
“Experiment Softwear (also contains an exfoliant) ... [is] quite good.”
Positive
“Best lip balm for chapped dry lips is Experiment's Softwear.”
Positive
“It has a light exfoliant, and super packed hydration ingredients in one product.”
Positive
“Drink plenty of water and try Experiment hydrating lip treatment.”
Positive
“Hands down, the only lip balm I have ever used that actually hydrates and doesn’t dry my lips out further.”
Positive
“They sell it at Sephora.”
Positive
“I like Experiment softwear”
Mentioned
“You may want to use one that includes an exfoliant if you have flakiness (Experiment, Eadem).”
Mentioned
